Keep to important issues

THE facetious remarks allegedly uttered by our president concerning white people and their dogs are ridiculous, misguided and pathetic. Apart from the fact that this really is an area that is none of his business and that there have to be more important national issues needing his attention, the remarks are also insulting and racist.

Without question, similar comments coming from a white person would produce immediate howls of racist name-calling.

This would be laughable if it were not very serious indeed, coming as they do from a president just days into his second term. South Africa is desperately in need of clear-headed, intelligent leadership at this time where mending the hurts and divides among us is so very crucial. Instead we have remarks coming from the top statesman of our country focusing upon our colour, historical and cultural differences, differences, in this instance, which are not even general reality.

Surely the president thinks deeply before making utterances, weighing up the complex implications from all angles? Too many times we have the poor presidential spokesman having to issue one of his "he didn’t mean that, but this” statements.

Of all the issues facing us as we go into a new year requiring presidential attention, this must be the very bottom of the list. However he has uttered the remarks, and in my estimation created negativity and damage.

I cannot begin to express how sick and tired I am of this sort of thing, hoping we were going into a more positive 2013. Not a good start, Mr President, not good at any level whatsoever!

Barry Sendall, Walmer, Port Elizabeth