I was reading Michael Ervin’s article “Close Encounter of the Republican kind.” He states when he entered the meeting room at the Mesa County Republican Convention, the first sound he heard was a musical group singing “Swanee River,” a pre-Civil War song written by Stephen Foster.

I hardly agree with Michael Ervin, but I do agree with him that “Swanee River” is a grossly inappropriate song to be sung at the local Mesa County Republican Convention. It’s a racist song to African-Americans, and I am offended by it.

I wasn’t there but another African-American there was a delegate. I don’t know who suggested the “Swanee” song, but is shows me whoever chose it was insensitive. I have been in the local Republican party for 20 years and nothing like it had ever happened before in the local party that I know of. Is it because Obama is running for the office of president? I hope not.

As a minister of the Gospel, I wonder what was the motive of the person or persons who suggested and the group who sang the song.