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October 19, 2008

David Selby

Obama embodies our hope of mending fences

When integration came to Morgantown Junior High, I knew my life had been enriched. To my good-fortune, a young African-American, Charles Blue, and I were placed in the same eighth-grade homeroom. That year, "Chuck" led our homeroom to the eighth-grade championship in all-around sports. Best of all, I had gained a dear, honorable friend for life.

Another African-American, Charolotte Johnson, tried out for cheerleader that year. Her tryout was a song-and-dance number that went something like "Strawberry shortcake, huckleberry pie, let's all cheer for Morgantown Junior High." She won in a landslide. Charolotte's wonderful, innocent spirit infected all students and teachers who were fortunate to see her tryout that day.

The turmoil and racial violence percolating in the 1950s exploded in the '60s. But as a sophomore at West Virginia University in 1960, I got to watch the great running back Ernie Davis lead his Syracuse football team to victory against the Mountaineers, and contrary to the recent film, "The Express," I witnessed none of the violent racist actions seen in the film. Needless to say, it is dismaying to see West Virginians portrayed in such a deplorable light.

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16 Comments

Posted By: oldprncpl (7:49pm 10-24-2008)

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Some of the comments on this post are perfect examples of why West Virginians have the sorry, backwards, redneck reputation that hurts everyone in this state. Selby simply gave his opinion and had the guts to sign his name.

Posted By: Red Dragon 70 (7:01pm 10-20-2008)

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I read with great interest the piece by David Selby and I found it refreshing. It let me know that my home state just might not be the backward, bigoted, and socially regressive land of my upbringing. But then I read in succession the ranting of NOBAMA, followed by the inane comments of Proud WV, and the perpetual fear that smarbap lives in. What about diversity, whether it be a conference in Charleston, or the January 20, 2009 White House in Washington, that brings your fear and trembling? I suggest that all three of you get used to it. Learn to love with new meaning the playing of "Hail to the Chief." Our nation, and the state of West Virginia will be better for it.

Posted By: NOBAMA (3:42pm 10-20-2008)

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David Selby is a washed up Hollywood hack with WV roots... another dim celebrity in the tank for Obama (maybe he hopes he'll be NEA Chairman... I think NOT). And he spews a bunch of LIES that have been totally debunked by the CIA - nobody at McCain rallys are yelling "kill him" - and they yell terrorist when Bill yers' name is raised. Hey smart guy David Selby... why is the medi aNOT reporting on all the hate speech directed at Palin and McCain? Why are all these ignorant and uneducated celebrities saying vile things about Sarah Palin and not getting eqaul treatment in the media? Sandra Bernhard, Madonna, Matt Damon, Ludacris... this list goes on and on. Liberals and celebrities (like Obama) are RUINING OUR COUNTRY! This "op-ed" is the most ridiculous thing I've read in the Gazette in HOURS! Don't beleive the media hype - McCain-Palin can and WILL win on November 4th. pray hard! Speak in tongues! Infurriate Jim Haught! Befuddle Byrd! Don't allow Obama & his radical pals win!

Posted By: Proud WV (12:02am 10-20-2008)

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David Selby is just another Hollywood leftist who makes a living pretenting to be something other than what they are and believeing they (Hollywood) can influence my voting for a looser like Obama. When was the last time David Selby was ever in WV, could that be about the last time he had stable work "pretenting" in the drama Falcon Crest.

Also to "susan in cross lanes" Todd Palin is not running for office and the Huffington Post is nothing but the mouthpiece of MoveOn.org. Perhaps WV should succeed for the under and declare itself a third world country. The Democratic Socialist Marxist Party has "ruled" over WV for 90 years. Susan perphaps YOU want to pay for more taxes, but I don't. Now according to Obama, you are RICH if you make of $42,000, this is more than the average WV makes. If you want to pay more in taxes, please write your personal check to the federal government, but leave me out.

Posted By: Susan in Cross Lanes (7:57am 10-20-2008)

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Smarbap:
First - the Palins are very much linked to the Alaska Independence Party with Todd being an off & on card-carrying member & the Mrs. P just recently spoke at their annual meeting. Here is a link with that info: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-naif/todd-palins-alaska-indepe_b_134793.html
And I guarantee you that if Alaska tried to secede from the US it would become at the least an act of sedition and/or treason due to the energy resources alone that would be lost. Supporting secession is way beyond just having an opinion!
Keep listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh!

Posted By: joseph2008 (1:40am 10-20-2008)

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$3 trillion and counting Deaths, veteran care, loss to the economy, spoiled American brand; David Selby said Obama embodies our hope of mending fences.
=================================
Joseph
<a href="http://www.widecircles.com">Link Building</a>

Posted By: Mountaineer (10:57pm 10-19-2008)

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Sorry, it posted twice for some reason, but I'll continue. Are you ready for public school funds to be slashed? Because that's what a stand against socialism really means. Will you renounce all entitlement programs, including social security, Medicare, and Medicaid? Will you approve the privatization of roads, support one's right to burn flags and participate in a plural marriage?

I had never realized there were so many Ayn Rand followers in the Great State. Hm!

Posted By: Mountaineer (10:52pm 10-19-2008)

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To those against Obama's "Marxism" and "socialism" -- are you all prepared to endure the realities of a decentralized and often nonexistent government? I'm as suspicious of government's essential "goodness" as you all, but are you prepared to decriminalize drugs? Because that's what an open market means to me. Are you prepared to accept gay marriage? Because that's what freedom of conscience means to me. If you really stand against centralized government planning, you'll surely stand against these obstructionist laws.

Posted By: smarbap (9:44pm 10-19-2008)

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Susan in Cross Lanes,
Favoring secession is NOT an act of treason. In fact, having an opinion is not a crime at all. And the Palins are NOT affiliated in any way with the Alaska Independence Party, other than to live in the same state as most of its followers do.
All news programs are biased, some more dangerously than others. To say that Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are biased is to isolate the few conservative outlets while ignoring the other 99 percent that is overwhelmingly liberal and undoubtedly biased.

Posted By: Susan in Cross Lanes (7:39pm 10-19-2008)

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There are way to many people that listen to such biased news programs as Fox News & the single-minded Rush Limbaugh. Everyone is entitled to vote for their own choice but this election is critical to our future & limiting your opinions to those of such biased news reporters is exactly why WV is so stereotyped.
There are great web sites that tell the truth about both candidates - warts & all, that are completely unbiased. (Factcheck.org, politico.com, etc).
And by the way - if we are worried about security clearance then you should be even more concerned about Sarah P & the first dude who are associated with the Alaska Independence Party who favor seceding from the US which is an act of TREASON!!!

Posted By: Earned_My_Degree (5:04pm 10-19-2008)

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Many white people are voting for John McCain who actually believe that Barack Obama would be the better President. Many of these same people would actually be better off in their lives if Barack Obama were elected. I wonder what that says about these folks.

Posted By: smarbap (8:43am 10-19-2008)

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My concern is exactly what "it" Obama will do once in office. In our haste to embrace "change," some choose to see only that which fulfills their own preconceived visions. In reality, Obama's past and present associations, Marxist views, and past political record--or lack thereof--could result in a President increasing the role of the federal government in our day-to-day lives, destroying our freedoms to choice, and irreparable damage to our nation's foreign policy.

Posted By: Fred Brown (7:34am 10-19-2008)

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I've got no problem with "mending fences" and all that. But let's find a canidate with less baggage and a less extremist agenda. Barrack will be bad for this country. Let the Dems come up with a moderate for President and I could support them.

Posted By: wvcoalminer (6:22am 10-19-2008)

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West Virginian you are entirely correct. If America votes in a person for president because of his skin color, instead of his character, leadership abilities, goals for America, it shows pure IGNORANCE on the voter's part.
It is messed up that Obama is allowed to even run for president, when he would not even be admitted to the FBI or CIA, etc, becuase of his background. Now he may be "squeaky clean", but his hanging around with such characters suggest otherwise. Furthermore, his refusal to take a stance on issues (he votes present most of the time), you have no idea where he REALLY stands. All you have is him running his mouth.

Posted By: WEST VIRGINIAN (3:17am 10-19-2008)

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Since this is an OPINION page, Selby's opinion is just that.

Many white people are voting for John McCain, because Obama's race does not have as much to do with his defeat, as the fact that Obama is just another Chicago street hustler, that has risen to power in Chicago because of his relationships with a raciest preacher, a convicted Criminal who has bribed Chicago politicians, and has had 'deals' with Obama.

Also Obama is supported by another raciest that preaches against white people and Israel, Louis Farracan.

And the list goes on of Obama's shady characters, like American Terrorist Ayers who bombed the Pentagon, and still says he wished he had bombed more.

If Obama were applying for a Classified Govt. Job, he would be denied because of SECURITY RISKS.