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I am an American. As an American I respect whoever is elected president of the United States. But we never referred to President John F. Kennedy as Irish-American Kennedy. So why is it the newspapers, television announcers, etc. must always refer to President Barack Obama as African-American Obama?
He is President Obama. We all know his heritage, and do not need to be reminded that his father was from Africa. He is an American. We all know the color of his skin and that has nothing to do with the position he holds.
No, I didn't vote for him, having been a Republican for years, but he is a president for all of us and needs all our respect and prayers.
Dorothy Galloway
Gainesville
New era leads to more dependence
Beyond a shadow of doubt, the presidential inauguration marks the beginning of a new era for America and possibly the entire civilized world.
Those of us who remember the World War II era are familiar with the "Uncle Sam needs you" patriotic posters. President John F. Kennedy conveyed this same thought when he said, "Don't ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Unfortunately, my prognosticator license expired during the Jimmy Carter administration. Since then my dreams for America the beautiful have turned into nightmares of environmental rape and plunder of the landscape by so-called developers and big-time greed, deception and mayhem in the financial and political sectors.
The contemporary mindset of most Americans, unlike President Kennedy, is don't ask what I can do for my country, but what can my country do for me? This being the case, we need a new patriotic poster as well. Visualize if you can Uncle Sam pointing his finger and saying, "You need the government."
Be ever mindful that for a number of decades we Americans have been lulled to sleep by our false sense of prosperity. This has allowed the enemies of democracy to sow their seeds of socialism. In my opinion, we are just now beginning to see the appearance of hardcore socialism (via TARES) which will remain until harvest time. Whatever that means.
William P. Clark
Flowery Branch
Local attorney Orr earns statewide honor
On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I extend congratulations to Gainesville attorney Wyc Orr, recipient of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' 2008 Indigent Defense Award.
For more than 25 years, Wyc has rendered distinguished service on the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council and, before that, the Georgia Indigent Defense Council. Throughout his tenure, he has vigorously challenged the temptation to "pass by on the other side" when the unpopular cause of ensuring that even poor defendants receive a fair and impartial trial stood at risk of becoming a hollow promise.
Wyc Orr's steadfast commitment to equal justice under law inspires all Georgians to believe that this uniquely American aspiration can be a reality. I commend the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for recognizing Wyc's public service and his unswerving leadership in the cause of preserving the rule of law.
Jeffrey O. Bramlett
President, State Bar of Georgia