To the Editor:

What is wrong with the citizens of Lewiston for allowing a handful of individuals to attack the integrity of Mayor Bob Macdonald? Where is the democracy that is the foundation of our country?

What has happened so that people cannot express themselves without being afraid to be labeled?

Mr. Macdonald is working extremely hard to address issues such as welfare reform and economic development. He is definitely not a racist, though certain individuals would like him to be identified as such.

People need to stop putting so much energy into micromanaging and complaining about his every move. Instead, they should get to know him. They would realize that he has everyone’s best interest in mind. He is not a racist, but a politician who owes no favors and marches to his own agenda, as promised during his campaign.

Because most of the individuals who marched on City Hall have been here for more than 10 years, I will not refer to them as immigrants, but rather as residents of this community. It is a sad day when these same individuals assume that all comments made about immigrants now or in the future pertain only to them.

I fully agree with Mr. Macdonald that all immigrants need to assimilate to their new surroundings and leave behind their “cultures” (for lack of a better word) of negative issues that caused them to come to this wonderful country.

Learning English—even if broken English—and obeying all laws are part of that transition. No one has ever been told to forget his or her religion, language or traditions. However, learning English is especially important in order to attain work and manage one’s affairs.

I hope and pray that the other 90 percent of Mayor Macdonald’s constituents speak up, show their support for him and put this issue to rest once and for all so that Bob can go back to work on the issues at hand.

Jacqueline P. Smith

Lewiston