By Staff
Editor's note: On Friday, Sen. Trent Lott announced he would not seek to retain his position as Senate Majority Leader. The following letters were written prior to that announcement.
Lott: It's time for common sense to take over
To the editor:
It's a shame when people and the media take an innocent remark to a 100-year-old man and turn it into a national issue. It's the little people with little minds who should be condemned for making such a fuss, not Sen. Lott.
I'm sure that when Sen. Lott told Strom Thurmond that we would have been better off today had he been elected that "racism" was the furthest thing from his mind. Sen. Lott has nothing to apologize for, as his only thought was to make an "old man" feel good on his 100th birthday.
We need to feel sorry for those (politicians and some in the media), who continue to try to make trouble by twisting what someone says to match their agenda. It's time to stop back biting and to use a little common sense before we start criticizing.
Roy P. Gibbens
Meridian
Nothing racist in comments
To the editor:
I have been listening with interest to all the reports that have tried to make Trent Lott into a "bad guy." I have heard his comment several times and unlike some people have heard nothing racist in the comment. But someone jumped on the comment and I am sure whoever did the first report on what Mr. Lott said got a nice byline.
It is really sad to think that this man has worked hard to bring Mississippi out of the bottom of the barrel and this is the thanks he gets. What about the jobs that Mr. Lott has worked to bring into Mississippi? How soon we forget.
Every person has skeletons in their closets. We have all done and said things we regret. The people making a big-to-do about what Trent Lott said need to hope no one ever opens that closet door and starts digging around in the back of their closet. And if their skeletons are ever dug out of the closet I truly hope people will be more forgiving than what some of (most of) the people that I have heard commenting about Mr. Lott's apology.
In John 8:7, Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees accusing the woman caught in adultery "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." While Trent Lott hasn't been accused of adultery, he according to reporters has been caught with his foot in his mouth. Think about it folks. We are at the bottom of the nation in most everything important  education, salaries, etc.
Why get rid of one who is working to try to help us to climb out of the bottom. If we improve our circumstances some people wouldn't have anything to growl about.
Accept Mr. Lott's apology and move on.
Jan Roberson
Philadelphia
A perspective from Down Under'
To the editor:
G'day, how refreshing to read that article in your newspaper regarding the "good deeds" of Trent Lott (Buddy Bynum column, "Lott: What it should be about," Sunday, Dec. 15) not just the bad publicity, caused by a few words.
I, as a"HAM" Radio operator, speak with folks around the world, in particular a few friends in and around Meridian. They, too, show kindness and understanding, plus an exquisite sense of humor.
I only hope that your article will reach the news stands of the world, moreso those countries that are "anti-US" for whatever reason they can conjure up. Any negative comment is fuel for their fires of hatred.
On behalf of my wife, we wish you, your family and staff a very merry, safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Dennis and Marlene Sampson
Logan City, Queensland, Australia
Lott should resign from Senate
To the editor:
Republican Sen. Trent Lott is a racist and should immediately resign his seat in the Senate. His statements made recently and in 1980 are in clear support of Strom Thurmond's racist 1948 political platform.
Mr. Lott was also caught with his hand in the white supremacist's cookie jar in 1999 when he addressed, and thus endorsed, the Council of Conservative Citizens  a white supremacist group with a neo-Confederate ideology.
Mr. Lott's apparent belief that a racist's political platform would have been the "final solution" to America's problems is unforgivable. Mr. Lott is unfit to serve the people of Mississippi, and they should remember that when it comes time to vote him out of office in 2006.
It's time for Mississippi to stop burning.
John Janney
Lucedale