Regarding the June 2 article "Panel wants boycott of business with Arizona," Durham's Human Relation Commission is asking elected official "suspend all city travel to and business with Arizona" until the new law is repealed. How many on the panel have read and understand the Arizona law? How many on the panel are familiar with the United States Code, which consists of the general and permanent laws of the United States? How many have read the Rasmussen poll taken in Arizona that found 70 percent support the law and 23 percent oppose?
The Arizona law is a mirror of United States Code, Title 8, read Sec. 1302, 1304 and 1306a. The Arizona law is specific in protecting civil rights. Basically the panel is suggesting that the city of Durham condone and encourage the breaking of federal laws and punish states that choose to obey and enforce the law. Most, if not all, come to this country primarily because it's a nice place to live. The laws that most abide by were created to protect that environment
Our last holiday, Memorial Day, commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service and gave their lives to protect the United States. Again, we have elected officials and government entities chipping away at the laws and system they defended. That is sad.
BILL McCOLLUM
Chapel Hill
Boycott for boycott
It is my opinion that the city of Durham has no place interfering with decisions made by a sovereign state.
If the city of Durham elects to boycott Arizona, as requested by the Human Relations Commission, then I for one will be forced to boycott all Durham businesses. All my family's shopping, dining, etc., will be done in neighboring counties.
TODD HINSON
Rougemont
A waste of energy
It would seem the Durham council is going to determine what is best for Arizona through the use of a so-called boycott because Arizona is doing what the federal government will not do and that is to secure our border with Mexico.
Doesn't the council have enough to do in balancing the budget for Durham, paving roads and providing aid to everything and everybody? Since Durham doesn't have a border with Mexico, how can these folks judge anything being done to make sure the folks in Arizona are safe and Mexicans are free from what they experience in getting to the U.S.? Durham needs to solve issues here and not put its nose in the business of other states. The more illegals stopped in Arizona and returned to Mexico, the less we will have to find jobs for, provide health care for and educate in our schools. Right on, Arizona!
JOHN ROBBINS
Durham
We must join boycott
City Councilman Eugene Brown is correct in stating that immigration is an "emotional" issue ("Should Durham boycott Arizona," June 10); he is incorrect, however, in asserting that it has no relevance for Durham citizens or for the mayor and City Council.
He is also correct in saying that the Council must focus on Durham city issues "first and foremost" but, and by his own reasoning, that does not mean that it is bound to do so exclusively.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a prophetic, non-violent voice, and for telling many truths to a nation that sometimes needed to hear difficult truths.
In his Letter from the Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963, he wrote: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
U.S. trade policies vis
