MLK column by Walter Backstrom right on target

When I read Walter Backstrom’s editorial in the Auburn Reporter (“Would Martin Luther King hate George Bush?” Nov. 12), I was so moved.

Prior to this election, I was pretty much non-political. However, because of the nature of this election and all the happenings, events and feelings involved, I decided to take an interest. I have spent a great deal of time listening and watching the coverage for the past two years.

Probably the thing that has bothered me the most has been the hate, the vitriol, the anger, the vindictiveness and the just plain nasty comments made about George Bush.

And these have come from friends of mine. Most of these people are educators. I have always known that as a conservative, I was in the minority as an educator (I’m retired now). But these past few years, especially during the campaign, have been very surprising to me.

I understand disagreeing with the president’s policies or actions, but calling the president of the United States and Commander in Chief (I am also retired Navy) disgusting names is something I just don’t understand.

In any case, I wanted to write and let you know that I couldn’t have enjoyed your editorial more. You did a wonderful job of expressing many of the things I have thought, but could not put into words. I could find nothing in your writing with which to disagree.

– Denis DeFrancesco