To the editor:

I’m writing this in response to the letter in the May 7 Journal-World from Monica Gonzalez. I believe the best way I can address the issues raised in her letter is to quote from a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 in which he addresses the issue of immigration and being an American.

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. : There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, is not an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. : We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language : and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

So Monica, if one immigrates to America LEGALLY they must want to be an American and not, for instance, a Mexican living in America. (Note: This does not include those who are here legally on work permits.)

P.T. Cross,

Lawrence