DEAR EDITOR:
I am writing an answer to an article entitled ''Stop beating the racism drum'' that appeared in the Tribune Chronicle May 13.
In responding to an article I wrote, Blair Thomas of Cortland argued that opposition to Obama policies is race unrelated. After first reading the article, I thought about the Civil War era and the little town of Oberlin, Ohio.
The abolitionists helped Harriet guide hundreds of slaves to freedom. Then I thought about the white civil rights worker who was hung by the Klan in 1961 near Meridian, Miss.
In fact, if it were not for the thoughtful white electorate, Obama would not be our president today. Every step along the way people of color have expressed gratitude to whites and those who have a sense of what they believe to be wrong in the eyesight of God.
After reading the article a second time, I was perturbed to see that Blair had adhered to all the Tea Party's political positions. Had Obama not run for the 2008 presidency, would there be a Tea Party? Where have we been for the past 3 1/2 years? How can anybody conclude that the president's opposition has nothing whatsoever to do with the color of his skin?
Alfred Spencer
Warren