I wrote a story about efforts that immigrants in Suffern are undertaking to oppose a proposed enforcement partnership between village police and federal immigration agents. The story appeared on Sunday, and as of today, 100 readers have posted comments, most of which are negative, on the story page on lohud.com.

For those who haven’t read the story, it talks about Hispanic immigrants’ fears that they may be profiled under the plan that would deputize Suffern police as federal immigration agents. The story also talks about efforts the Hispanic immigrant community is taking to rally others to their cause, and also provides a response from village officials.

A few readers have accused me of playing favorites. Let me explain how it works: it is my job to fairly and accurately report what is happening in the community so residents and readers like you can know what is going on around you.

If people who support the village’s intentions were to similarly organize in support of the plan, I would write an article about that too.

I’ve attempted to respond to e-mails on the subject, but here again I’ll reiterate: If anyone plans to publicly lobby for the plan, please let me know.

As always, I welcome your comments.

President George Bush wrapped up his five-nation tour of Africa today.

At stops in Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia, the president was showered with adulation, according to an Associated Press report.

He got a day named in his honor in Benin and a highway named for him in Ghana, and huge crowds of cheering, flag waving Liberians lined Bush’s drive to his meeting with Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the AP said.

In Liberia today, Bush delighted spectators by showing his dancing skills.

Watch the video here.

A Senate bill on Indian health care that is expected to pass by the end of this month could contain a formal apology from the U.S. government for mistreatment of American Indians.

The bill was initially introduced by Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback in 2004.

“For too much of our history, federal-tribal relations have been marked by broken treaties, mistreatment and dishonorable dealings,� Brownback, a Republican, said in an article by the Associated Press. “We can acknowledge our past failures, express sincere regrets and establish a brighter future for all Americans.�

The 2004 annual report of the National Congress of American Indians said tribal leaders welcomed the resolution. However, leaders were concerned about the approach to “such a monumental task as addressing the nation’s past wrongs to native people.�

Dwaine Perry, chief of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, a tribe that lives primarily in Hillburn, and in Ringwood and Mahwah, N.J., says the proposed apology is a beginning, but more “systemic action� was needed.

“It’s certainly long overdue and I’m wondering what motivated this move,� Perry said today. “I’m not at all ungrateful. I think any light on the situation is positive, but I think one needs to be cynical after 500 plus years.�

Earlier this month, Aborigines in Australia welcomed what was viewed as a long-overdue formal apology from the government. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized for assimilation policies that degraded indigenous people. Aborigines felt that Rudd’s apology helped ease the sorrow of “the stolen generations,� referring to the children who were forcibly removed from their families under decades-long government assimilation policies.

Aborigines, the original inhabitants of Australia, believe the apology sets the tone for moving forward to repair the harm done to them.

Incidentally, Australian media reports indicate Indian Rudd’s approval ratings have soared since the historic apology.

The Ramapo Town Board will celebrate African heritage 8 p.m. Feb. 27 in an event that will promote harmony, the town said.

African heritage night will feature music by Ekklipse Steel band, a cultural show including music, poetry and a photo show of Ghana, and colors will be presented by students from the Ramapo High School ROTC.

Free refreshment will include southern, African and Caribbean food.

Lantei Lamptey, president of the town’s African Heritage Twinning Committee, will play his African drum.

“The town board is very proud of its 120,000 residents,� Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said in a release. “One of its goals is to promote ethnic harmony.�

The event will be at Town Hall, 237 Route 59. It is open to the public. If you’d like information, call Christian Sampson, the town clerk, at 845-357-5100, ext. 263.

Students at Chestnut Ridge Middle School participated Friday in the school’s eighth annual King for a Day Martin Luther King Jr. oratorical contest.

As Randi Weiner wrote in a story in Saturday’s publication of The Journal News, the students at the school make a point of celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of King.

The work of the slain civil rights leader is often discussed at this time of year, when the nation is actively remembering black history and achievement. Just a few weeks ago, the nation paused to commemorate King’s birthday.

An annual service marking the occasion at Pilgrim Baptist Church drew hundreds of people from the community. They reminisced about King’s legacy and through song and sermon. Listen to a podcast about the event. Download:

Locals of Asian descent were this weekend celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat, which was on Thursday.

The Chinese New Year is a festive occasion. Key parts of the celebration include the eating of fish for luck and dumplings for prosperity. Adults give their children red envelopes containing lucky money.

Like the Western calendar, the Chinese lunar calendar is a yearly one, but its start is based on the moon’s cycles. The beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.

The lunar calendar names each of the 12 years after an animal.

Legend has it that Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he left the Earth. Only 12 animals bade him farewell, and as a reward, he named a year after each one in the order in which they arrived.

The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on that person’s character.

In addition to the rat, other animals in the cycle are the pig (also known as the boar), ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, dog and rooster.