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U.S. needs the ‘best and brightest’

Jerlys Paneca, 9, of Cuba, takes the Oath of Allegiance during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in Biscayne National Park, Fla. Paneca was one of 83 children from 17 countries to become American citizens during the ceremony.
Jerlys Paneca, 9, of Cuba, takes the Oath of Allegiance during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony, Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in Biscayne National Park, Fla. Paneca was one of 83 children from 17 countries to become American citizens during the ceremony. AP

Once again, the liberal media has had a field day criticizing our President, this time for referring to Haiti, El Salvador, and certain African countries as “sh**hole nations.” I agree this is an unacceptable term. Perhaps he should have used the more familiar term of “hell-hole nations” since that may be more fitting. But to paraphrase the liberal darling Hillary Clinton, “What difference does it make now?”

If the media has any doubt about either term they should ask the people who are risking their and their families’ lives to escape from the poverty, unsanitary conditions, civil strife and unimaginable hardship that exist in their countries.

The purpose of our immigration policies is to improve our country by bringing in the best and brightest people we can. We can always find ways to help the people living in these countries to improve the conditions in their homeland. We are not the repository for everyone who is dissatisfied with their living conditions.

Stanley D. Schaffer, Arroyo Grande

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 3:51 PM with the headline "U.S. needs the ‘best and brightest’."

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