Letters: Saving kids from the unendurable

In 1938, Britain allowed 10,000 mostly Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe to come to that country ["Immigrant kids and American vitriol," Opinion, July 31].

They were placed in foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. My wife was among the Kindertransport children who otherwise surely would have become some of the millions murdered.

We are a nation of immigrants, the most generous people ever. Why have we become so hate-driven?

Let us place a few nationwide ads, and I bet we would have a million households willing and ready to take in these children who crossed our southern border. Let these innocents live and grow up in this beautiful and free society to become good, productive and loyal U.S. citizens.

End this mass hysteria, and allow us a few years from now to look back with pride at what we have done, rather than face the shame and scorn of our children and grandchildren.

Rolf Grayson, Melville

I am not a racist, and I am not filled with "ignorance, bitterness and hatred." I have immense compassion for people. I understand why these immigrants are coming here. My son worked as a landscaper for a few summers with several immigrants here illegally, and he heard the stories firsthand. If I were in their situations, I would want to leave, too.

But if we take in these people, more will come. Most of them are good people, and they want to work hard, but there are also people suffering in Africa and Iraq and so many other places in the world. If we could, I would like to save everyone, but we can't. We don't have the resources to take care of them or enough jobs for everyone, because the jobs have been outsourced.

As much as we think our way of life will never end, it can and it might if we don't take care. We could be leaving our children a country like the ones these people are trying to get away from.

We send money to these countries, and they have to start to help themselves to make their countries better. The people on the Titanic lifeboats saw people drowning in front of them, but they did not go and save them -- not because they were heartless but because they knew that if they tried to save them, the boats would sink and everyone would die.

Teresa Pescitelli, Shoreham

Plastic bag ban raises hackles

I use plastic grocery bags as my trash and garbage bags ["Plastic rapped," News, July 29]. It saves me money that I would otherwise spend on plastic bags in the same supermarkets. So tell me what the difference is. To me, a plastic bag is a plastic bag.

Is this ban a big-business way of forcing people to buy products they now get for free?

JoAnn Radesca, West Babylon

I was deeply disgusted to read the comments of Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) regarding plastic bags. I guess ignorance really is bliss!

He said, "I like to use those plastic bags. I feel like I'm a responsible user of them, and I find them very convenient."

Plastic bags are one of the most prolific killers of wildlife. There is no such thing as a responsible user!

I and many of my friends and family members have been using reusable bags for years, long before it (finally) became newsworthy. I keep them in my car. I find this "convenient" as well as "responsible."

Virginia Pusateri, Amityville

I find it comical that the Town of Southampton wants to ban plastic checkout bags, when the town requires residents to purchase "official town bags" to dispose of garbage in town dumps. In other words, we must put our garbage, which may already be in trash bags, into town plastic bags before depositing them into town receptacles!

I agree with limiting the use of plastic for the good of the environment, but really Southampton, you are being very hypocritical!

Lisa Martin, Sag Harbor

Removing political names from signs

I'm frustrated and disappointed that it has taken so long for Newsday, and voters for that matter, to call out politicians who insist on having their names on signs ["Bravo to less political ego," Editorial, July 31]. It's expensive to keep signs updated.

I've written previously about Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, within a month or two of his inauguration, having his name associated with everything positive about the county. Permanent signs, such as park entrance signs, feature Mangano's name.

What adds to the waste is the fact that many signs also include the county legislator for the locale, the commissioner overseeing the service, and any town or local official. All these add up to wasted dollars from the taxpayers, most of whom couldn't care less which politicians sponsor a particular site or event.

All officials should follow the example of Brookhaven Supervisor Edward P. Romaine, who is removing his name from town signs and substituting a town phone number for complaints. In fact, all jurisdictions should pass laws to remove individual names from public signs.

Denis O'Driscoll, Westbury