Obama candidacy makes him worry about racism

Most residents of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake Village are very proud of their communities.

They routinely boast about our beautiful environment, good schools, low crime rate and high quality of life.

We're very fortunate and blessed to live here based on the aforementioned.

However, there's a dark and deeply disturbing racist mindset that's increasingly rearing its ugly head since Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president. I've heard on many occasions racist and disparaging remarks about Obama because he's black. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in the old South with its racist heritage.

We basically live in a "white bread" community, but never did I realize the level of racism and prejudice that exists here particularly, among older white males.

It's shameful and a stain on the character of our community.

It's sad to think when some of our residents vote in November it won't be for Obama because his skin is of a different color.

Stan Gersh
Westlake Village