Julia A. King: "It was stunning to read Christopher Hewitt’s insinuation that “settlers” from Europe in the 17th century arrived in lands where there were no existing societies. The implication is that Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia were unoccupied or otherwise unclaimed territories free for the taking."

Jerry Hyman: "It seems to me the Pilgrims were immigrants who moved to a new home without permission of the existing society and with no intention of assimilating or adopting its language and culture. And that describes everything about an “illegal immigrant” that offends many people."

Get the Story:
Letters: From the Indians’ perspective, the Pilgrims came illegally (The Washington Post 12/11)