Congratulations!

Dear Sir:

Most times we give our opinions when things are bad or negative but I would like to pause and commend this newspaper the National Weekly for a very comprehensive reporting on a cross-section of news. The last issue of February 7^th, 2008 was such an example. The headline reported on the Democratic race with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (hope readers are supporting Obama and be apart of this once in a life time history making change).

The paper covers education and immigration, Caribbean matters and on the editorial page was the shocking Air Jamaica injustice. The Legal page was the always informative legal section. As a result Attorney Wright Muir spoke at our church recently. The Business page was on land investment and property tax. The paper also includes entertainment, community happenings, sports and the important church directory. The reporting is always informative and I know sport fans are diligent.

Keep up the good work National Weekly as you grow. Dr. Garth Rose and his staff again, must be commended. Let me close with a thought for the week. “Think not of your own interest only, also the interest of others” Phil. 2:4

Dr. Dennis Grant
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www.Floridatopland.com

Senator Clinton out of line

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your cover article, "It's Wrong to Downplay King's Legacy" (National Weekly 1/17 - 23). Senator Clinton's attempt to downplay Dr. King's legacy indicates at worst her severely limited knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement and at best her feeble attempt to reinvent history.

It is a matter of historical fact that Dr. King's tireless work and social momentum led Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This country made it abundantly clear, both explicitly and implicitly that it expected those of African descent "to wait", as it "wasn't the time" to legally ban apartheid.

The Civil Rights agenda had been stalled for years, during several administrations. To lay the passage of this act at the foot of President Johnson is an insult not only to Dr. King's work, but to the countless men and women who jeopardized and lost their lives for its passage. Johnson himself was a latecomer to the Movement. He was undoubtedly spurred on by wanting to leave a legacy, but to attribute the success of this movement to him is in itself a "fairytale".

-T. Herbert

In defense of Haiti’s image

Dear Editor:

As I'm sure most of you are aware, another study has surfaced linking

Haitian immigrants to the introduction of AIDS in the US. The study was conducted by professors at the University of Miami and the University of Arizona. Clearly, the results of this study put a stain on Haiti's reputation in the US and make things more trying for Haitian immigrants.

You may recall that several years ago, a similar study was put forth and the strong negative reaction from the Haitian community prompted the US government, namely the Center for Disease Control, to come out and denounce the findings.

I believe we again need to take action and raise awareness of this issue within the US government. Having Haitian leaders visit Washington to raise this issue and provide the facts to the US officials will go a long way in accomplishing that goal and protecting and defending Haiti's image.

To that end, if members of the community are interested in considering a trip to DC to help get this message out, I would be more than happy to help arrange meetings with the appropriate officials, including the Center for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, Members of Congress, and others.

We need to strike fast and efficiently on this topic before this misinformation has a chance to sink into the psyche of Americans and US officials. I believe your involvement would be greatly helpful on this front. I would strongly encourage you to make the trip -- it is certainly a worthy cause!

Stanley Lucas
President
Washington Democracy Project
The Haitian Coalition USA