To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the incredibly ludicrous and self-righteous editorial by Dr. Sean Chadwell, "A Missive from Crackerlandia." First of all, the IH-35 checkpoint hardly fits the definition of a roadblock. If the good doctor would like to experience a real roadblock, try attempting to drive though I-70 in southern New Mexico when White Sands Missile Range is getting ready to test a rocket. In my former job we would hold up traffic for hours. The purpose was to keep citizens from getting blown to smithereens in the event that a missile goes astray. Yet, some people would complain just as Chadwell does that their "rights are being violated." I have heard this type of nonsense time and again and often from doctors, lawyers, and bank executives who think they are above the law.

Most of us who live on the border realize that we will be momentarily delayed at one of the checkpoints. It is a fact of life of living on the border. Most of us are also able to display a sense of maturity and answer the agents' questions and drive on. If Dr. Chadwell is not transporting illegals or illegal drugs then he has nothing to worry about. For him to say that he is scared of U.S. Border Patrol leads me to believe that his fears are based upon a selfish arrogant attitude that U.S. Border Patrol agents have no business questioning him or walking a K-9 around his vehicle. In the six years that I have worked with Border Patrol agents in Laredo, El Paso, and Alamogordo, New Mexico, I have never witnessed an agent being abusive to the public. I was frequently on patrol on my own and often hours away from backup and knew that I could always count on BP for assistance and was thankful that the Alamogordo CHECKPOINT was across from one of White Sands ROADBLOCKS.

I am incredibly disgusted that LareDOS has become almost nothing but a weekly ragsheet tirade against BP. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way. The letters by Ms. Guerra and Chadwell are nothing but immature ramblings of selfish nonsense. Terms like Cracker 1 and Cracker 2 and "turncoat Mexican" do nothing but suggest that prejudice against anglos is a big part of the Laredo community. At a time when Laredo is slowly becoming more diversified this type of "Jerry Springer journalism" is best used as starter fuel for a afternoon came asada. My fellow officers and I at the port of entry do not see each other as white, black, or brown but rather as brothers and sisters who would gladly do whatever we can to help each other out.

It is a shame that LareDOS can be an extremely effective tool in cleaning up the environmental disasters that have beset the city (such as the recent article by my friend Jim Earhart), but instead the paper cheapens itself by printing such garbage. I would like to suggest that this trash writing come to an end and that the writers grow up. I, again, am extremely proud to have worked with Border Patrol for the last six years and will continue to do so as I head north to my frozen homeland.

Robert Mulkeen
Laredo, TX

Dear Meg,

Thank you to you and your hard-working staff! LareDOS provides an important forum in our South Texas community. Issues like the border patrol presence and immigration policy need more discussion, not less. As demonstrated by the past several issues of LareDOS, there are many different ideas and viewpoints coexisting along the border. I praise your contribution to democracy -- may all voices be heard! And then, hopefully, we (all of the people) can make informed decisions to guide our society.

Sincerely,
Donna Lednicky

Dear Ms. Guerra:

On behalf of KLRN, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for you continued partnership with KLRN-TV. Your dedication to public television makes it possible for us to continue to provide the quality programming that our viewers have come to expect from KLRN.

It is because of partners like LareDOS that public television is able to accomplish its mission to educate, inform, and entertain viewers throughout Texas. Once again, thank you, and we look forward to a long and satisfying partnership.

Sincerely,
Joanne Winik
General Manager

LareDOS:

I appreciate your continued commitment to conservation and the environment.

Sincerely,
Gene Blacklock

Editor's note:

In our last issue we printed a letter from Sean Chadwell. We presumed to add "doctor" when in fact he had simply signed the letter "Sean Chadwell." It was our oversight and we apologize for it.