LETTER: Can you plagiarize common phrases?

I was born in the hills new Yoncalla, Oregon, in 1941 — now approaching my 75th birthday. My father was not highly educated, but was a very principled and honest man. Many times, (I do mean many) when I was a youngster he would say, “Your word is your bond. You need to do what you say you will do.”

Did he plagiarize? Or did Ms. Obama? You see, that expression has been around for a very long time and probably been used in many other speeches. Methinks this has been much ado about nothing — and intended to discredit and hurt someone. Mission accomplished — with the help of the media. Guess I shouldn’t say, “God Bless America” — might plagiarize.

Also, politics is ever high on the list of interests at our house. I have repeatedly heard my father, as a very staunch Democrat, espouse the very things the Republicans stand for and say now. My point is that the political parties are not the same as what I grew up with. Heaven forbid that my Democrat father would have become a Republican. Wonder what he’d do now? By this, I implore that every person vote with his or her heart and mind — not just because of a party name. —Anita Shock, Libby