EDITOR,

I got a racially charged e-mail about President Obama from a friend whom I’ve known for years. Promptly, I asked her not to include me on her forward list in the future. She responded respectfully and took me off the list, and apologized for offending me.

I’ve got to say this situation really upset me. My opinion of Obama is not based on the color of his skin. It is based purely on his policies, with which I take issue. If we are to have intelligent conversations about politics and issues in this country, we need to leave race aside. Also, personal attacks stifle one’s credibility.  

In California, racism isn’t what it used to be. In the ’80s, my high school had only a few racially mixed couples. Today, there are many. Kids need to be raised colorblind. Evidence seems to show they are, for the most part. A few years ago, one of my dearest friends, who has an interracial marriage, said she’d never seen so many interracial married couples as she’d seen in Tracy.  

As a country, we need to build on the foundation that “all men are created equal.” Our leaders need to speak out against racism of any kind, and we as Americans need to be able to speak openly, including about the border and illegal immigrant issues, without being branded racists. It only stifles any real conversation, and we need real solutions today in America.

We are desperate for our leaders to be legitimate and honest so that these issues can be resolved in the best possible ways.