Sunday, The Times published an editorial grossly mischaracterizing the issues surrounding Immigration and Nationality Act 287(g).

The core of the mischaracterization is contained in the following paragraph: "Cronic and his deputies are in a no-win position when it comes to enforcing 287(g). If they ignore it, they aren't complying with federal law. If they only apply it to those whom they feel are serious criminals, they are picking and choosing which laws to enforce, which is not their job. But if they do what the law requires, as in the case of the fishermen, they are accused of targeting Latinos."

First and foremost, understand that INA 287(g) is not a code section that the Hall County Sheriff's Office is required to comply with or to enforce.

INA 287(g) is a provision that allows local law enforcement agencies to voluntarily sign up to be able to enforce federal immigration law, which our sheriff eagerly did. Even now that the sheriff's office is voluntarily participating in INA 287(g), its officers are free to stop at any time and are free to put holds, or not to put holds, on anyone they choose.

Also, if our law enforcement agents do what the law requires, as in the case of the fishermen arrested for fishing without a license, that would be to cite them and to not arrest them. Fishing without a license is not an arrestable offense in the state of Georgia. The arrest of these fishermen was an illegal arrest which the docile and otherwise law-abiding fishermen would have been legally entitled to resist with appropriate force.

Can you even imagine a white person who doesn't speak with a foreign accent being arrested for something as absurd as fishing without a license?

Furthermore, the statement that the fishermen were arrested because not only were they fishing without a license but they could not produce ID is outrageous. There is no law in my United States of America that you have to have ID with you at any time at all. I am free to walk out of my house without my wallet whenever I want. White people in America don't live in a country where government officials demand to see their papers.

Unfortunately, people with darker skin and foreign accents live under an entirely different set of rules.
Law-abiding citizens and resident aliens who have dark skin and speak with foreign accents are being targeted more and more for harassment due to their race or ethnicity because of the sheriff's decision to sign up for INA 287(g).

This is anathema to my United States of America. The fact that the Times' editorial board has decided to simply adopt the sheriff's position without looking in to the facts of the matter is most disheartening.

David Kennedy
Gainesville

U.S. must commit to new energy sources
President Nixon had prepared a somber statement to be released in the event that the Apollo 11 astronauts were stranded on the moon. No one knew how the ascent engine would perform in a real-life situation. In tests, the engine had failed before.

The engine did fire, even though an essential toggle switch had been broken. The astronauts improvised by shoving a ball-point pen into the void and using the pen as a toggle switch. Our experiences reaching out to do the difficult have taught us the value of having a willingness to succeed.

The current energy crisis needs the same willingness to find answers. Some estimates say that the world production of oil will peak somewhere around the year 2016. By 2025, China could be potentially importing 10 million barrels of oil a day.

The United States will be competing for oil resources by paying more for those resources. It is conceivable that we will be sending obscene amounts of money to oil-producing countries. We know that some of these countries do not appreciate our values and are not our friends. We will be transferring away our wealth and power under questionable circumstances.

Most Americans are uneasy about a giving away our country. The time may be here when we are ready to reach beyond our current expectations. There are other options that merit our attention.

Geothermal energy, tidal and wave energy, ocean thermal, wind power, electrolysis, solar power (altered photosynthetic processes, heat, solar cells and ethanol) and newer nuclear options emitting almost no radiation are possible options. Progress is being made.

The first commercial solar power plant soon will be producing electricity for San Diego. Our current generation of solar cell is capable of producing an appreciable amount of electricity, and the next generation of solar cell is on the horizon. Is it time to require that all government buildings operate with an array of supplemental solar panels? Would it be appropriate to give substantial tax credits for solar power implementation? How do we make solar power available to the average homeowner?

Another option that merits continued research is nuclear fusion using Helium 3, which comes from the sun and is deposited in the powdery soil of the moon by the solar wind. Although estimates vary, some believe that enough Helium 3 exists on the moon to power the earth for 1,000 years.

It's time to push for new options. Surely we can do this. Public pressure is essential in forcing Congress to rewrite laws providing significant, if not outrageous, rewards for alternative energy development and use.

JFK is not in the White House, but we can look to his legacy for inspiration. We choose to find new energy sources. We choose to find new energy sources and do this, that and the other thing not because they are easy, but because they are hard. JFK knew that the future belonged to those who reach for it.

Mickey Maddox
Gainesville

Clerk of courts is an honest public servant
I worked for the Superior Court clerk for more than 36 years, and was honored to work with Dwight Wood. He was the greatest clerk in Georgia, and the Hall County clerk's office was a model office for many counties.

The other Georgia clerks sought his knowledge in many new endeavors. Mr. Wood was an honest, hardworking, intelligent and fair person to the employees.

In my opinion, there will never be anyone who can replace Mr. Wood and his knowledge of how the clerk's office should be managed efficiently.

Hazel Anderson
Gainesville