I read my local paper every week, because I like to see what's going on in my town. I especially like to read the Letters to the Editor, because it's interesting to see what issues members of my community are thinking about.

In this week's letters to the editor was the following item:

To the editor:
I drive only in [city] because of a medical disability. I was born and raise in [city] and I can't help but notice the drastic changes that have taken place in my beloved city.
Demographically, our population has changed. I notice that a great deal of our residents either do not speak or read English. That is probably the reason why a majority of our traffic rules, which were passed to ensure our safety, are not followed by so many drivers and pedestrians.
Jaywalking has become epidemic. "Cross at the green and not in between" is a rule that has fallen into disuse. Double-parking is commonplace. I have often seen cars and other vehicles double-parked and no drivers behind the steering wheels. Crossing over main avenues at streets lacking traffic signal lights is a game of jeopardy because the view of oncoming traffic along our main thoroughfares is blocked by vans, trucks and SUVs.
Our public parking lots are being converted and will demand outrageous fees to park. I would like to know why these changes took place without a referendum of our residents. Why is the Parking Authority exercising absolute power?
It seems that our [city] residents have become so affluent that every household owns and operates three to four vehicles. I remember when a family owned one vehicle or no vehicle at all. Traffic rules were rarely disregarded. But today, anything goes. This is not progress, but a symbol of the general deterioration of the moral foundation of our society.
Father Giuseppe Orsini

Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. First, I have no idea what language has to do with jaywalking. And what does crossing in between streets have to do with the Parking Authority and public parking lots?

So, I wrote my own little letter to the editor. I'm sending it in today, so I hope it will be published either next week or the one after. Here's my response:

To the editor:
I was disheartened to read Father Giuseppe Orsini's letter to the editor from March 29.
In his letter, Father Orsini writes: "I notice that a great deal of our residents either do not speak or read English. That is probably the reason why a majority of our traffic rules ... are not followed by so many drivers and pedestrians. Jaywalking has become an epidemic."
One would hope that Father Orsini, as a man of the cloth, would not spew such prejudicial and spurious beliefs. There is no connection between language and etiquette or proper behavior.
I am a first-generation American, having immigrated here as a child. I speak fluent English, and am a contributing member of society. Have I ever jaywalked? Yes. Does it have anything to do with the language I speak? Absolutely not. To connect one thing with the other is a blatant attempt to justify his prejudicial beliefs.
As the national spokesperson for an Italian-American anti-bias foundation, Father Orsini should know better. It's comments like his that continue the kind of bias and intolerance he supposedly opposes.

I really hope they post it. I'll let you know.