Elton Gallegly

Re Rep. Elton Gallegly’s “perspective” (Ventura County Perspective Interview, Feb. 1).

It’s a perspective, all right--distorted if not downright twisted. Specifically his comments regarding so-called illegal immigrants and, in the same breath, Latino constituents.

As a Mexican American I think Gallegly must be on another planet. Does he really believe that the Latino community is so dim of wit that we are willing to suffer mass amnesia regarding the Republican agenda--propositions 209 and 187, bashing of bilingual education, deportation of Mexican-American citizens, persecution of farm worker union organizers and so forth by so-called conservative Republicans?

Gallegly has it backward. It is he who should reflect the “philosophy, values and rationale” of the people he wishes to represent. We Latinos value family values and specifically extended family values, in contrast to the dysfunctional nuclear or, more accurately, split family model of our contemporary society. So if he thinks he can divide and conquer by differentiating between later-generation Latinos and “illegal immigrants,” guess what: Many are family members reuniting with loved ones.

Maybe Gallegly should spend some time in the barrios and learn something.

BENJAMIN DE LA SIERRA

Moorpark