Rename East for McPike

I can't think of a more fitting memorial to Milt McPike than to name Madison East High School after him. Of all the people who have been suggested for school names in the past 10 years, nobody is more deserving.

I can't imagine anybody in the community resisting this change, but if people are nostalgic for the old name, perhaps the names could be combined, such as "Milt McPike Madison East High School." However we do it, it's something that should be done.

-- Jim Jenkins, Madison

Milt McPike may no longer be with us, but there is not a single staff member of the Madison School District whose life he did not impact. It is for that reason that students today and for generations to come will continue to benefit from the tremendous influence he had in this community.

And his impact is not limited to Madison. He was the principal of and had tremendous influence upon thousands of students who are working at various jobs all over the world. Society in general will continue to benefit from his influence. He made this world a better world for all of us, and our children as well.

-- Scott Zuberbier, Madison

Even buses proclaim our binge reputation

I couldn't agree more with the Saturday writer who wrote that the Madison buses with advertisements for alcohol and gambling are disgraceful (not to mention hideous).

Since UW-Madison has ranked at or near the top among American universities for alcohol binging, why would we encourage it by driving such advertisements around Madison? A better advertisement would be to feature a splash of the beauty of Madison on them.

Is this source of revenue worth the reputation of binging? I don't think being ranked the highest in binge drinking is anything to brag about.

-- Doris Schmeichel, Waunakee

Letting illegals drive legally solves nothing

While requiring illegal immigrants to take driving tests and obtain a Wisconsin driver s license might sound OK, it does not make them safe drivers. A driver's license does not make anyone a safe driver; it merely makes them a legal one, just as a teaching certificate does not "make" a good teacher.

Illegal immigrants committed the first crime by entering this country illegally. On that issue alone they should be deported back to their homelands. Giving them driver's licenses and allowing them access to other services tells them it is OK to break the law in our country.

I am a compassionate person, but the unfortunate reality is that we need to be concerned for the safety of our country and its citizens. We lose this by allowing open borders.

By allowing illegal immigrants services such as driver's licenses, we will promote the influx of more illegal immigrants into Wisconsin, draining already strained social services as we continue to support the needs of these people. Which illegal immigrant is the next terrorist?

For those who "live on the edge," it was their choice.

-- Connie Zuhde, Rock Springs

Issue more complex than legal vs. illegal

On Sunday the State Journal Forum section featured student views on illegal immigration. Selections were thoughtfully written and reflected understanding of the situation and empathy with families.

Because of the Forum focus on Arizona's law penalizing employers of illegal aliens, students were not encouraged to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, and there was no recognition of aliens who are legal, permanent residents, those who are not Hispanic, or refugees accepted by the United States. That is unfortunate.

Also unfortunate is the fact that students were not encouraged to address the current dilemma of how to deal with millions of undocumented aliens, many of whom want to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Children of undocumented aliens who were born in the United States are U.S. citizens by birth.

Our government should establish mechanisms to encourage undocumented aliens who have been in the United States for five or more years to apply for naturalization papers. Barriers to naturalization, such as high fees and paperwork, should be reduced.

The concept of encouraging naturalization should not be confused with current concerns about illegal immigration. They are separate issues and must not be considered a single problem requiring a single solution.

-- Paul Kusuda, Madison

Six months or out rule should apply

The United States has enough financial problems without any illegal immigrants adding to them.

Every time an illegal immigrant gets hired for a job, it takes that job away from a U.S. citizen. When they avail themselves of services and programs, U.S. citizens and families can't get that help.

They get away with paying no taxes. Instead our tax dollars are spent supporting them.

If they want to live in the United States, they need to become legal citizens. We need to push citizenship within six months of their arrival and fine employers if immigrants don't have their citizenship papers within that six-month period.

-- Lisa Berman, Madison

No sympathy if you live beyond means

Regarding the home mortgage situation, while I was in Arizona recently, I saw an article which expresses my view of the current home mortgage crisis quite well:

"Do many home owners really deserve mortgage relief? How many have put little or no money down and have enjoyed payments less than what rent would have been? How many have refinanced and used the money to live beyond their means? Any government assistance to these irresponsible people is a slap in the face to the sensible taxpayers who must incur higher mortgage costs to contribute to the loan guarantee programs. "

I sympathize with those who made an honest effort to live within their means, yet experienced an unexpected financial setback. But I have no sympathy for those who used the cheap loans to knowingly live beyond their means.

-- Ed Kramer, Portage