This month, we witnessed an event that defined the debate about health care reform in a poignant and vivid divide.

On the one side, President Obama articulately described the need for reform. While in the audience, a South Carolina congressman, Joe Wilson, yelled, "You lie!" as the President defended his health care plan against false right-wing attacks.

I ask you this: Would Joe Wilson have yelled "You lie!" to a white president?

The health care reform debate has taken on symbolic significance. The vitriolic outrage expressed by the opponents to health care reform represents an expression of their outrage not about issues, but about having a black president.

There are plenty of issues to debate regarding health care reform, but the real issues do not infuriate opponents and make then yell and forsake civility. Racism does.

John B. Pryor, Bloomington