To the editor:

It was the summer of 1971, and a crowd had gathered at the Dubuque, Iowa, airport, awaiting the arrival of our first refugees from Vietnam. Father Thomas Rhomberg represented Catholic Charities, I was with the Dubuque Area Council of Churches, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tauke from Iowa’s 2nd District represented our government, which supported giving sanctuary to those in need! I still receive Christmas cards from “our family” in California, and they have many highly educated children and a variety of thriving businesses by this time!

I am sorry that Ms. Halladay (July 16 letter to the editor) has succumbed to the current myopic myths about refugees! These are being spread like a plague by those who are misinformed and fearful that our country might “be harmed” if we reach out our hearts and hands in welcome again, just as we have done so many times in the past! The moral core of America is being tested as never before, since we now have an untrustworthy government in Washington that feeds fear to the public instead of supporting the provision of sanctuary to those in such dire need of help! Being available in the time of need is what being an American is all about!

Audrey Mortensen,

Lawrence