Letters to the Editor

Please do not print my name. We are afraid for our jobs in the present climate.

Name Withheld by Request
via the Internet

Padron: More Missing Newspapers

Free weekly enjoys surge of popularity on MDCC campuses: I work at MDCC in Hialeah. Recently I've noticed that New Times has been flying off the shelves at an incredible rate. It normally lasts for a few days. At several Hialeah locations (Twelfth Avenue, 49th Street, and others) they don't even make it through the night. I could attribute this to a newfound appreciation of your publication, but experience tells me otherwise. My conclusion is foul play.

The freedom espoused by a good percentage of our local population does not seem to extend to the press. I love New Times, and it is upsetting not finding it on Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. when it came out the night before.

Coming from a Latin-American background, I feel at liberty to denounce some aspects of my culture. Some of our countries have rarely experienced true democracy. Democracy is a culture -- it must be taught and nurtured. For many who have only rarely or recently experienced democracy, it is difficult to appreciate some of its nuances and idiosyncrasies.

For example we may balk at the notion of having the Ku Klux Klan rally in our streets, but that's the beauty of this country. Freedom of speech was made to protect unpopular ideas. I love the freedom this country gives me. As a teacher this is the openness of mind and ideas I try to convey.

Some French dude said, "I may disagree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." All I ask is that someone defend to the death my right to read it as well.

Nelson Magaña
via the Internet