Readers weigh in on what they like and dislike

A smooth stretch of highway

My compliments to the government of Panama and M.O.P. for the restoration of the Forest Preserve Road located between the Transisthmian turnoff at Chilibre and Gamboa. It is once again, one of the most pleasurable and beautiful stretches of highway in Panama. Well done!

Skip Berger

Ambassador Bill

It was my great privilege to meet and occasionally socialize with Ambassador Bill Eaton last year in Panama. He is a gentleman of thoughtful action, sensitive and alert to the needs of the citizenry --- both the Panamanian and the American. He enthusiastically supported our production of "The Night of the Iguana" (by the Ancon Theatre Guild, at the only English speaking theater in the country), as well as many other local creative and philanthropic efforts. He is a career diplomat who honors us by his presence, one which we, as American citizens, can be very proud.

Pat Quinn

Politics, race and today's kids

Today, on the 40th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I want to share a video that reveals how far we've come and how much this campaign owes to Dr. King's legacy.

Students at a high school in the Bronx, who had no real interest in their government, have found new hope. They were surprised by their own excitement and engagement, but to me, they embody so many reasons why Barack and I decided to get into this campaign.

It's truly moving to see young people inspired by a political leader -- someone who gives them hope and reminds them that they can be anything they want to be if they work hard.

Watch what these kids have to say about politics and race in this country:

http://my.barackobama.com/yestheycan

Much has changed in this country since Dr. King's death, and thanks to his life and work we have taken critical strides towards racial equality.

The simple fact that Barack is running a competitive campaign for President is a direct result of Dr. King's legacy --- and this movement for change would be impossible without the support of people of all races, ages, and backgrounds.

I remember back in December of 2006, a group of us were discussing the possibility of Barack running for President. And as you might have read, I was hesitant about the idea.

But then Barack started talking about why he really wanted to do this --- to bring people together and to change the tone of the way we talk to each other in this country. He talked about the need for people to be inspired by their leaders, and the importance of leadership to chart a different course. He talked about Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, and their passion to challenge a new generation and provide them with role models.

Barack promised that as a candidate and as President he would do everything he could to bring new people to the table. He shared his desire to reach out to our neglected inner cities, to strive to be a role model for young people, and to connect with people who are not involved in politics --- those who feel their voices haven't been heard, those who have been left behind, and those who have been turned off by all the petty bickering in recent years.

We can change that, by standing on the shoulders of folks like Dr. King who came before us.

Watching these students who are excited about their own role in politics for the first time, and watching Barack as he strives to live up to the challenges Dr. King made possible, I am truly touched.

I hope you'll watch this video and share that feeling with your friends and family.

Michelle Obama

Election 2008: The Independent Party Is Growing Fast

After listening to many Americans during this campaign season we have some interesting information. Many Republicans who are not happy with the choice of John McCain have pledged to change from Republican to Independent. On the Democratic side, voters who are becoming increasingly upset about all of the talk about the Super Delegates overturning the will of the people will also switch to the Independent Party.

Even before this election began many Americans were already tired of the Republicans and Democrats fighting on key issues in both the House and the Senate. The elections have only served to intensify their thoughts on change. The Democrats are especially vulnerable even with so many new voters signing up to vote. Many Democrats feel that their candidate should be decided strictly on the will of the voters.

Democrats who came out during rain, hail, snow and tornado warnings did so that their voices would be heard. Now they are told that the Super Delegates may very well overturn their will. This doesn't sit well with many Democrats and the Democratic Party should really take stock of this fact if they want to survive this election. It doesn't matter who the Super Delegates think can win against the Republicans! The Democratic voters will choose who they as Americans and Democrats want to see as their Presidential nominee. The Democratic nominee should be the candidate with the most pledged delegates and the popular vote, more importantly the most votes!

In recent years the Independent Party has been growing fast partly due to the dissatisfaction of both the Republicans and Democrats. Both Republicans and Democrats should take a more realistic look at why so many Americans have decided or are deciding to become Independents! As Independents these Americans can vote for the candidate of their choice whether they be Republican or Democrat. The Independents can vote for the best person regardless of what party the candidate is affiliated with.

This should be a wake up call to both Republicans and Democrats but more than likely neither will wake up and smell the coffee until the coffee pot is empty!

Citizens For Global Peace

Stop the smears

Doctored photos, demonizing cartoons, unsupported allegations, deliberately placed vicious rumors, innuendos, misinformation with no sources, reliable or otherwise, are again flooding the Internet. The ugly and juvenile smear campaign of Election 2008 is underway. Smear artists are hard at work insulting not only the candidates but also our democratic process. They are insulting you and me.

According to a_recent_survey, one in 10 voters mistakenly think Senator Barack Obama is a Muslim.

In addition, the nonpartisan Pew Research Center poll indicates that nearly a quarter of white Democrats (23%) who hold a negative view of Obama believe he is a Muslim. The debunked charge that Senator Obama attended an Indonesian Madrassa continues to circulate, as do innuendos about his middle name, Hussein, which happens to have been shared by the highly respected US ally, King Hussein of Jordan (1935-1999). It has been suggested that voters should be concerned whether the candidate has Muslim “in his blood.”

To illustrate how a rumor based on falsehoods can spread, NOW (PBS) produced “Anatomy of a Smear,” Sorting Fact from Fiction in the 2008 Election Campaign. The NOW Timeline reveals that an unsubstantiated claim about Senator Obama originated from chain e-mails that began circulating some time in 2006. They contended that Obama is a Muslim (false) and that Obama attended a radical Muslim school (false). There's also a more recent malicious rumor that Obama did not have his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. See http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/401/political-smears.html

Some Debunking Resources:

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW: Fact checking the Media

FactChecker: The Washington Post Fact-Checker

FACTCHECK.ORG: Analysis of ads and statements

MEDIA MATTERS: Media Matters for America

POLITIFACT.COM: Analysis of attacks and statistics

SNOPES.COM: Urban Legends Reference Pages

WASHINGTONPOST.COM: The "Pinocchio" test

Full Disclosure: I am a registered Democrat, an active member of Democrats Abroad, and a supporter of Senator Barack Obama for president. This issue of smears is not, however, about any single candidate nor any political party. This is about US, the citizens of the United States, be they Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. We have the right to vote for the presidential and congressional candidates of our choice based on facts and authentic information about the candidates, their respective parties and policy issues. Any attempt by those who would compromise our voting rights should be stopped. Now.

Beverly Bandler
Jalisco, Mexico

Supports peaceful protests against Chinese communists

I commend the Dalai Lama and Olympic protesters for their peaceful condemnation of China’s communist government and its efforts to suppress religious autonomy.

China’s Marxist government falsely presents itself as the authentic spokesman for the aspirations of the people, and claims to be able, though by recourse to violent means, to bring about the radical changes which will put an end to the oppression and misery of people.

Marxist communism, is characterized by the "class struggle" which implies that society is founded on violence. Within this perspective, any reference to ethical requirements calling for courageous and radical institutional and structural reforms makes no sense. In this system, every affirmation of faith or of theology is subordinated to a political criterion, which in turn depends on the class struggle, the driving force of history.

Participation in the class struggle is presented as a requirement of charity itself. The desire to love everyone here and now, despite his class, and to go out to meet him with the non-violent means of dialogue and persuasion, is denounced as counterproductive.

The Tibetan cause is a reminder that religious freedom is a fundamental right that precedes the state and which cannot be severely curtailed or denied by it. Put more broadly, and as Pope John Paul II put it, religious freedom is the "first freedom." It is "the premise and guarantee of all freedoms that ensure the common good."

Paul Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada