Ally Wing’s letter to the editor July 13 was a perfect example of willful ignorance breeding racism.

If anyone believes “speaking out” against immigrants “labels us as racists,” maybe we need to think – why is that racist? Why is hating a racial minority for objecting to the poor treatment they’ve received here because of where they came from racism?

Did anyone ask that Somali child what he or she meant? Do you really think that people who fled their country are completely ungrateful that they were taken in, helped out, and made a part of this country?

Maybe it’s the people in America, not America itself, that the child was frustrated about.

Instead of understanding Brent Matthews, we must try to understand what it’s like being a refugee in a place where people spit on you and swear at you (“Greene woman accused of using racial epithets,” July 12), and even though you pay taxes and work hard, they’re angry you’re getting by.

When someone says “we Americans” are “infuriated” by these immigrants; does anyone think immigrants aren’t Americans? Think too about referring to “natives” – white people are not the natives of this country, and just because whites immigrated before the Somalis doesn’t make them better or any more American.

Our country was built by immigrants, by a diverse group of hard-working people living their dreams and standing up for their beliefs. We must all put ourselves in their shoes before jumping to intolerant conclusions.

Erin Reed, Lewiston