This is response to the letter "Reader disappointed by Julian Bond's speech" (Nov. 10).

Marc Albanese stated he was "extremely disappointed" by Dr. Julian Bond's partisan speech. Mr. Albanese wanted to "hear anecdotes concerning [Dr. Bond's] triumphant past in the Civil Rights Movement."

Dr. Bond did not reminisce about civil rights victories because minorities are still fighting this battle, and the Republican Party, since its great ideological shift to conservatism, has placed obstacles in the path toward equality.

The Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln, and we must not forget this.

Maybe Mr. Albanese has forgotten how the Bush administration responded to Hurricane Katrina. Maybe Mr. Albanese was not aware that 33 Republican congressmen voted against renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which ensures that African Americans will have unfettered access to the ballot.

Or, maybe Mr. Albanese is content to live in a make-believe world where equal rights have been granted to all Americans. Sadly, however, this is not the case.

During the elections, Republican attack ads against African American Senate candidate Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., was ripe with racist insinuations about the "dangers" of interracial relationships. Even Ford's opponent stated that the ads were blatantly racist.

Mr. Albanese, I would suggest that before you repudiate a Civil Rights hero, like Dr. Bond, you should first educate yourself.