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Call to Compassion

Saturday, November 12, 2005; Page A24

When I read about the Minutemen in Herndon and their efforts to discourage illegal immigration ["Day Laborers Being Photographed, Followed in Va.; Group Wants to Discourage Employers From Hiring Herndon Workers," Metro, Nov. 8], I wondered why we put so much energy into efforts that don't solve problems but just shuffle them around.

The day laborers in Herndon are hungry, and they have hungry families. People will go anywhere and do anything to feed their children. If we could figure out a way to put our energy into finding solutions to the poverty in the homelands of these workers, they wouldn't feel the need to leave the families they love and risk their lives (as many have) to come to the United States and perform backbreaking labor while suffering the indignity of being followed.


In the meantime, couldn't we be compassionate?

MARY CURRY NARAYAN


Vienna