Deconstructing the New Democratic Team

Jacob Weisberg makes an interesting point: George W. Bush has wreaked havoc both at home and abroad, and the GOP nominee promises more of the same. The nation is reeling. Barack Obama would be soaring in the polls if it weren't for prejudice, but in that regard he has two strikes against him. Not only are some Americans reluctant to vote for a person of color, some also seem suspicious of anyone intelligent enough to actually lead. How else to account for having to endure a second term of Bush? God spare us from a third.
Michael Steely
Medford, Ore.

Jacob Weisberg asks us to "Do the Math," and concludes that "12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn't vote for Barack Obama in part because he was African-American." But Weisberg should have asked us to "do the logic" instead. The poll data indicating that "race was a factor" is not the same as what he concludes. Pennsylvanians may have voted for, rather than against, Obama because of his race.
Dan Guzy
Mercersburg, Pa.

Fixing D.C. ' s Public Schools
After 20 years of teaching in public schools, I know Michelle Rhee deserves praise for having the courage to defy the political and bureaucratic nonsense that is destroying our education system ("An Unlikely Gambler," Sept. 1). She deserves support in her efforts to get rid of teachers who are not doing their jobs. But she is dead wrong on two other issues. We don't have quality teachers in our classrooms because there are too few who choose education as a career. Better pay is a start, but more must be done to improve working conditions so we can attract not just more and better but the best and the brightest to our classrooms. When Rhee downplays the role of parents in academic success, she perpetuates the insane idea that schools can do a parent's job. And I cannot see that telling potential teachers they will work 70 to 80 hours a week and therefore be unable to have any other interests or responsibilities is going to attract quality people to our classrooms.
Bennye C. Scown
Odessa, Texas

Witnessing the Wounds of War
It is easy to get caught up in our routines and frustrations and forget about the daily reality of the men and women serving in the U.S. military. We think in terms of numbers in a news report rather than individuals caught up in events that are incomprehensible to most of us. Jason Cohen's "The Tragic Bonds of War" (MY TURN, Sept. 1) shatters that mind-set, reminding us of the humanity of both the soldiers and their caregivers in the tragedy of this war. Our country is fortunate to have soldiers committed to protecting the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Our soldiers are blessed to have people like Cohen to care for them if they are injured. He and the many others who tend to our wounded deserve our gratitude for their lifesaving efforts. As a nation, we cannot have too many reminders of these patriotic and compassionate people. God bless them all.
Anita R. Saurer
Novi, Mich.

© 2008