To the Editor:

I was glad to read intelligent responses with a different opinion than that of a recent letter whose writer stated that English language proficiency should be a prerequisite for entry into the U.S.

I am sure there are many others who share my history of grandparents emigrating to the U.S. in the early 20th century. My paternal grandparents who came to this country as legal immigrants around 1918 did not speak English; in fact, they were illiterate. They bought a farm, raised 10 children, all of them bilingual. Half of their children — without the benefit of completing elementary school because their help was needed on the farm — went on to own small businesses.

Haven’t we heard enough of this ethnocentric and selfish attitude of fearing cultures different from your own and valuing people only for what they can do for you?

Judy Stockinger

Franklin