No excuses for racial intolerance, even from past president

I was shocked and appalled by the article regarding Ronald Reagan (Journal, Aug. 14). The author did his level best to make a pathetic and absurd excuse for Reagan's blatant racist comments and clear racism.There can never be acceptable excuses for acts of racial intolerance. Reagan's words were buried for decades in order, "not to embarrass," the president and his family.Thus, we the public were left in the dark for all these many years, so Reagan could be protected from his racist comments. The only reason we have this information is that president Nixon taped the conversation and as such Reagan, his family and others cannot deny under any circumstances his racist behavior.It is past time that we as sapiens with a common genetic thread stop considering the concept of, "those people" and start embracing the concept of, "we."We cannot accept excuses any longer and shame on those who attempt to excuse someone's behavior as, "it was the times."Tomorrow is a new day, let's all consider how we can make this a better world for all.John Rabe, Newcastle