Columnist wrong in dismissing racism

I didn't care for Kathleen Parker's Sept. 23 column. Parker admits that Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and fought to keep the Confederate flag flying over South Carolina's Statehouse (but don't call him racist). She admits that Republican operatives have for many years used white resentment toward blacks to garner votes with their Southern strategy (but don't call them racist).

Then, she oddly concludes that it “obscures the truth” to think any of those actions might be motivated by racism. Not only that, but if anyone points out that racism may be involved they are using racism themselves. What nonsense.

I am a middle-aged white man who grew up in Georgia. I witnessed the hatred and intolerance in the region. I know there are many good and fair-minded people there, but I also know how deeply racism runs, even among otherwise “good” folks.

Many who criticize President Obama today are unrepentant, uninformed, uneducated racists parading their bigoted views as “patriotism.” They yearn to return to the “Andy of Mayberry” days when things were simple, right and white. Those days were fictitious back then and they are fictitious today.

Joe Behrendt

West Liberty