Letters to the Editor for Monday, July 21, 2008

Published: July 21, 2008

The context of that pesky Obama quote
In his July 19 letter to the editor, Robert DeLong misquoted from Barack Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope,” removed all context and followed this by the familiar “if it walks like a duck” aphorism.

Click to send

Righttruth.typepad.com has the actual quote from page 261 of the book: “Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

While many Arab and Pakistani Americans may be Muslim, Obama is standing by Americans. As an American (and descendent of immigrants, as are most of us) that’s exactly where I want my president, whether Democratic or Republican.
MAUREEN McBRIDE
Lynchburg

Still for McCain
Barack Obama did not say he would side with “the Muslims,” which could easily be read as meaning he would side with the world’s Muslim population even if it meant working against the best interests of the United States. He said he would side with “them,” referring to his mention of immigrant communities and specifically to “Arab and Pakistani Americans.”

Furthermore, he was speaking of an “ugly direction” similar to the mass internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

This false quote goes hand in hand with the equally false rumor that Obama is a Muslim.

With this said, I trust that this will satisfy anyone that had issues with this quote in question. I still believe Obama is a danger to our national security, will raise our taxes, greatly impede our goal for independence from foreign oil and take our economy in a further downward spiral that will require decades to pull out of after he would be out of office.

And I still plan to vote for John McCain.
DAVID EVANS
Evington

Work for change
In a recent letter to the editor it was stated that Sen. Barack Obama would stand with the Muslims.

The actual quote from “The Audacity Of Hope” is on page 261. After writing about many hard-working immigrants who played by the rules and have become citizens, he then goes on to write specifically about Arab and Pakistani Americans following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: “They need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

He is talking about citizens of the United States! He did not even use the word Muslim. Find out the facts; don’t rely on ads, chain e-mails and smear tactics.

I am not better off then I was eight years ago, and I don’t think the county is either. I will proudly vote for Obama, and if any of you would like to help in this cause, stop by the Obama headquarters on the corner of 12th and Main streets in downtown Lynchburg. Together we can make a change in our leadership that we can believe in.
ALISON CHADBOURNE
Lynchburg