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Highlands Today

My Opinion

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Leslie Weiner

Published: February 21, 2008

Though this country has made great strides in overcoming racial prejudice and stereotyping groups of people, those things still exist, especially amongst the poor, uneducated and rural Americans. Sebring is rural America and it exists right here in our home town, like it or not.

Before anyone jumps to any conclusions about me, let me just say that I have never in my life been called a racist or a bigot, nor was I ever called a male chauvinist pig when it was fashionable to do so.
My hiring record over the years, when in position to do such things, proves that out. I served in the army, graduated college, am married, have three children and seven grandchildren who I would like to see more often. I am not any sort of political activist, this is the first time I'm attempting to voice my opinion in a public form.

There is one candidate, Barack Obama, seeking to become his party's nominee for the President of the United States. He is charismatic, good looking, well educated and is an extraordinary inspirational speaker. The best I've heard in a very long time. What he is saying is exactly what the people want to hear and it plays into their emotions and dreams. He is doing the same thing they said his opponent was doing in Iowa. We all want the type of utopian society he describes. Unfortunately it hasn't a prayer in the world of coming into being in my lifetime or yours. It is one thing to want something and another to make it happen.

There are 435 members of the House, each following their party leaders most of the time. Each party has its agenda and priorities. The Senate has 100 members. It is fairly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Neither side has enough of a majority to get much accomplished. Now we have a candidate who is promising the moon but has not said how it will be accomplished. All the pretty speeches won't make it happen. I pray it can happen. Unfortunately I am a realist and know better.

I'm not saying Sen. Obama is a bad man, far be it for me to say that. I just don't believe what he is trying to sell to us. Sen. Clinton is an effective second term senator, was a highly successful lawyer, who as a woman has overcome many prejudices of her own. People call her hard and stiff. They said the same thing about Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth I.

Leslie Weiner
Sebring

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