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Michael Jackson Sr.'s letter to The Times began "there's no room for prejudice in these United States." His letter seems to say that because Hall County and most southern states voted against Barack Obama, we surely must all be prejudiced racists.
I certainly can't speak for everyone who voted against Mr. Obama, but I would like for all to know that I, and many others, voted for a black man (Alan Keyes) for president long before anyone had ever heard of Barack Obama. But, of course, he was the wrong black man so there was no cry from the left and from the media that racism was in any way a factor because Mr. Keyes was a devout Christian and did not fit the mold that Mr. Jackson and everyone on the left had designed for their first black candidate.
For many years I watched the political career and personal life of J.C. Watts, also black, and dreamed of the day that I would be able to cast my vote for him as president. Unfortunately, I never got that opportunity, but if that had indeed come to pass, there would have been no celebration of Mr. Watts' candidacy and no accusations from the left of racism toward those who voted against him, for he would have once again been the wrong black man.
Why is it so hard for many to understand that most of us who did not vote for Mr. Obama did so because he was the number one most liberal senator (according to his voting record) in the U.S. Senate and I fully expect him to govern as such.
Please do not hang a label on me, or claim to know what I am thinking. You don't! I doubt that we will ever see it again, but I am praying for the day that we will have another opportunity to vote for a man or woman that loves the Lord and governs accordingly. Red, yellow, black or white, he or she will have my vote.
Henry Loggins
Clermont
Column summed up pride of King, Obama
Bravo to The Rev. Rose Mackey Johnson on your article Monday! You summed it all up: what a great moment in history for this country and for the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks and all of those that stood for equality.
You said it with feeling, your heart and what most of us in this country feel: pride. If only Dr. King was here to see this moment today, every injustice he suffered will be wiped away when Barack Obama takes the oath. Superb article.
Barbara Butler
Cleveland