To the editor:

As David Broder (Journal-World, Jan. 8) said so well, the United States has not reached perfection, as discrimination still exists, but progress is real. The selection of Colin Powell, an African-American, appointed as secretary of state by President Bush and Madeleine Albright, a woman and immigrant, appointed to this position by President Clinton are cause for all Americans to celebrate. These individuals broke through barriers that a few years ago were considered impenetrable by women and African-Americans.

Now we can celebrate another first as we observe the barrier broken by Nancy Pelosi as she became the first female speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, second in line to the presidency. I ask all Americans to celebrate this first, but as a female I say: As daughters of mothers, as mothers of daughters, as grandma, grammy, mema to granddaughters and as a friend to a whole circle of females – regardless of party affiliation – let’s raise our voices and applaud the first female speaker of the House of Representatives.

It has taken over 200 years for a female to burst through that ceiling. Hooray, hooray! Maybe this is only the beginning as we have talented and powerful females in both parties that might go to the next level and actually become president of this great country, the United States of America.

Mary T. McDavid,

Lawrence