Letters to the editor for Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Obama used pulpit to speak truth on racism

Shame on Mr. Jackson for his letter to the editor accusing Obama of divisiveness concerning the Zimmerman trial. He blasted the president for “making his thoughts publicly known” and “placing the presidential seal on the divisions of the races.” He sounded angry Obama even dared to speak about it. The unmitigated gall.

For the first time ever, we have a black president who can truly relate to racism on a deeply personal level. Race is still a raging cancer destroying this country. The fact that we are currently disintegrating under the most racist and useless Congress in history should attest to that. By speaking up about this trial and race relations, Obama is empathizing with blacks nationwide on an intimate level when he said Trayvon could have been him 35 years ago. This sorely needed to be said. Publicly. Thank God it was.

Like a festering sore must be discovered and cleansed before it can heal, racism must be openly discussed and dealt with relentlessly if we are to truly progress and heal as a nation. The fact that Mr. Jackson suggests Obama is “divert(ing)” focus away from their lack of addressing important issues within our country suggests he feels that racism is not a valid concern. Apparently, Mr. Jackson expects our president to sweep it under the rug as so many others have done before him. It’s 2013, not 1813. Only racists are offended when racism is discussed. Just sayin’.

Robin Christy

Carson City