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Mendota immigrants should not show their flags

Mendota residents Jose Velasquez, left, and Oscar Lopez, both Salvadoran immigrants, play billiards below the flags of El Salvador, from left, Guatemala, and Honduras at Westside Pool Hall in Mendota on Jan. 12. Mendota city officials say that over half of the city’s residents have Salvadoran roots. Many of those are recipients of a temporary protection from deportation, which the Trump administration announced ended last week.
Mendota residents Jose Velasquez, left, and Oscar Lopez, both Salvadoran immigrants, play billiards below the flags of El Salvador, from left, Guatemala, and Honduras at Westside Pool Hall in Mendota on Jan. 12. Mendota city officials say that over half of the city’s residents have Salvadoran roots. Many of those are recipients of a temporary protection from deportation, which the Trump administration announced ended last week. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

Our parents and grandparents fled a massacre, for their safety, to the United States. Legal papers, the clothes on their backs and the skills they had learned in the old country were all they had. Assimilation was very important to them, so learning English was a priority and the new customs and holidays were quickly learned.

They appreciated the opportunities to contribute to their new country and still, after over 100 years, are very thankful. It has been very important to be law-abiding citizens. This way of life has been carried down from generation to generation. We were and still are the most minority culture in the United States.

After reading the front page of The Bee on Jan. 14th, in an article by Mackenzie Mays, “Valley city faces a crisis,” I understand why President Trump was elected.

Behind the two men pictured playing pool are three country flags; El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. These men don’t live in those countries and can be proud of their heritage without displaying their flags. It is great to know many languages, but important to speak the language of the country you live in. Total assimilation into one’s community is important for everyone.

Joyanne Clevenger Lukes, Visalia

This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Mendota immigrants should not show their flags."

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