Dear Dan,
Re your story “A Claim……” in the October 13 issue, I guess you didn’t receive my letter on the subject, with the number to call for ‘your’ problem:
It’s 800-SUE’M All. Good luck.
Lloyd Booth
East Quogue

Dear Dan,
Fall greetings. How are you? I refer to the attached page of the current edition of your newspaper. We were shocked to see such a glaring, basic grammatical error made by professionals. It is correct to write “……Led by Whom?” and incorrect to write “……Led by Who”? Perhaps you think your readers neither know nor care. Even in this era of “dumbing down,” declining literacy, and students in schools not learning the basics, we need to maintain correct written English. We certainly still do expect normal standards to be upheld: good grammar, basic to reputable journalism, even from a free, small town newspaper.
Thank you.
Christina Markunas
Southampton

Whom are you writing to? –DR

Listening to the passionate discussions of so-called immigration experts, I wonder why the American government having such a headache doesn’t ask for help from another country. Let’s say Poland. I am sure that Poland would extend its helping hand to such a valuable friend.
One says that an undocumented immigrant steals a job that an American could do. The other immediate response is that an American wouldn’t work for this kind of money – he has to have a decent salary for what he does. But nobody explains what “a decent salary” means. I wonder whether the salaries of those who talk about this subject are decent ones.

Why there are no interviews with those who are directly involved in this matter? How is it possible that an undocumented immigrant can live for an indecent salary and at the same time can help his family he or she left behind and an American still lives with his mother? Maybe an American, whose job was stolen, in revenge, could try to sneak in to another country to see how it is. Let’s say to Poland. I know that my cousin would hire an illegal American with opened arms. He needs someone to help him to pick up potatoes or dig out beets. And I am sure that an American would get a decent salary, a decent dinner and he would also, indecently, get drunk. However, I don’t know whether he would be able to send a piece of his decent salary to his mother.
Some of the experts suggest that a high wire fence or a thick wall will prevent an illegal wave flooding America. Once I was visiting my aunt in the country and I saw chickens behind a wire fence. It didn’t take too long for them to find a way to some seeds that accidentally were spread in front of that fence. My uncle punished one of the birds, wringing the poor bird’s neck and we had a good dinner that evening. Our stomachs were happy but it didn’t solve the problem. The rest of the chickens got smart and crossed the fence when nobody was watching them.

As to walls, we had at least two in our history: one in China and the other in Germany. Although those who made those walls were convinced that nobody could surmount them, it appeared that the devil is not as black as he is painted. What’s more, I am sure that in 100 years some of American tourists proudly will be showing a hole in the wall that his or her grandfather had forced his way through to the paradise.

In my opinion the only solution to solve the illegal immigration problem in America is to take for consideration a Polish advice: there is no job available for illegal immigrants – there are no illegal immigrants. The borders are secured. There is no need for fences and walls of any kind. Period.

But will America listen to such a small country like Poland?
Ryszard Krasowski
Via e-mail

If they shout. –DR

BAN FOR BONFIRES

Dear Dan,
I find it distressing that you ridiculed beachgoers and beach home front owners who are concerned about the condition of our beaches (10/20). May I ask, how often do you actually walk our beaches? Especially during the summer months? If you did, you would find our once beautiful, white sandy beaches have turned black. Yes, the Village and Town have tried to keep them clean. I’ve watched a truck come by and toss charred wood into it but leaver all the black chips on the sand. It was sad to hear that not only the oceanfront is under attack but Napeague as well.

As for the dog poop, it would be nice if everyone would pick up after their dogs and not leave bagged and loose poop to be picked up by the rest of us. As far as the cacophony which exists on the beach, it would be nice to have our serene beaches given back to us. Do you know that every Friday afternoon loud speakers blare on Main Beach in front of the hut? And what about all the catered parties that are given on the beaches?

Our beaches are sacred and should be treated with respect. It’s what brings us all to the east End. Why not fight to preserve its beauty? Our population has dramatically increased and with this must come restrictions. Many today think only about their pleasure with total disregard of the environment and the people around them. This is a great cost to us. I am one of many imploring the Town and Village to continue to make restrictions. Banning bonfires would be unfortunate but necessary. The other concern is fire spreading to the beach grass. As for the manpower to enforce these rules, I hope they have the time to do so. Just for the record, I do enjoy bonfires but am willing to give them up for the sake of our beaches.

Mary Mallios
East Hampton