LW1 - I don't get it. What's the big deal? Why exactly is your fiance's race "a big secret"? I mean, I could understand some other things being a big secret, such as that your fiance is an undercover FBI agent investigating a child prostitution ring or a drug cartel or that he is the witness protection program. You wouldn't want to out him then because that would be dangerous for him. I could understand you keeping his social security number a secret. Most normal people don't share it with just anybody. But his race??? That's just bizarre. Would you keep it a secret if your husband-to-be was white with brown eyes and dark hair if the majority of people in your small town were blond and blue-eyed? Would you keep the fact that he is 5'10" if everybody in your family was either taller or shorter? Or are you, basically, saying that your extended family and friends from your home town are racist, and nobody will show up for your wedding if they know you are marrying a non-white guy, and you really, really, really want that big wedding bash because you missed out on it when you were younger? In that case, shame on you.

LW2: Now you know what it feels like to be a conservative who opposed Obama from the start. Yes, the president's defenders include people who use reprehensible "debating" tactics. It's an outrage. Get used to it.

To the first letter-writer: I agree with Mr. Meeks. That "secret" needs to come out--before the wedding. Let your family have a little time to accept the idea of a man of a different race. Unless you want to have a huge scene at your wedding.

To the second letter writer: You might be a little racist. Why would you support the promotion of a less qualified person due to their race? It's nice you give minorities the benefit of a doubt. I hope you do the same for everyone. Just recognize that minorities are just people-- not a special group to be treated with kid gloves because they can't handle normal life.

Your comment "The greatest sin a minority can commit is to 'fall off the plantation' or not to think black."...and you don't think that is a racialst remark? Change the last sentence to "or not to think wbite" and you'ed be up in arms bemoaning the radial slur! What do you mean by "think black"? Just because a black person accepts whites, is that reason for other blacks to hate him? Sounds as if you are trying to keep all races segregated...what a horrible concept! Are we all to only "think" whatever color we happen to be? I've almost always read your column and considered you to be non-racist, but your comments concerning the ill chosen comment by Clinton about "the guy getting us coffee" were certainly just as racist as what Clinton said. Or are only Blacks allowed to make comments similar to Clinton's and get by with it or be praised for it? Come on...we're all brothers and sisters under the skin and Blacks are no better or worse than white people!

I am black, and I have heard many reasonable arguments in opposition to Obama's policies. Needless to say (I hope), I do not believe the people making these arguments are racist. I have heard other people's apoplectic, sputtering, rage-filled diatribes about how Obama will destroy our country, isn't eligible to be president, and will hand our country over to Muslim extremists. In these instances, I am not so sure. One person said "Even YOU have to admit that this man is in no way qualified to be president." In this case, I felt pretty sure what the guy's problem was.