President doing little on race relations

President Obama was on a trip to the Far East to support our allies in that region but diverted his attention from that important mission to interject himself into the Donald Sterling fiasco. Sterling, a white NBA team owner and donor to the Democratic Party, made stupid and biased racial statements that certain media have raised to an important issue. Although Mr. Sterling is hardly a statesman whose opinions carry any weight, the president thought it was necessary to weigh in with his criticism of Sterling's remarks.

Has the president ever castigated the Rev. Al Sharpton for his virulent racist attacks? Certainly not. Instead he has been attending and supporting fundraising events that will help the reverend continue with his race-baiting antics.

Was the president sincere in his campaign promise to foster racial reconciliation? I think not. If anything, the last five years has seen such a tremendous increase in the racial divide in this country, that someone might suspect that it is intentional and that the president's political agenda is actually advanced from such divisiveness.

When actor Morgan Freeman was asked how to reduce racial tension in the U.S., he responded, "Stop talking about it." Wouldn't it be great if the man in the Oval Office heeded Freeman's advice and started concentrating on how to deal with President Putin of Russia?

Gary Sheffert

Arlington Heights