A March 19 “Speakout” guest editorial by Donna Hamilton posted on the Rocky Mountain News website called illegal immigrants “cowards” who “leave millions of people behind in their country to steal from another country and teach their children that anything is possible if you can get away with it.” The News identified Hamilton as a “concerned, law abiding, granddaughter of legal immigrants, who is a thankful, English speaking, proud American who cares about all people, everywhere.” Hamilton further stated in her column, “We must not look at these people sympathetically, but with fear, they stand for nothing and are not willing to do what is right to live a life in their country that is free.”

As noted by News editorial writer Linda Seebach in a March 17 column, “Space for print letters is severely limited -- 250,000 copies of anything is a lot of dead trees -- which is why we limit both the length of published letters and how often we publish letters from the same person.” Seebach added, “When the Rocky launched its [newspaper] redesign Jan. 23, we also started putting most letters and Speakouts that we don't have room to print on the Web, and that is effectively infinite real estate.”

Hamilton's op-ed attacking illegal immigrants, which was posted with the disclaimer, “This Speakout has not been edited,” apparently is an example of one of the Web-only “Speakouts” Seebach described.

After beginning her editorial by stating that she is “extremely concerned about the planned march that will again take place in the United States of America by illegal immigrants and their families," Hamilton stated, “Again, I must be confronted by people marching and making threats and racial slurs.” Later in the editorial, Hamilton advised readers to “witness the faces” of the children during the purported march before saying:

These children have no allegiance to this country. Just like Mexico that has no allegiance to this country and does not act as allies to us in our war with Iraq. Think about all of the illegal immigrants that have committed horrific crimes against people living in the United States and fleeing “back” to Mexico to live protected, blissful lives with no fear of extradition. We must not look at these people sympathetically, but with fear, they stand for nothing and are not willing to do what is right to live a life in their country that is free.

Hamilton continued by claiming that illegal immigrants “believe that if they like your home, your car, your job, if they can steal it, they can have it free and clear with no regrets and no guilt all the while calling anyone that stands for America a racist.” Hamilton also asserted that illegal immigrants “are not a grateful, prideful people that are courageous,” while asking, if “any of them” would “fight and march in their country for change for all people [?]” Hamilton then answered her own question by stating, “No, instead slipping through a fence and climbing into a van, leaving children, grandparents behind is far more self serving and the easy way out.”

From the March 19 “Speakout” guest editorial, “Illegal immigrant marches,” posted on the Rocky Mountain News website:

I am extremely concerned about the planned march that will again take place in the United States of America by illegal immigrants and their families that have benefited by their parents illegal entry into this country.

Again, I must be confronted by people marching and making threats and racial slurs.

Again, I must be turned away at American restaurants and businesses that have closed their doors to Americans because they are guilty of hiring illegal immigrants for less wages.

Again, I must be reminded that “these” people see themselves different from “us” and have separated themselves from America, the culture and the language. They argue that, “They are just looking for a better life” and that, “They are just doing the jobs that we don't want to do” or, “This country was founded on immigration”. I see them as cowards. They leave millions of people behind in their country to steal from another country and teach their children that anything is possible if you can get away with it. These children have no regard for this country and no respect for the law. They look to their parents for guidance and truth and instead are taught bigotry, discrimination, distortion of history, hate and shame. They are not a grateful, prideful people that are courageous. Many Americans fought and died for the freedom that we experience today. Would any of them fight and march in their country for change for all people. No, instead slipping through a fence and climbing into a van, leaving children, grandparents behind is far more self serving and the easy way out. We must not let lives lost by Americans be in vain by accepting unlawful behavior and excusing it under the cries of racism. We must not allow our men and women fighting and dying in Iraq each day to be for nothing. Many Americans see our “liberation” of Iraq as invasion, how do they see illegal immigration in the United States? Would we, as a nation and our government, ignore the illegal entry of insurgents from Iraq if they hijacked planes each day into this country and unloaded thousands of illegal immigrants? If these same people marched in our streets making their demands and declaring our civil rights as their own, would we be as inclined to hire them, educate their children in their language, pay to treat them in our hospitals, house them, all the while neglecting our “own” people (Katrina). Eventually adopting their laws and losing our unity.

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On Saturday, April 7th, watch the faces of these people (who will unfortunately be given an audience instead of being arrested), listen to their comments carefully, don't be fooled by their carrying of the American flag ((when they initially marched in California they carried the Mexican flag and were instructed not to do do because it “looked” better with the American flag)), listen to their excuses, demands and witness the faces of their children. These children have no allegiance to this country. Just like Mexico that has no allegiance to this country and does not act as allies to us in our war with Iraq. Think about all of the illegal immigrants that have committed horrific crimes against people living in the United States and fleeing “back” to Mexico to live protected, blissful lives with no fear of extradition. We must not look at these people sympathetically, but with fear, they stand for nothing and are not willing to do what is right to live a life in their country that is free. Illegal immigrants must take their marches to their own country if they really want a better life for all. Unfortunately, they believe that if they like your home, your car, your job, if they can steal it, they can have it free and clear with no regrets and no guilt all the while calling anyone that stands for America a racist. How many people from different countries do we allow illegal entry into this country, how many languages will we ultimately allow, how many jobs will United States businesses give away, how many more years does the United States of America have before it is no longer united. By the United States supporting just Mexican illegal immigrants and allowing them marches on American soil, they open us up to further invasion and demands from other countries that desire “a better life” for their people too.

A concerned, law abiding, granddaughter of legal immigrants, who is a thankful, English speaking, proud American who cares about all people, everywhere.