Let's just call ourselves American

Personal Observations on Current Events:

1) May I congratulate President Obama on being the first bi-racial person to be elected chief executive of our grand old republic (not a democracy). Of course, his Mom as well as his Dad would have been so proud.

2) I take issue with tiresomely frequent references such as Afro-American, Latino-American. We don't find ourselves, as the norm, using labels such as Italian-American, Polish-American, or Arab-American. Most of us citizens have long gotten beyond that point. When, pray tell, can all of us citizens just be Americans?

3) Regarding the Professor Gates and Sgt. Crowley controversy, and our President using a demeaning adverb regarding the police officers, one of whom (Sgt. Crowley) had particularly excellent credentials, I wonder if per chance Professor Gates, with his extensive background through speaking and writing on racial abuses, saw an opportunity to espouse his perspective.

4) Let's all become better human beings, whether one- on-one or institutionally instead of going around as if we were without sin and not causal in some way.

5) One more thing, could all have the same health insurance coverage as our bureaucrats and elected federal officials. I believe that most Americans are just as civil and justice-minded as they say they are.

F.J. Brusca

Arlington Heights