D.P Parsons Sr.: Sorry, but I'm not a socialist, I'm a Republican. I grew up in the 40's and 50's, in small towns. If a black family attempted to move in, they were un out of town (this happened twice in Oregon, in the town I lived in.) To tell the truth about who we ACTUALLY were is not putting down America, or the American way of life. If we do not look at, and learn from history as it really was, we are condemned to repeat history over and over. Yes, people persevered, including my family. It was the only way to survive. But, to deny that the vast majority of Americans were racist in the "Good Old Days", is to deny the truth. Sorry, but trying to tell people that everything was nearly perfect in the 30's, 40's and 50's is a big load of manure. It's about time we stopped telling fairy tales, and teach the truth. In spite of its faults, this country still offers the greatest opportunity to succeed in the world. It always has, and I sincerely hope it always will. But, we also did great wrongs, to many people. The Know Nothing Party was formed to keep Catholics from coming to America. The Ku Klux Klan was formed to keep blacks down, and to stop Jews, Catholics and other non-christians from having any influence. Its highest level of membership was during the very prosperous roaring 20's! I served my country on active duty in the U.S.Army for almost ten years. I did two tours in Nan. I fly my flag, proudly, on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day (which some members of the Senate are ttrying to take away from us). A REAL patriot doesn't need to whitewash the past. Lynton C. Stewart Former SFC, U.S. Army -- GENEALOGY IS MY VICE: Searching: Moore, Peers, Stewart, Thompson in Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia; Provorse & Wright in Ontario; Johnston & Black in Manitoba. Burrows in IA/WI/MN/NY and any descendant of Walter Cooke of Weymouth and Mendon, MA. COOKE-STEWART-WRIGHT on my Web Page http://home.pacbell.net/lstewart