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People’s column

Unfair climate with speech

Editor, OBSERVER:

Thomas Jefferson repeatedly said that a properly functioning democracy depends on an informed electorate. Fully aware of this, President Joe Biden’s “climate czar,” John Kerry, in his recent comments to the elite’s World Economic Forum, pretends to be democracy’s advocate but calls for just the opposite: “Our First Amendment stands as a major block to our ability to, you know, hammer it (free speech) out of existence.”

Kerry whines that the “referees we (the ruling elites) used to have to determine what is a fact and what isn’t a fact, have been eviscerated.” Today “people self-select where they go for their news and information,” he complains.” These days it is “really, really hard to” control the agenda, he says. Narratives contrary to his agenda are, he says, “sick” and must be “curbed.”

For his revealing two-minute statement, see his comments on Chautauqua Updates on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdonAoTO65I&t=75s

ROY HARVEY,

Mayville

True patriotism at ceremony

Editor, OBSERVER:

It was my extreme honor and privilege to attend the Naturalization Ceremony recently held at the Jackson Center in Jamestown. Fifty-one immigrants took the oath pledging allegiance to the United States of America.

Fifty-one individuals were sworn in as new citizens of our country, much like most or our own ancestors did in the past. It truly was a most humbling experience watching as they took an oath to my country, pledging to defend it against all enemies both domestic and foreign, to serve if asked, and giving up all allegiance to any other country.

Most of us became citizens due to the fact we were born here. Most of us never took the time to think of what that means. The rights, privileges as well as the responsibilities of each citizen to serve our country.

We are a country of immigrants, most came here seeking a better life — excluding those who were forced in shackles and chains to come as slaves. Many do not realize it is a process to become a citizen.

After completing an application the immigrant must have an interview with an immigration officer. They then must pass a basic english test and a civics test that include questions on U.S. constitution and our history (I wonder how many of us would pass?) It is only after successfully completing all of these steps, is an individual eligible to become a U.S. citizen.

This might be a time for all of us to look within and ask what does being an American citizen mean to you? How many of us could pass a civics test on our history?

How many of us understand our system of government and responsibilities of each branch? How many of us understand the immigration process and the challenges presented to legal immigration?

Maybe more important, we need to return to the question put forth so many years ago by John F Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,”

JUDI LUTZ WOODS,

Fredonia

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