When They Drove Old Dixie Down

Hi Al,
This is to say that we enjoy your blogs very much. Life has been so out of hand that Frank and I haven’t told you..but we do. On this particular subject, if it isn’t one fear it is another but I remember when Iwas a kid and the comments about JFK.
My kids now are joyous as we are –I wrote to them Tuesday night the Walt Whitman writing on Abraham Lincoln..”Someday, you will remember that you knew him.” It is really the joy they will remember.
Frank very much wants to join your writing workshops–he’ll write you about that. I would also but…
Good writing.
Meri and Frank Sotomayor

It took more than a whole century to put some time between the Emancipation Proclamation and electing a black president. Welcome to the Twenty First century.

I couldn’t agree more with you!!!! For the first time in almost two decades (since Reagan and the right wing religious went berserkers) I have wondered why the Hell I left a perfectly fine (if imperfect) democracy to live here. What happened this past Tuesday has restored my Hope for a future in a country trying to abolish bigotry.

I still seethe thinking about Prop 8 passing, proof that there is still a long way to go….

I wish I lived closer to Topanga so I could attend one of your writing groups.

Margaret

I join you in celebrating the moment. The Esthers of this world live in their own dark little corners. I just hope the loaded handguns in the headboards don’t fall into the hands of those even less responsible than the Esthers!

Al
Don’t Esther bother you too much.She’s not scary.
People like her exist but notice,almost all of them are old, products of the painful and privation filled past.They are disapearing faster than World war One Vets.We’ll always have a few crazies but this country really has gotten smarter and therefore more tolerent.I”m your age.

I’m sure I can get Esther a talk-radio show and possibly even a half-hour daily slot on Fox News. Have her people call my people.

I really hate to disagree with such a fine christian women who is afraid of the people of color but, get a life. I think we won’t even come close to getting away from this neocon right wing cowardly hatred until a lot of the ww2 and korean war seniors have taken last last step. They where a major reason why hatred to minorities was and continues to be a problem. I am 63 year old white male who is definately tired of those old farts having problems with any minorities. You heard this hatred from McCain’s wife when she said he gives me the chills mean our new President. Heck even I know its a code word for African American males. Lets at least give our new President a little benefit of the doubt. Afterall we just had the retard of the ages as the President

The Esthers of this world scare the daylights out of me. A group in Tennessee has been arrested for plotting to shoot any blacks they come across and finally go gunning for Barack Obama. We are a long way from home. I have gotten comments that Obama is a Muslim and we will regret electing him.
There are parts of this country that are great, and others not even close, not even awakened to the 21st Century.

Yes, this election has all the marks of a southern revival, big tent, mixed crowd, lots of shouting and falling down, Jesse with tears streaming down his face, folks in red moaning with apprehension of their version of hell soon to come, the right to lifers trembling in fear…
The militia types are heading to the hills to dig in, shouting “remember Ruby Ridge”…
Certain persons of color are just sure that their 40 acres and a mule will be delivered to them , in person, by himself…
The blue hawgs are squealing, and butting, and biting, to get a favored place at the public trough now that the red hawgs will be gone in 71 days….
Putin is putting a feint in play to see if this new president has any cajones…
The american unions are salivating that they will soon be freed of all Sherman Antitrust restrictions leading to a totally unionized country like their beloved France…

The american presidency is a bucking bull and this untested and very junior politician is in for the ride of his life - and I suspect he does not understand that the next 4 or 8 years will age that smooth, smiling face, as Clinton found, and not necessarily gracefully… Whether this new president can ride the bull remains to be seen… He is a great orator and great orators have usually made great presidents… However, even that is not sure.. Kennedy was a great orator but the shine was coming off Camelot with the usual bad breaks any administration faces, and the bad decisions like the Bay Of Pigs… It is likely that his presidency was careening into the downhill slide when his assassination silenced his political enemies and ensured his enshrinement in american history…

You and I look like we are the same generation, the one that can remember when toasters required you to flip the bread over by hand, and coffee makers were percolator pots that tapped and bounced as they merrily boiled the coffee into black sludge… So, maybe we have a longer view of what a president means and does…

Cordially,

Dr. Dennis O’Connor

I agree w/all that you wrote — I am very proud that a Majority has prevailed & elected Barack Obama President — but I’m still so worried now that that has been achieved that some nut case will attempt to kill him before he takes the oath of office — or after……
These are perilous times…….and there were always nut cases……but now “they walk among us” …….

Bravo! Bravo! What a terrific column. And you touch upon our nation’s great capacity to continually reinvent itself. Well done.

Amen!! I am also pleased that you included a photo of the extraordinary Cinelli. After reading about her for years, I can now visualize a face. Thanks, Elmer.

Thank you for capturing the essence of this truly historical and joyous event. I hope that the Esthers of the world can quiet their insane rants just low enough to hear the infectious notes of this new song that has the world singing in harmony with us after far too many years of discord.

Thank YOU

and keep me posted !!!!

Can you believe I just prepaid $52 for another year of Monday enjoyment only to have you be “phased out”.

Maybe now you might have an hour to spare some coming Wednesday around noontime to visit our friendly Rotary Club in Culver City.

The best summary I have seen of what has transpired during the campaigns and election…the night they drove old Dixie down. Poor “Esther” with that ugly frame of mind.

I agree with you. Obama’s election as President of All People of the United States may be the most significent, positive occurance in the history of this country.

Your friend, Esther is a dangerous person and unless she secedes from the Union, Obama is “her president” whether she likes it or not.

Thank you for your writing and sharing your wisdom. Ths LA Times seems to be seceding from the Union too. It’s sad, and historically unwise to leave nothing for posterity but random electronic bleeps and pixels searching our shrinking world for intelligent life.

Lynne

Thanks Al - I am also sorry about the Esthers of the world but I do rejoice at this moment in our history. It has been said since Tuesday night by many others but I never thought I would see this in my lifetime and the feeling Tuesday evening was surreal. Even though Barack Obama was way ahead in the polls, my inner fear was that somehow we would lose again. All I could do was cry and think about those who were no longer with us who would be crying and rejoicing with us.

May President Obama and his administration reflect the needs and wishes of the American people and may he govern in peace.

Great piece. Good thing I don’t know any “Esther”s. One thing about that old Joan Baez song, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”. My wife and I always had the idea that was more a song about the supposed cruelty of the North and General Sherman. Maybe I should go play it again
Looking forward to seeing you in the LA Times real soon.

I agree, America has a chance now to move into a new direction.
That Esther is simply a symbol for racism.Something that has been and still i s rampant on both sides, black and white and in the minds and attitudes of all intolerant followers of various beliefsystems.
Can’t we just all get along?

Now, the difficult part will be, when the lobbies come knocking at our new presiden’ts door….the weapon industrials and various contractors (WAR IS BIG BUSINESS!)will continue to insist that we have a dangerous enemy in Iran and need to invade Iran.They are going to pump up the nuclear issue to the max, use -as usuaul - the mainstream-media as their propaganda machine ,and even the smartest anchors and pundits will have no chance, when their program directors order them to say certain things and others not.

The integrity of journalists is of utmost importance now. http://www.911truth.org will become one of our most important websites.
When even the German minister of defense has already asked for a new investigation on the 911 investigation and Fujita from Japan as well, we ‘ll have to send Obama archangels and pray day and night now, to guide him and protect him against all the liars and death-industry promoters.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.AND MAY EVIL BE ERADICATED IN ALL OUR BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.AND MAY RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE PREVAIL.
Amen.
Sybille Nova

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down would have been great to hear blasted at Grant Park. Any suggestions for Pres. Obama, can be sent to him through his website. People do read them and respond…..Re: Esther: Didn’t you notice any previous nuttiness?

Al, I do not have anything against Obama. I will wait and see what happens in the next 4yrs. A black president doen’t mean all is good.He has a lot on his plate now, so we just have to wait and see.

We saved the front page of the Times for the historic event! We’re giving thanks for blogs, and we’re very sad to read that the Times is “phasing out” your column. (Next it will be Rex Morgan, M.D.), and I won’t have to pick up the paper. Seriously, though, it breaks our hearts!

Carol in Santa Maria

well put. My accountant was pumping the same bilge about Obama & the Muslims when he was prepping my taxes this year and so yes, I’m getting a new accountant for next tax season. The sad part is once they’ve played out the one mother lode of hate they just move on to mine another.

I sincerely hope that you are not being “phased out” at the Zell’s Shell. Is there anything your readers can do to turn the tide? Letters, phone calls, fire bombs, kidnappings, etc.? I’ll sign up for a few obscene phone calls. Felonies are not really my style though–I’m too old for the trauma that would ensue. I am serious about helping legally if you think of anything that would assist. Don’t want to see you fade into the mist. It’s not your time and it’s not fair to your many readers. Perhaps if we (your readers) marched en mass on the Times bldg. we could change their so called minds. We could frolic naked around the block waving banners “Save good writing from extinction.” What do you think?

Amen. Maybe I will live to see a black Jewish lesbian President! That will make Esther really crazy. .

Tell it ain’t so, Joe (Al)…why the hell is the LA Times phasing you out…didn’t they try that once already?
I sometimes worry about Barak’s safety. I hope I am wrong.
I cried when I heard his speech. I think he will be every bit as good a president as I expect him to be.

You echo my thoughts and words…..I was stationed at Camp Lejune when Truman freed the slaves of Montford Point…..significant, but not even close to this happening….a time unique……a sea change that may lead us to a more cohesive nation of Americans…..of all stripes and colors…..we can all walk proud………..crazy bigots be damned!!

Dear Al,

I would prefer the version by “The Band”

Or how about this one?

Aint gonna let nobody
turn me ‘roun
turn me ‘roun
Aint gonna let nobody
turn me roun
I’m gonna keep on walkin’
keep on talkin
walkin into freedom land

Aint gonna let Karl Rove
turn me ‘roun
turn me ‘roun
Aint gonna let Karl Rove
turn me ‘roun
I’m gonna keep on walkin’
keep on talkin
walkin into freedom land

John

Hi Al-
Thanks for sharing–I could’nt agree with you more! “The Band “also does a great job on that song.
I’m 50 yrs. old, and have seldom seen such hope and optimisim over a presidential candidate. Makes me proud to be an American!

God bless you and your lovely bride,
Manny G.

I just sent you an e-mail about the election and looking forward to your Monday column. Please disregard it because I wrote it before I read your blog.

I love this blog. Thanks for writing it.

Jean Colbert

wow! I was so entranced at the sight of so many people in Grant Park on the most wonderful election night, while the rest of us watched enthralled with tears running down our faces at the thought and sight of such triumph! But the song you suggest, sung by Joan Baez would have made a perfect moment in time celestial!
Love the new blog site. I have long wondered what the mysterious Cinelli looked like and now I know She looks like someone I would like to have as a friend.
Thanks!!

You are one of the reasons I still take the Times. If you get “phased out”, I may reconsider my long standing subscription. Glad you have the blog. Let’s look forward to a new American tomorrow.

Another excellent article. Right now, I’m honestly still in shock as is the rest of the world. I had hoped for an Obama victory but thought it would be close. The fact that it was a landslide has me more in shock than the fact that he actually won. Your suggestion that they should have played The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down was right on. He didn’t carry any of the southern states except Florida (which to me is a “borderline” southern state), and sadly the people there are going to go on living their own way while the rest of the country–and the world–moves on.

I too am filled with true pride, hope and thankfulness for my Country as I have not felt in a long time. My only regret is that my husband who was
Black (I’m White) passed away in early 2005 at the age of 65. You know what he went through his whole life and that our life certainly had challenges due to our color and age difference (15 years). I know he would have been crying tears of joy along with me and our grown children that this intelligent, articulate, caring Black man was elected. I recall so clearly when Mr. Obama made the speech at the Democratic convention back in ‘04. Just a minute or two into his speech, my husband looked at me and asked, “Who is this man and where did he come from?” He accurately predicted that one day he would be president, but we certainly didn’t expect it so soon!

God’s speed to you and your beautiful wife (thanks for including her picture in your blog; I feel I know her from your writings and can now envision her when reading your future articles). Keep ‘em coming!

Thank you for including us in this blog; loved the picture of Cinelli!

Thanks also for the article.

We’ll be looking for your column in the Times on Monday.

As a very senior (84 years old) citizen I can’t say how happy I am that Obama was elected. I contributed to his campaign and feel we are lucky to have someone like him as our next president. I was not happy with his relationship with Jeremiah Wright, especially after I heard much of what Wright said but African Americans certainly had much to be unhappy about
their treatment and not just in the South. I remember my time in Mississippi undergoing basic training at Keesler Field in Biloxi and seeing white only fountains and restrooms and watching blacks go to the back of the bus so I can understand their feelings of frustration. Hopefully now African American parents in poorer areas will spend more time on helping their kids get better educations. There will always be haters and they can be black or Hispanic or Asian as well as Caucasian but this is a big step up with more that 60,000,000 Americans voting for a non white president.

Hi, Al - “Teach Your Children Well” would have been another great one to hear. A colleague of mine has two adopted children from Haiti. We have been discussing the view from their eyes: they are “insiders” now, not “outsiders”, or the “other”, or, “that one”. The old, worn “struggle” won’t be part of their makeup, as dominant a filter as it has been for every person of color in this country until this moment in time. As you imply. racism will not be instantly exorcised from our present, but for the children, it will not be seen as a fact of life that can prevent them from dreaming and working to attain their highest goals, regardless of skin color. We have always said these things, but the difference now is: Yesterday, it was an idea; now it’s reality. I am so glad I lived to see this; didn’t realize how stuck in resignation I had become that things would never change as much as they should. And, my mother, who is 83, is beyond ecstatic. We all feel a certain, deep kind of peace settlling in our souls, and a new kind of freedom. But, still protective. It is, afterall, a new beginning that must be nurtured.

Damned good column and damned good advice.

How nice to have access to your thoughts on current events whenever I want to see them! Yes, it feels like a new day and we have very high hopes for our president-elect. I was particularly struck by how important this election seems to have been to much of the rest of the world. There is a palpable sense of relief that comes through, and we have the opportunity to repair our terribly damaged relations. He’s young, smart, thoughtful, articulate and represents the best of America. I am certain he will call upon all of us to help him implement his plan and am counting the days until we can say ‘President Obama’. How wonderful it feels to finally have something to be really proud of. As for Esther, this too shall pass…..

We have a friend who has gone down the same road as “Esther.” She began sending more and more hate e-mails containing out-and-out lies and fear-mongering rumors early in the presidential campaign. She used to be a fairly reasonable person, but has somehow morphed into a Fox News robot. We cannot understand how or why this transformation occurred. Perhaps the mental constitutions of ordinary folks are more delicate than we have suspected, and events like 9-11 have tipped some over the edge of reality into the world of a kind of paranoid irrationality. Whatever it is, it’s sad to see, especially at a time when our nation has taken the biggest step toward equality and rationality that I’ve seen in my almost 70 years of living. It makes me worry about what kinds of reactions we are going to see from those who simply cannot encompass the cultural change. I can only hope and pray that we now see real legislative change begin with Obama’s first term.

Al,

Full disclosure here: The Band is my all time favorite musical group.
I always interpreted the song as a “retreat in defeat”, not a celebration of victory. Granted some individual lyrics could be pulled out and used as a metaphor for the end of a way of life for some…

I had the pleasure of seeing Levon Helm (original vocalist of this song) in Nashville in September. While he did not perform this song, he did many other chestnuts from the 60’s and 70’s…

While I did not vote for Senator Obama, he will probably be a good president (I hope)…

Ralph
___________________________________________________
The Band: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Songwriters: Robertson, Robbie;

Meaning of song

The lyrics tell of the last days of the American Civil War and its aftermath. Confederate soldier Virgil Caine “serves on the Danville train,” the main supply line into the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia is holding the line at the Siege of Petersburg. As part of the offensive campaign, Union Army General George Stoneman’s forces “tore up the track again”. The siege lasted from June 1864 to April 1865, when both Petersburg and Richmond fell, and Lee’s troops were starving at the end (”We were hungry / Just barely alive”). Virgil relates and mourns the loss of his brother: “He was just eighteen, proud and brave / But a Yankee laid him in his grave.”

Ralph J. Gleason (in the review in Rolling Stone (US edition only) of October 1969) explains why this song has such an impact on listeners: “Nothing I have read … has brought home the overwhelming human sense of history that this song does. The only thing I can relate it to at all is ‘The Red Badge of Courage’. It’s a remarkable song, the rhythmic structure, the voice of Levon and the bass line with the drum accents and then the heavy close harmony of Levon, Richard and Rick in the theme, make it seem impossible that this isn’t some traditional material handed down from father to son straight from that winter of 1865 to today. It has that ring of truth and the whole aura of authenticity.”

Robertson claimed that he had the music to the song in his head but had no idea what it was to be about. “At some point [the concept] blurted out to me. Then I went and I did some research and I wrote the lyrics to the song.” Robertson continued, “When I first went down South, I remember that a quite common expression would be, ‘Well don’t worry, the South’s gonna rise again.’ At one point when I heard it I thought it was kind of a funny statement and then I heard it another time and I was really touched by it. I thought, ‘God, because I keep hearing this, there’s pain here, there is a sadness here.’ In Americana land, it’s a kind of a beautiful sadness.”

______________________________________________
Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train,

Am C/G F F/E Dm
‘Til Stoneman’s cavalry came and tore up the tracks again.

Am/E F C Dm
In the winter of ‘65, We were hungry, just barely alive.

Am/E F C Dm D
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it’s a time I remember, oh so well,

(Chorus)

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the bells were ringing,

C/G Fmaj7 C/G Fmaj7
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the people were singin’. They went

C/G Am Gsus4 F C
La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La,

Am C F F/E Dm
Back with my wife in Tennessee, When one day she called to me,

Am C F F/E Dm
“Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E. Lee!”

Am/E F C Dm
Now I don’t mind choppin’ wood, and I don’t care if the money’s no good.

Am/E F
Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest,

C Dm D
But they should never have taken the very best. (Chorus)

Am C F F/E Dm
Like my father before me, I will work the land,

Am C F F/E Dm
Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand.

Am/E F C Dm
He was just eighteen, proud and brave, But a Yankee laid him in his grave,

Am/E F
I swear by the mud below my feet,

C Dm D
You can’t raise a Caine back up when he’s in defeat.

Yes, you are right, there are so many lunatics as Esther. It will take another generation to clean out this venom from our society.
By the way, I was confident from the start that Obama will win, and couple of days before the election, I had visualized the LA Times headline as,

“It’s OBAMA”

Lastly, why are thay ” phasing you out?”

This “Esther” person sounds too unreal to really exist. However, these medieval freaks surely do exist.
After the last 8 miserable years, I, once again, can truly be proud of saying, “I am an American”.
Thanks for Cinelli’s picture. Now I really feel as though I know her.
Al, I truly love you (I have only said that to my wife, children and their children, and my late parents.)
DON’T EVER STOP.

S. Reiff, M.D.

And now the difficult part begins…but let’s be sure we take him at his word and continue to be part of the dialogue and keep him on track…which is not to say expect too much at the beginning…let’s give him time to get everyone on board, trust him and agree to follow his lead. THEN real change can come about.

Al, as usual, a great blog — I so enjoy your writing. It was, indeed, a night to remember, and the anthem you suggest is perfect! Glad you’ll continue blogging — I can’t believe you’re (once again?) being phased out of the Times. What the heck will I have to look forward to if you’re gone????? Wish I could attend the classes — keep posting them, I’m still hoping ….
All my best — and to your incredibly talented Cinelli, as well!
Shannon Rosenfeld

Darling Al,

A lovely blog! It’s such a great thing — and so interesting to be in a room full of folks where everybody is crying. You’re right — it doesn’t change the fundamental structure of race relations in America, but it should take some of the wind out of everybody’s sails — the white nutcase rascists, the black professional groaners: If a son of a little bit of a whacked out hippie single mother a sometime user of food stamps,who’s black, for heaven’s sake, can be president, then it puts some of the truth into the myth that EVERYONE can be president. Because through and after all the bullshit, we still are a great country!

That woman is proof that many on the Right have their own favorite brand of Kool-Aid that they drink. ;-D

I am a former Reagan Dem who has evolved into a Moderate Conservative.

Unlike many, Left, and Right, I read, and think for myself, from all sources that I find interesting, and useful.

I agree that the election of Obama is a great moment in our history, but all that I have read, and heard, in his own words, and the words of his associates over the last 20 years, troubles me.

Those associaltions, plus his policy prescriptions, have me concerned.

I am willing to give him the chance to prove my concerns wrong, and see him do great, and good things for our future.

He will have to earn my trust, and respect, thru deeds, not flowery speeches.

One of the most troubling things about the vote this time is how it appears that not just did many whites vote against him solely due to race, but most blacks, and latinos seemed to vote FOR him for the same reason.

Voting FOR him because of race, politics be damned, seems to me as much rascism, as voting against him for the same reasson.

Will we see much soul searching in the media over this in coming days?

Anyway, Mr. Martinez…welcome to the Blogosphere!

As the students at Spellman College cheered, one young lady was hunched over and was crying. I cried with her because of the feeling of relief that Obama won and that the election was over. Now, I don’t have to contemplate a move to Canada or New Zealand.

What is it with the Times? They are on your case again? Hope you win out
as you did last time. I have said - and mean it - you retire, or they retire you, and I cancel my subscription.

Hang in there Al! I have loved most all of your columns (for years) and
lately, the blogs.

America is a capitalist country, your friend who seems to have lost her mind represents a large proportion of Americans.
Who believe slavery should be returned to this country ,(cheap labor) and it goes against their understanding of the bible.

Until people recognize America is better than the bible , we will have all sorts of similar problems.

The country whom America criticized for so long , for Apartheid had their first black President 30 years before us.

I am old enough to remember The Great Depression. The similarity to today’s economic situation is striking. There were no jobs, no food, no hope. Then when Franklin Roosevelt was elected my life changed dramatically. My father got his job back, we were able to buy our own house, and the future looked bright. The New Deal transformed America.
With Obama as our new president, I feel history is repeating itself, and from my perspective at 85 I see the changes he will make. I now have hope for the future of this great country of ours.
I am in Texas and just discovered your blog through a California friend.
I salute you for your talent and your courage.

Hope is the word, Obama is the messenger. Anyone watching Election NIght and the speech and celebration in Chicago who didn’t choke up, is brain dead or a bigot, or is that redundant? Esther and those like her are to be pitied I guess but golly is it hard. Hatred is fear personified by the unknown and generated by the hater needing to feel superior to the hatee. Thank God we have Al Martinez writing for us, and by- God, L.A. Times, keep sanity on your pages and keep Al Martinez.

Addendum: A wonderful site–Obama Song (World of Friends) http://blip.tv/file/1338283 great music and wonderful pictures of Obama fans taken all over the world. We do have hope

What can I say about the LAT. On the one hand it seems to be much more to my taste but on the other hand I am appalled at some of the columnists that they publish. Jonah Goldberg Luciannes’s son writes lousy pieces and am surprised that they continue to give him a voice. Surely there are more intelligent conservatives around than him. Your column should have been on the opinion page to delight many of your fans.

Hi Al, my Dad loves your column, he’s always forwarding me your stuff to read, and my husband and I do enjoy all of the articles we read of yours. Anyway, In contrast to all the crazy Esther’s out there I’d like to share with you and your reader’s the email I sent to my friends and family, the day after the election.

As you know, since the start of the Iraq war, well lets say, since we found out that Bush lied about the weapons of mass destruction, my Dad has been flying the flag upside down as a signal that our country was in distress. He couldn’t understand why more people weren’t upset about this war, so he made it his mission to enlighten anyone and everyone on this subject. He was angry and depressed and saw only a bleak future for his grandchildren. I bought him “The Audacity of Hope” last Christmas, and slowly I saw the light in his heart and mind come back. He dared to dream again, albeit cautiously, he still couldn’t wrap his mind around this country electing an African American. My father was forced to attend a segregated elementary school in AZ when he was a tot, he knows first hand how deep the roots of racism run in this country. Needless to say, his spirit was uplifted with Obama’s victory on Tuesday. Barack lead America to chose Hope over Fear and renew its greatness by bringing together intelligent, open minded, progressive citizens to work toward a common goal - Peace and Prosperity for America and the world. Thank you for for hearing the call, and making it happen. My Dad is one personal story of hope renewed, but the truth is, this story was played out millions of times all over the world. How awesome is that?!!

Those negative comments by Esther mirror what I heard from my NC brother I’ve mentioned to you before…the retired Marine who served during the same time you did. Patriotic enough to do two tours in Korea and two in Vietnam, all during the conflicts, but now says he’ll not watch TV for a number of days, and when the President-elect comes on, he’ll leave the room.

Well, I feel about the same way regarding the present President, mostly due to his lack of command of the English language. What a thrill to have someone addressing us who really thinks, speaks properly, expresses love, and who listens to others. Hopefully he’ll gather advisors who are equally bright, and he’ll not be threatened by their intelligence.

Let’s all gather round, and give our support!

Hi Al, When I enlisted in the Navy in 1942 under Pres Roosevelt’s order to desegregate the Navy I was the victim of many sailors, who thought like Esther, who just wouldn’t accept us as regular sailors. We were supposed to be Officers Stewards(combination valet/cook), therefore segregated from the rest of the crew. I will skip the details(would take a book)of what we went through but within a few years the good hearted Americans said enough. That’s what happened in this election. I like to think that as a result of our success, Truman felt comfortable in desegregating the entire military. There is that basic decency in America,slow to energize, but Proposition 8 thinkers will soon be overcome by that same majority. Go To http://WWW.Der Spiegel/International to find out that all of Europe was watching, hoping that Obama would win.

Esther is apparently one of those who helped elect the current Moron in Chief. (Twice!) Thankfully, her kind appears to be dwindling. If all the Esthers of the world would just disappear, the world will be a better place.

One can only hope.

I have heard of more Esthers around and can’t figure out where they are coming from. I thought that we had overcome that stupidity and could move on but guess there are people that are just going to take it to their grave. They must be so unhappy.

Only get the Times on Sunday so get your column on the internet. Going to cancel my Sunday now too…..it is not the same paper. I understand the reason for the changes but just don’t like the paper anymore.

Keep up the good work….really like your blog!!

It’s interesting how we all held our breath struggling to be ‘politically correct’ and how the ‘race card’ played AFTER this election. I’m naive in thinking that Pres. Elect Obama was elected by the majority of US voters because of his fine, upstanding principles based on his background and education (nurtured by white folks). He was first to bring it (race) up in is victory speech quoted in the NYTimes as QUOTATION OF THE DAY: “It’s been a long time coming. But tonight, because of what we did on this date, in this election, change has come to America.”- BARACK OBAMA
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?th&emc=th

And now you… Well, I hope it starts a ‘change’ reaction and Mr. Obama is able to accomplish what he has promised for ALL Americans or does his agenda for a special group come first? Other than the probable special increase in the black car parade (American cars I hope) to control the unruly part of the crowd I expect life will go on as usual. I’ll hold my breath for a little longer before I start picking the cotton I’d better hurry up and plant.

It is kind of funny see ‘Old Dixie’ blue… or is that red?

Thanks for having me on your blog list. Like Annie Lloyd, I too am sorry that the Times is letting you slowly fade away from them, so I’m glad you’ll have this blog to keep us all in touch with your excellent writing.

Thank you also for showing a picture of your lovely wife; after all the years of your writing about her, it’s nice to put a face to the name!

Obama is a perfect blend of two of the most outspoken ethnic groups in this country - white and black. As such, he is a symbol of what can be achieved when ethnic groups come together in one person. Let us hope that he can awaken that inner union in all of us, so we can try to solve society’s pressing problems before we destroy ourselves. The rest of the world seems to have adopted him, as well. The potential is greater now than ever before. Let us all be up to the task of supporting him in his effort.

I’m disturbed that we may not be reading your columns in the Times anymore. I sent a letter to the editors that said the Times is slowly becoming a glorified Pennysaver - all recipes, comics, puzzles, horoscopes, and ads. News and information have become secondary. I enjoy the lighter features, but they’re not why I pay ever increasing amounts to subscribe. What will be will be. But, I will miss your column a lot. I thought your election day column was the best ever!

I just knew Obama had to be our next president in order to help our country on its path to becoming more enlightened. It’s too bad that we have so many fearful, hating people who believe all the negative hype put out by Fox News and other narrow-minded sources.

I have enjoyed your column and hope The Times is not turning into a conservative newspaper. They have gotten rid of several good writers, and I hope you are not next. I am very interested in your blog.

As I sit here typing on the laptop, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” is playing on TV. To witness the many changes from the early 60’s to Nov 4, 2008 is, well, I don’t think I can adequately put it into words.

Here’s to the future!

I think the past really is prelude to the future, but unlike the past, the future is constantly evolving before our eyes. It is capable of change. That’s a good thing, since we cannot go on for much longer living the way we have up ’til now.

This was an election about change, and change is what we got. We can only hope that the Esthers of the world dry up and wither away in their barren little deserts of paranoid despair. But in my heart, I fear we have not heard the last from them — and that’s a scary thought.

The LA Times are idiots if they cut you and your column loose.

I have more hope for our Country after this election than I can remember for lots of years. I was afraid for my country for some time now, but on Nov. 4, 2008 when John McCain gave his concession speech and I heard Barak Obama give his acceptance speech, my faith in my country and its people was renewed. I have a few friends like Esther and I agree that those kind don’t get it and never will. Maybe there really are more of Us than Them, but I was really hoping that it might now be WE.

My, Al, you certainly get a varied correspondence. I’m sorry Esther feels as she does.

You’re right, though. Anyone who thinks of Obama as a new Moses is mistaken, but maybe we are learning, slowly, that race is not a barrier to excellence.

I don’t want the Times to oppress you again. Do I have to send them another stiffly-worded note?

Thank you for having the artistry to capture feelings and images through words.

I am intrigued and thrilled by the worldwide responses to Obama’s win.

It’s like a lifetime ago, as my husband and I were sitting in a tiny bar in the Costa Brava area of Spain. It was raining and cozy inside and a Beatles tune was playing. We felt connected with everyone in the world.

Unfortunately, I don’t feel such goodwill toward the deep South or the vitriolic religious “right”……….and yet, today, there is progress.

Hi Al,

It is still difficult for me to believe that there are STILL some people who think & believe this “junk”, but I do know that they exist. Fortunately, there are enough of us who evaluate an individual regardless of his/her color of skin, religion, sexual preference, etc., etc., & with the Obama election, we are obviously the majority!!!!

Our President-elect summed it up so well in the final days before the election: “We are offering hope, and they are offering fear.”

Esther has bought into the fear. (I hear they’re having a fire sale on fear!)

Keep up your perceptive observations.

As a McCain supporter, mostly because I didn’t think Obama could grow into the job fast enough, I am not unhappy with the outcome. He is growing fast into a difficult, nearly impossible job. He deserves and needs our heartfelt support. Who cares what color he is. He’s now our President, and I am beginning to suspect he will be a great one.

At 9:00 PM on Nov 4th, when the victory was declared, people poured out of our building in Hollywood onto the street where we did indeed dance, shout, and wave our flashlights to the sound of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed and Delivered”. Passing cars honked in support and agreement. As for the Esthers of our country…well, there is an American Nazi Party, the Ku Klux Klan (bankrupted by the ACLU, but still breathing), and numerous other pockets of blind hate. They, and their ignorance, are the most frightening things I have ever experienced in my life. Combat, close calls, bad results on medical tests don’t even come close. Still, at 77, I do not despair.

Unfortunately, this country has many “Esthers”. With President Obama, that even sounds good, I see hope, a different direction, a getting away from “His Imperial Highness the President”. Its going to be hard for our President Obama, he will need our support and prayers and maybe a little sacrifice on on our part.

Of course , bigotry still exists, but so does fear, both rational and irrational. I don’t know this woman’s experience with ‘other races’, personal or from a media’ted distance. IF her knowledge of African Americans…and hispanics, is limited to media reports, on the evening news, then her perspective is influenced/warped by the daily grind of violence in ‘their neighborhoods’, at their schools, and crossing the border. Thus, while we may criticize her warped perspective, we are also forced to view the ‘majority vote’ in 3 states on ‘Gays right to marriage’. How would the majority have voted IF each one had an immediate relative who is a gay/homosexual, by choice or genes. Too many Americans have voted based upon their ‘ignorance’, lack of personal friendship/relationship with those they condemn. YES, all too many Hatreds are born out of ignorance,denial, and emotional distancing. And where does the solution lie? Four years from now, we will understand more than we do today….

Right on, Al. Unfortunately we have a very long way to go.

i don’t have a website, so am not sure if this will get to you, but if it does i wanted to add my small voice to the millions who finally saw fit to do something remarkable in this country. finally, we have had enough of bush and those consummate idiots who now run the government, and will soon be blessed with those who, at least seem, to know what they are doing. i will need one of esther’s handguns if it all goes wrong, but for now i am looking forward to a long and rewarding life under PRESIDENT OBAMA.

i agree with annie lloyd - “those kind never do”

Well said, well said. I loved that Joan Baez tune, but never quite understood the message. You explained the message to me. Thank you.

The attitude of “Esther” also exists here in L.A., at my church - yes I said my church, my fellow parishiner advised me that Mr. Obama was really a Muslim and I should keep my eyes on his hand as he takes the oath to see if he is touching the bible.
In the 50’s I was station in the south, U.S.M.C., it was interesting. Uniform or no uniform, Korea or no Korea all they saw was my brown skin. But then again - same experience in parts of L.A.. Ah the good old days!

“Hatred had been rejected, not ended”…how true a statement. I know these things…I live in Mississippi.

Hopefully though, it will be the beginning of the end.

You might be interested in reading an article about slavery in the north at http://www.theroot.com/views/confronting-slavery-deep-north. It might change your mind about using a song that assumes that slave-owning was restricted to the South.
Did you know that the first slave trade in America was conducted by the Puritans? Cromwell, having nearly destroyed Ireland, sent a lot of Irish into slavery, but didn’t want to dirty the Crown’s hands with slave-trading. He granted the right to trade Irish slaves to Puritans. The Irish were the first slaves in the US. No, they weren’t indentured servants. They were slaves.
This sheds some light on the once-ubiquitous signs in New York City that read: “No Irish No Blacks.”

The last (whites) shall be first, and the first (blacks) shall be last. After centuries of preparation, the first are are now ready to assume their rightful position in the world to lead us to the “promised land”. All will participate, and all will succeed. Obama is just the beginning. May we make the most of this wonderful opportunity to raise all of the human species to it’s highest potential, and may no one be left behind.

I, too, f3ear the”Esthers” of the world. There are too many of them.

Marilyn Jensen

yes, there are all too many still Esthers out there, not just confined to hatred and racial prejudice…we see them in the “Tea Party” zealots, on the smug countenance of Sarah Palin
i know first hand, all to well, about bigotry and intolerance, for i was “Trapped in the Wrong Body”
i was Meredith
now i am no longer trapped, and i am no longer in the US, having moved to a tropic island paradise in Thailand, but i still remember, with something even far greater than pride, the morning after the election, swelling with tears of pure unbridled joy as the LA “by God” Times confirmed that it was, indeed, at last, true; that the words printed on another piece of paper somewhere, one far older than that morning’s newspaper, one far dustier- that those very words “We the People” were suddenly, finally, irrevocably, TRUE!!!
my pride for what America accomplished in the 2008 election knows no bounds, every day on my island i meet people from all over the world who tell me how Obama has given them, indeed everyone it seems, hope…