Letters to the Editor
Favorable treatment for Obama, not Bush For eight years, the most despicable things were said about President George W. Bush, who was slammed as a liar, a moron, a Nazi (or Hitler himself), and Satan. All who reelected him in 2004 were dismissed as idiots.
Favorable treatment
for Obama, not Bush
For eight years, the most despicable things were said about President George W. Bush, who was slammed as a liar, a moron, a Nazi (or Hitler himself), and Satan. All who reelected him in 2004 were dismissed as idiots.
Did R. Danielle Egan ("Racism underlies rage at Obama presidency," Wednesday) or Tony Auth (cartoon, Thursday) decry these attacks with equal zeal? Did they balk when people portrayed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Stepin Fetchit character, joked about giving Bush more pretzels so he would choke to death, or prayed that Vice President Dick Cheney would suffer one final heart attack?
Is this what we have to look forward to for the next 31/2 years? Anyone who points out ACORN's shenanigans, disagrees with massive government spending (from both parties), or questions changes in health care is being called a racist. This is a blatant attempt to change the subject and to intimidate decent people into remaining quiet.
Are there racists in this world? Yes, too many of them, and they come in all colors. But suggesting that any criticism of President Obama is racially based is utterly reprehensible.
Brian Gillin
Broomall
The real reason
for ACORN attacks
Friday's editorial "ACORN needs a hard look" presents a shallow analysis of the current situation. Last fall, your same Editorial Board wrote a commendable piece on an attack on ACORN titled "Registering the 'wrong' people" (Oct. 23, 2008), which put the ACORN "scandal" of last year in proper perspective: For all the hype and false claims, absolutely no voter fraud has ever been found, and ACORN has never been convicted of a crime.
In fact, ACORN registered more than 1.3 million largely African American and Latino voters, which is the real reason ACORN was being attacked.
Norka Maldonado
Philadelphia
Don't forget
the sheets next time
I watched the "Tea Party" protest in Washington. With clenched fists waving in the air, slanderous signs, and the evil look of disdain for President Obama, it reminded me of a Ku Klux Klan rally.
In the past these types of angry mobs used to kill by lynching. Now, they have taken a more conservative approach. The next time the Tea Party mob storms Washington, remind them to wear their white sheets.
Sabin Rich
Sicklerville
Just part of the story
of N. Broad's rebirth
Although Temple University deserves our region's gratitude for its work in turning a major section of North Broad Street back from the brink, we should remember that this important thoroughfare begins its 12-mile journey with several spectacular marvels of fine architecture and culture ("A new vision of N. Broad St.", Tuesday).
Earlier this year, the 1873 Masonic Temple, the first historic building on the northern section of the Avenue of the Arts, completed an $8 million exterior restoration. The next block has Frank Furness' and George Hewitt's 1876 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and, across the street, the Pennsylvania Convention Center's soon-to-be completed extension.
This city is blessed that North Broad Street has an abundance of fantastic structures of all styles, world-renowned institutions, and supporters willing to set long-term goals.
As everything in Philadelphia, these efforts may take generations, but they are well worth waiting for.
Andrew A. Zellers-Frederick
Former executive director
The Masonic Library
and Museum of Pennsylvania