Re: “Immigrant voting rights hits nerve,” Boston Herald, 12/5.

The last time I looked up steps to become a U.S. citizen, those steps looked pretty clear to me: Establish residency for 5 years and hold a green card; be married to a U.S. citizen; have a good moral character. Why should we let immigrants who have not abided by this list be allowed to vote? My feeling is they have not yet learned about our form of government so how do they pick a candidate to vote for?

I’m very agreeable to allow people to vote once they have a grip on what the “American Way” actually means. To give them this kind of right before they’ve actually earned it is akin to letting people drive an unregistered, uninsured vehicle with a suspended driver’s license which, by the way, is exactly what Councilor Kendra Lara is accused of. Do we really want to hear her opinions on voting?

Jack Zaccardi

East Boston

The president of Harvard University had to contextualize when asked whether she would impose a speech code violation if genocidal cries against Jewish people echoed around her campus. She could not see the moral clarity of simply saying at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism that the violent elimination of Jewish people is horrific. Then again, she is a highly educated personage of the academy where nuance and context run rampant. And so let’s give her some slack, for nuance and context are far beyond the ken of blue collar, beer drinking stiffs like you and I. She would litter the campus with penalty flags and Title IX violations if a student did not identify a him as a self-described they, but genocide, well, that’s a nuanced thing that we must put in context. Parents – do not let your kids grow up to be Ivy Leaguers.

Paul Bloustein

Cincinnati, Ohio

How many working class people were in the audience while James Taylor serenaded Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden last week?  To get in the door, you needed to pay $7,500 for a seat.  Is it any wonder that the working poor are waking up to the fact that the Democrat elitists don’t feel your pain.  Biden is happy to buy your vote with giveaways and empty promises, but really, how has your life improved after four years of Bidenomics?

Donald Houghton

Quincy

With four games left and the Patriots at 3-10, it’s safe to say “wait till next year,” but there’s a lot to think about, especially the NFL draft and huge decision about the Patriots drafting a quarterback. Well here are my thoughts: one of the best quarterbacks this year is Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, last player drafted in 2022. So if Bill is still the coach going into 2024, I’ve got a feeling he won’t be the general manager and decision maker for the Patriots first round draft pick.

Tony Meschini

Scituate