Letters: Feds' immigration raids and detentions have one disturbing similarity
Regarding 'Feds detain two Palestinian visitors at SFO who arrived for humanitarian mission' (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, June 12): The visit by two Palestinians was intended to foster understanding by sharing their lived experiences in the occupied West Bank with Bay Area faith communities.
Instead, they were detained and turned back, an injustice that raises troubling questions about the principles of openness and dialogue. Immigration attorney Phillip Weintraub, who sponsored the visit, confirmed their paperwork was in order.
The actions by federal immigration agencies highlight an alarming trend: detentions of those deemed 'the other,' whether they are undocumented workers, who feed and clean up after us, or Palestinians here to bear witness about the unspeakable cruelty of the Israeli occupation.
These predatory detentions must stop.
Jim Marks, San Francisco
What about the owners?
Some owners probably like to hire undocumented immigrants so they can be worked harder with no breaks and not be paid a fair wage, and the workers have no recourse.
Punish the farmers and ranchers.
Mary Piowaty, Susanville, Lassen County
Ask about guns
June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, although hardly a day goes by when we are not confronted with reports of gun violence.
No one is immune. Indeed, gunfire is now the leading cause of death for children and teens.
While we often feel helpless in the face of this reality, there is something everyone can do to protect children from accidental shootings: Before sending your child to play at a friend's house, ask if there is a gun in the house and how it is stored. If there are unlocked guns, find a different place for a play date.
While gun ownership may be a sensitive topic, children's safety comes first. This is no different than asking about pets, allergies or supervision.
A good reminder for this is Asking Saves Kids Day on June 21, the first day of summer, when school is out and children may spend more time at friends' homes.
Ruth Borenstein, San Francisco
Shades of Hitler
President Donald Trump's speech at Fort Bragg Army base, using hand-picked troops as pawns to cheer his lies, is nothing more than a recreation of Adolph Hitler's rallies.
It took Hitler only 53 days to take control of the German government. Trump is taking just a bit longer. Make no mistake: It's the same agenda.
Trump is using the military to further his march toward taking complete power over what used to be our shining beacon of democracy, freedom and hope for the world.
Jude Vasconcellos, Inverness
Replace S.F. fountain
Regarding 'S.F.'s controversial fountain deemed 'hazardous' and will be fenced off indefinitely' (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 9): It is commendable to recognize Armand Vaillancourt for his art and contribution to San Francisco. Yet through the lens of today, his fountain is not attractive and does not resonate with meaning or purpose.
Just as the great museums change what they exhibit, it is time to say goodbye to this relic. The city should create a contest for a fresh installation that embodies contemporary San Francisco and inspires the next generation of visitors to the Embarcadero.
David Morris, San Francisco
City destroys art
Regarding 'S.F.'s controversial fountain deemed 'hazardous' and will be fenced off indefinitely' (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 9): I was about 12 years old the first time I wandered through Vaillancourt Fountain, and it was as if, in a rainstorm, the water came down around me. It was wonderful and I have loved that fountain ever since.
So it is sad that San Francisco has made little effort to keep this unique sculpture in good repair. This is a city that, as in the case of the beautiful Spanish-style building that used to house the De Young museum, seems to know only how to tear artistic things down.
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