John Henderson (Aug. 7) has taken writer Robert Macdonald (July 23) to task for suggesting that immigrants learn about our culture without reciprocity on our part. Henderson even goes so far as to state that to think that way might be unhealthy.

Henderson perceives assimilation as a two-way process. Webster defines it as “absorbing a culturally distinct group into the prevailing culture.”

Macdonald is not asking immigrants to “shed their former culture,” as Henderson puts it. He asks only that they learn our language, our way of life, and assimilate into our society. This doesn’t appear to be happening in Lewiston-Auburn.

Henderson should consider taking his own advice to Macdonald and spend a year in Somalia. Upon his arrival, however, he should not expect to have a contingent from the Islamic Charities of Mogadishu to greet him and provide him with government-paid benefits in housing, food and medical care. Nor should he anticipate the availability of an interpreter for him at all levels of social services or schooling. I suspect his own perspective might be altered a bit.

Legal immigrants are as welcome in Lewiston, Maine, as in any other place in this great country. But, unless they come here for the purpose of becoming American citizens, learning our language, pledging allegiance to our flag and adopting our American way of life, then maybe they shouldn’t come here at all.

Paul St. Jean, Lewiston