Letters To The Editor: Hometown Talent Stole the Show

Hometown Talent Stole the Show
Editor, Times-Dispatch: The unsung heroes behind the successful grand opening of Richmond CenterStage are the directors and staff of CenterStage Foundation. Rather than making the safe choice of presenting an out-of-town guest star, they courageously invested in the artistry of the resident companies here in Central Virginia. The board raised funds to pay each organization to showcase its art form, and brought our groups together on an equal basis to share the same stage for the first time in history. Their faith in us -- and our community -- is heartening.

Backstage, the mood was simply euphoric as 300 artists, production crew members, and support staff checked their egos at the door to collaborate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and genuine encouragement. While the audience will long remember the outstanding individual and collective performances, I will celebrate the unprecedented level of cooperation and renewed spirit of partnership in the arts. Keith Martin, Managing Director, Richmond Ballet.


Richmond.

When Do the Hearings Begin at the Capitol?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Correspondent of the Day Jan Wood ["Obama's School Speech Benefited Children"] is not quite correct contending that we would not be having a conversation regarding a president's school speech if the last name was Bush or Reagan. It was the lesson plan to be used in conjunction with the speech that was put out by the Obama administration that attracted most of the conversation.

Putting that aside, President George H. W. Bush gave a school speech during his administration that attracted more than just conversation. The Democrats ordered a government agency to investigate. The agency found no misuse of government funds in giving the speech. The Democrats also held hearings and dragged administration officials to the Capitol to testify.

I'm still waiting for the conversation that directs an agency to investigate.

Paul M. DesJardins.
Richmond.

Americans want our government to return to the traditional moral values that we were founded upon. The lobbyists, special interest groups, and politicians that are corrupt and self-serving are destroying our nation.

I am calling on all Americans who love our country and want it returned to its Judeo-Christian principles. All of us must demand Washington clean up the corruption. Demand that Congress stop all actions on health care, cap-and-trade, global warming, or anything else until corruption is eradicated.

If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything. Stand up now.

Joyce Evans.
Henrico.

Since Blair K. Griggs decided to call people like me racist in his letter, "Racism's the Reason Obama's Not Liked," I have some questions:

• What would I be called if Hillary Clinton had been elected president and I also disagreed with her agenda? A chauvinist or a sexist?

• What would I have been called if John Edwards had won and I disagreed with his agenda?

• What does Griggs call black Americans who disagreed with Bush? Racists?

• What does he call blacks who do not agree with Obama? Or does he expect every black person to automatically like the president because they share skin color?

At least I can sleep at night knowing I can defend my political beliefs without resorting to calling people names. And for clarity, I don't want America to fail -- just the president's liberal agenda. If Obama's vision of big government (health care, automobile manufacturing) succeeds, then we as a country will fail.

Seth Rosenthal.
Richmond.