What I Wrote/What They Printed

For decades my "letters to the editor" have run afoul of whichever flunky happens to be in charge of editing at that moment. One newspaper tacked on a whole new ending, changing my entire stated purpose. People who knew me wrote harsh letters, asking me to explain. When i complained to the newspaper, they ran a snarky retraction titled "We Care. Really." Newsday (in this case) published a letter of mine (11/28). Well, they published a paragraph of mine, then made a second out of whole cloth and slapped my name on it. Here's what they published: I was disappointed that President Barack Obama's speech on immigration reform was so brief ["Obama forces the issue," Editorial, Nov. 23]. It didn't give him the opportunity to speak about the higher burden this will impose on taxpayers, or the fact that school and law enforcement systems will be stretched to their breaking points. I was also hoping he would address terrorist threats like the Islamic State group and the ease with which they can get into the country now, more drugs in communities, and the frequent incursion of MS-13 gangs in our small communities. Vince ... etc. Not only did they trim my letter majorly, they added words I never used in sentence patterns I never created. Not that it really matters anymore, but here was my original letter: I was disappointed that President Obama's immigration reform speech was so brief the other night. It didn't give the President the forum or opportunity to speak to the higher burden this will impose on taxpayers, or the new (or old) diseases we will be able to address (like Ebola or the Central American flu that killed five US children this year) , or the fact that school and law enforcement systems will now be stretched to their breaking points. He forgot to mention the new DHS rules that "dumb down" the penalties for illegal drunk drivers or sex offenders to misdemeanors now, or the fact that most communities will be less safe. Also, I was hoping he would address terrorist threats like Isis and the ease with which they can get into the country now, more drugs in communities, and the frequent addition of M13 gangs to our small towns. In the President's speech I was hoping he would speak less about the dreams of people who break our laws, and more about the diminishing American dream. He might have addressed "chain migration" (relatives bringing more relatives) and given less platitudes about American's "not wanting to separate families" (the last time i looked, Americans aren't separating anybody. Families choose to break themselves up when they make the decision to break another country's laws). Despite the anchorman for Univision telling viewers that "Obama was making good on his debt to Latino's" it would have been nice if either of these men addressed the incredible debt that law-breakers owe to taxpayer's. Or the real secret no one is talking about - - that most are coming here for "free" medical and health benefits, as well as to enjoy the fruits of our Medicare system without the messy aftertaste of having to actually have paid into it. Lastly, I had hoped the President would have addressed the fact that there are an estimated 8 million illegals now enrolled in Obamacare (which he promised wouldn't happen), that America is well on its way to becoming a giant welfare state, that half the country is still out of work, that the economy is in its worst shape in decades. I wish he had spoken to the fact that this was being done to create more Democrat voters and not from any heartfelt desire to help the downtrodden in any way. I understand now why the President has always been reluctant to release his school records. I'm sure they show a man who excelled at economics and leadership. Vince Iuliano may be found on Amazon, Smashword, and whereever fine ebooks are sold. Look for his latest Amazon offering , What Price Liberty?, here > ..