This is in response to Erin Reed’s letter (July 17). I was curious why she felt Ally Wing “hates” immigrants?

Wing’s letter concerned the frustration that local residents have been feeling toward an economical issue facing their community, and the anger at having heard an extremely unpleasant comment made about her country during the Fourth of July celebration.

Ms. Reed asks if anyone considered what the child meant. I think that what the child said was fairly self-explanatory. Does Ms. Reed feel that there must be some redeeming quality to a nasty and derisive comment like that because the person uttering it has had a hard life and has the “right” to say it?

Unfortunately, that is the case with most people I know. Very few folks have had an easy time in this town. So by Ms. Reed’s standard, it is racist for a “native” Lewiston resident to say they do not view the influx of immigrants as a positive step for an already overly taxed area, but those who are receiving the fruits of that taxation are free to speak their mind as they see fit because they have suffered?

Immigrant are not American until they take the necessary steps to become so. Until then, they are guests and should act in an appropriate manner.

Stephen Gagne, Lewiston