Support our president

This past election season, I listened to candidates on a daily basis who were trying to get votes so we can have a better country to live in.

To those who won: I hope they think twice about what they said against their opponents to clinch victory. Was it all worth it?

To those who criticized our president, realize that no one is perfect.

President Barack Obama has been president of the United States for less than two years. We’ve had numerous serious problems for years. Are we really expecting him to rectify what has been done in less than two years? The president does not make all the decisions. That is why we have Congress.

I am praying that what decisions the president makes will help our country.

Close your eyes and think about what the president is saying and doing for us. Then ask yourself if you are against him because he is a minority or because you just don’t like him.

There is no past or future president who is going to please everyone. Instead of working against our president, let’s work together as citizens to help him.

Frena Rhodes, Robinson

District 17 speaks

Thanks, voters, for having the courage and vision as a community to understand that by denying U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, his seat, you have put the country first and recognized the strength of our community.

Our own assets as a people, together with the core values we share as a community and our growing vision of what we want to become, will enable us to thrive without the pork that Edwards fed us for 20 years.

Woe to the Republicans who forget that the tea party movement got them to Tuesday’s victory. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele failed to recognize the tea party while in Waco last month. On a national level, he conveniently has ignored its role in the great Republican victories of the 2010 midterm elections.

Salvatore Ali, Waco

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Gosh, Chet. You can’t help a vet anymore. You sure never helped when I needed it. I am a former Vietnam veteran, and you would not give me the time of day.

There still may be hope for us now that you’re going to be out of office. 

Charles Frazier, Waco

Children’s concerts

Bravo to David A. Smith for his Thursday column, “Students learn to make sweet music.” Smith captured the flavor of an exciting day for about 6,000 local fourth- and fifth-graders who attended the children’s concerts by the Baylor Symphony Orchestra at Waco Hall on Oct. 28. 

Not mentioned, however, was that the concert was organized and sponsored by the Waco Symphony Council. Hardworking council volunteers did everything from sending out instructional packets to all teachers, to moving 2,000 children at a time into and out of the concert hall. 

Exposure to the arts is a must for our children.  Study after study tell us that students do better in all school subjects when they have experiences such as the children’s concerts. 

The Baylor Symphony and Waco Symphony Council are to be commended for their dedication to our area youth. 

Linda Hatchel, president of the Waco Symphony Association Board of Directors