Dear Readers,
    What would you say in a letter to Barack Obama? More than 60 readers responded to our request for letters to the new president. E-mails and handwritten letters came from older folks worried about the economy and from high school and junior high students concerned about education.
    Some people asked for the Iraq war to be ended; others urged the president to continue the fight. Some wrote that they did not vote for Obama but would support him. Others simply expressed congratulations and best wishes for a successful administration.
    Here is a sampling of passages that summarizes the hopes and concerns so eloquently articulated in the correspondence we received. Some letters were edited for length.
Sincerely,
The staff of Extra

Be open, remember the homeless

There are two things I wish you would bear in mind as you serve our nation. The first one is, please don't cut off other leaders in the world because they are branded "evil."

The second thing I wish and pray you will pay attention to are the homeless. The richest nation on Earth should be able to address these problems.

You're an inspiration

Thank you for being biracial. I know you don't have much control over that but you did have the courage to run for the toughest job in the country in some of the toughest times I have ever seen.

You inspired me, and one day, you will inspire my little girl, Kyla, who is also biracial. Millions of people believe in you, please help the United States and show the world that skin color doesn't matter!

On behalf of Kenyans

My husband, Barry, and I returned from Kenya on Dec. 13.

I was asked by a group of Kenyans to please write a letter to you for them. They want to know why you have not helped your father's country. They asked why you spent such an unbelievably high amount on your campaign. They, the Kenyans, said you, Mr. President, should have used some of that money to prevent the deaths of so many Kenyan children.

They request that you come home and help your people. I promised I would do exactly what they requested.

Stop the tax evaders

As a law-abiding taxpayer, I would like to see other citizens and corporations pay their taxes, without all the loopholes and offshore excuses that are being used to reduce what they legally owe.

It's a big business, and it seems to be ignored by the government, and exploited by thieves.

Immigration services need attention

I wish that our Citizenship and Immigration Services inequities could be addressed as soon as possible.

Because of the flood of applications in July 2007 prior to the huge increase in application fees, there are still applicants for citizenship waiting for interview appointments, while others who applied at the same time have been interviewed and received their Naturalization Certificates.

Those lucky ones who passed their interviews are generally young people who have gone through the school system here. College students who speak perfect English feel harassed by the interviewers, while their parents, who have studied English to the best of their abilities, fail.

It's understandable why there are so many illegals in the country since dealing legally with Immigration is so difficult and expensive.

Graciousness is appreciated

I am 71 years old, and I have never watched debates so closely as the ones between you and Senator Clinton. When she lost, I was heartbroken and declared that I would not vote for you. But I was truly impressed with the manner in which you won. You never did gloat. You were gracious to her and to John McCain. That really mattered to me.

I am really impressed with the way you are going about choosing a Cabinet and laying out your agenda so carefully. I truly believe that this administration will turn things around for us.

Yes, everyone can

A student of Family Services' United with Youth Program (where I have the privilege of being inspired by young people) summed up the impact of your election for me in the statement: "'Can't' can no longer be in my vocabulary after November 4th. 'Can't' no longer applies to any of us!"

Appreciative of your audacity,

Fulfilling a dream

On this day, as you accept the oath of office, many will stand in silence as joy bears an unstoppable smile. Many will stand in tears, for it is you, Michelle, Malia and Sasha that have become the fulfillment to a dream that began on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Many will be standing in laughter as we forget all the fears and doubts of a future we cannot foresee.

Be humble, moderate

I wish you wisdom in your decisionmaking. I wish you good health as you address the many complicated problems you are facing. The love, support, understanding and tolerance of those near and dear to you. I pray you embrace your undertaking with humility knowing the awesomeness of your task.

My greatest hope for the future is a return to moderation.

A return to a spirit of service to those less fortunate.

A realization that we share this planet with all living beings who have the same rights and expectations.

Uphold the Bible

My greatest hope for this country is for us to turn back to the values it was founded on. I am talking about the traditional Christian values our country was founded on.

Our first president George Washington once said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." This is interesting because many people speak of God, but let's get back to what the Bible says.

I want you to overturn Roe v. Wade and stop killing millions of innocent babies. I want you to make marriage between one man and one woman law. These are simple Biblical truths that true Christians should live by, the same Christ you say died for your sins.

May America Bless God.

Economy should be first priority

Congratulations on being elected the president of this great nation. In order to maintain our influence abroad, we need to first take care of matters here at home. Your first priority should be the economy.

Taxes will of necessity have to be raised in order to pay for the implementation of the "fix." Any money raised over and above what was originally anticipated should be used to pay down the national debt, just as families wisely pay down their debt, instead of spending it on various pork barrel programs.

CATHERINE D. DEROSSET

Would you have changed your mind?

When you first decided to run, the country and world seemed to be holding its own. But just a short while before your nomination, everything started collapsing.

Had you known this, would you still have run? Do you have any regrets now and do you honestly believe you can pull us out of this mess created by greed and perhaps recover some of the misspent bailout money? The world is pulling for you!

Helping animals can help people, too

I'm so glad to see you in office. It's about time we have someone who knows how to have fun. And not some old grump. So congrats!

And I think it's really great that you're going to make our country better, with green jobs. I really think you should help animals. There are so many animals without homes or food. There should be a sanctuary for homeless animals, and they can be adopted. I know there is the SPCA, but I am saying a huge farm-like place. And so some people can have jobs, and animals can have homes.

Make my vote count

2008 was quite a year, wasn't it? You succeeded in nailing the job of a lifetime. I lost my lifetime job.

For the first time in my 47 years, I voted this year. Why? You've said it many times. We can't keep moving in the same direction, we must change course. I will need you to be successful for several reasons, not the least of which is that I took a great deal of partisan harassment when I shared with my friends I would be voting for the first time. Please do the best you can. I won't be able to handle the "I told you so" crowd if things don't make a change for the better.

Return respect for U.S.

Congratulations on your election. I am so proud that you are 44th president of the United States. My son and I very much hope that you can bring calmness and stability to our country. We need for all of the people to help you return the U.S. to the position of being an honored and respected country every where in the world.

As a naturalized Taiwanese-American citizen I feel a kinship with you and hope that one day my son and I might come to Washington, D.C., to see you.

In disagreement about Iraq, abortion

I wish that you would please let us finish the war that we already started in Iraq. I fear that if we pull our troops out too soon, then things may go terribly wrong for our country. We may be attacked again by terrorists.

I very much disagree with you on your position on abortion. Just because a baby is still in its mother's womb, that doesn't make it any less of a real human being.

Wishing you strength, wisdom and patience

I hope you will have the courage to change your mind about an issue if you discover that you are headed in the wrong direction. I hope you have the strength to do what is right for the country, even if it is different from what you said in your campaign speeches. I hope you have the wisdom to be a patient and wise leader for our troops around the world.

Most of all, I hope you do not fail to make our country a better place to live, learn and prosper.

Do you like reading?

My name is Amruta. I am 8 years old and in the third grade. What do you like to do during your free time? Do you like to read? I love to read. My favorite book is "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan.

I have one request. Please make more jobs available so that people aren't so sad anymore.

Honor the individual

Please don't push our country further to the left. Contrary to your comment at election, we are a country of individuals. We are not (yet) a collective society, but have individual rights and equal opportunity to pursue success, however we (as individuals) define it.

Government education has given us illiteracy, high dropout rates and dumbed down SAT scoring. Let families choose where to spend their education dollars, as you do at Sidwell Friends School for your girls.

Plant a vegetable victory garden

One thing I hope you will do without delay is take an idea from Eleanor Roosevelt (as some have suggested) and proceed to plant a vegetable "Victory Garden" on the White House lawn.

What a clear wake-up "health message" that would be! It would be low-cost with lasting ramifications and unlimited possibilities! (Could the children see Malia and Sasha eating broccoli from their garden?!)

Struggling to keep what we have

My husband retired after working close to 40 years -- eight years ago -- and has to work part-time still for us.

I know there is no magic wand, so I pray for you, Mr. President and your Cabinet daily to help us before we lose everything.

Are schools going to suffer next year?

Congratulations on being voted the 44th President of the United States! Are you nervous? I know that I would be, as it is a very big responsibility (much bigger than washing the dishes). Is it true that next year schools here in Virginia will not have as much money? Are we really going to lose our art and music programs?

Have a nice presidency.