Letters to the Editor, Cont’d: Not All Negativity Constitutes Racism

Not All Negativity Constitutes Racism
Editor, Times-Dispatch: A sentence in Michael Paul Williams' recent column, "Obama Banner a Bad Joke," caught my eye made me shake my head in amazement. He wrote that he couldn't "recall a president being treated with such disrespect by U.S. citizens."

I don't know Williams' age, but I recall during President Lyndon Johnson's administration and later, during President Richard Nixon's term, signs, protests, and marches were much more disrespectful than any of the current ones. Those two presidents were castigated daily for the Vietnam War and Watergate. This was done in the press and outside the White House. In fact, the signs were so vindictive that Johnson decided not to seek another term.

Williams should do a little research. He could learn a lot from history. He should also try to refrain from blaming anything negative on racism. After all, President Barack Obama was elected with 53 percent of the popular vote -- and not all those votes were black.

Mary E. Wheeler.
Charlottesville.

Hanson's article paints an amazingly clear picture of the role the academic community has played and the background responsible for the emergence of two very controversial subjects -- namely, the constant exposure of the president, as well as his unprecedented fascination with czars. These never-ending appointments should be of concern to every citizen of this country.

Why should we spend time and money electing our legislators only to have their powers usurped by these hand-picked czars whose influence on the executive branch is unlimited? Members of both Houses have to meet certain qualifications before being elected. Why then does Congress permit an unelected, unvetted tier of individuals -- working without any oversight -- to come between legislators and their president?

The czars have gotten completely out of hand and it would be interesting to know just how much this unabated practice has cost taxpayers in the past six months. A complete overhaul of the system might also add a bit of something that is sorely missing in our nation's capitol -- transparency.

There is one consolation in Hanson's statements: "Many of the former Professor Obama's problems so far hinge on his administration's inability to judge public opinion, its own self-righteous sense of self, its non-stop sermonizing, and its suspicion of sincere dissent."

Maxine Fitzgerald.
Glen Allen.

I readily profess that I am no theologian, so maybe Maxwell could help educate me. Regarding the current health care debate, and the reticence many of us share for having the government involved, Maxwell reminds us of our obligation to care for the sick among us.

My understanding of that ethic is that we should exercise charity toward those less fortunate than ourselves.

Given that one's faith, and thus adherence to that ethic, is based on one's free will, could Maxwell point to the chapter and verse where it says that we are to be forced by the government to care for others? If the government, through the use of its coercive force, can make us do so, is it still charity? If it is not free will, and thus true charity, will we still be harshly judged?

Floyd Bayne.
Midlothian.

But the best part of his rant is when he tells the older generation that they shouldn't be allowed to "muck up the works for the young," and instructs them to get over themselves, that their "replacements have arrived."

This self-absorbed elitist wants a national system imposed with health care rationing so that the replacements can take over? Whether or not they actually exist in the health care legislation, does he want death panels?

Regarding Keillor's recent stroke: I couldn't help but notice that he didn't donate his very ample possessions, including the cost of his treatments, to charity and let his replacement take over.

His actions indicate that he really meant poor, working class old people shouldn't be allowed to muck up the works. What a poster child for the left.

Cory Agnew.
Gum Spring.