Letters

Obama served with 'grace and dignity'Dear President Obama,I would like to introduce myself and tell you how greatly you have changed my live. My name is Lois Blaylock, and I live in Morgan Hill, California, a quaint little town in the southern part of Silicon Valley. I am 83 years old, the mother of eight children and a widow since 1972.I have been a staunch conservative Republican all of my adult life, until I heard you give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. The passion in which you spoke and the articulate way in which you delivered your message of Hope deeply affected me, and I said to myself, “That young, handsome black man will be our President some day!” My children still tease me how I was the first one to proclaim your Presidency.When you declared your candidacy for President in the 2008 election, I immediately called the Registrars Office and changed my party affiliation and have been a proud Democrat ever since!You have represented the American people with grace and dignity and I will greatly miss your presence in the White House, and your calm, thoughtful approach to the problems here and abroad. I will also miss your winning smile and great sense of humor.I, like millions of Americans, am appalled that Donald Trump won the election. That such a crude, ignorant, dishonest person will be the leader of the free world is frightening. He is not qualified to represent our American values and I fear he will destroy all of the rights our country has fought so hard to establish—especially the rights of women and minorities.I shudder to think of his appointments to the Supreme Court…God help us!Thank you Mr. President, for your eight wonderful years of service to our country, and God bless you and your beautiful family. And, thank you for changing my political life. I will never forget you.Lois BlaylockMorgan HillLocal reaction to racismToday I read an article about Carl Paladino, an advisor to Donald Trump, and I became visibly upset and nauseated.His comments were with regard to our President, Barack Obama and his wife , Michelle Obama. No need to repeat the vile words, but if we allow this kind of verbiage to be made without comment then we are as bigoted and obnoxious as this man.If the future president lets this advisor say words so obnoxious and go without any words of disgust, then our country is in for some troubling years.I will not be silent. This is inappropriate talk.Diane ScariotGilroyBoldly stand upThese are unprecedented times in our history. Never before has a presidential nominee or president-elect made promises that threaten the well-being of our citizens like what we are currently experiencing, nor has the fallout ever emboldened other citizens to respond by bullying LGBTQ people, people of color, residents who are not citizens and also those protected by the Obama Dream Act, not to mention children in our own schools that we heard about at (a recent inclusivity forum).The talk of a Muslim registry must be terrifying to our good citizens of Muslim faith who are being treated as terrorists. Never before have millions of people been promised that they will lose their health care as soon as the president-elect takes office.The notice “To Morgan Hill Residents” that is before you this Wednesday refers to San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s statement giving reassurance that it will stand up for all its residents and then states that “Morgan Hill City Council and our staff are providing ‘many of the same assurances to our residents,’” which begs the question: Which ones aren’t included?San Francisco officials approved a statement that it is an example of bold leadership and a promise far above the status quo in which they took the risk of standing up in the face of what is wrong, and boldly promised to do the right thing, no matter what. They took this bold stand and made clear that they will not be bullied by Washington policies or the threat of withdrawal of federal funding.The statement before us for Dec. 14 states, “In accordance with best practices of local law enforcement professionals nationally, we will stay out of immigration enforcement.” San Francisco is standing up for not being part of a registry period. Words matter and the words used in the San Francisco document are very powerful. They actually create safety and partnership that the right thing will be done, not as a matter of best practices but as a matter of leadership standing up for what is right.Other words used in the San Francisco document provide the missing inclusion and experience of safety that I request be included by Morgan Hill. I feel strongly that the word “LGBTQ” be used because it is specific in its inclusion of those who identify with this as their community, and also because the bullying and hate crimes aren’t directed at “people of alternative orientation.” They are directed at LGBTQ people.I see that you have specifically used the term Muslim and you have made it more likely that they will experience inclusion and support. Please do the same with LGBTQ people.Your words are important, they are powerful and they are worthy of thoughtful, extensive consideration and input. Yes, I am asking that you go above and beyond the status quo of supporting existing laws and take a stand for the LGBTQ people, people of color, immigrant residents—whether citizens or not—whose health, well-being and family relationships are at stake, as well as our local Muslim community, all women and all children whose dignity and respect have been compromised by the promises of our president-elect.I ask you to boldly stand up for us all as WE ARE ALL Morgan Hill! Let these groups know specifically that we will respect them and treat them with dignity, not just enforce laws.Ann HornerMorgan HillThis letter was originally sent to the Morgan Hill City Council Dec. 12 regarding the council’s agendized “statement of support and assurance.” It has been edited for length and clarity.