Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I eagerly await the publication of your column each week and respect your views on the many topics covered.

I am curious as to what your view is on newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's calling the U.S. "essentially a nation of cowards" who fail to discuss the issue of race openly. He also said Americans still are "voluntarily socially segregated." Your thoughts, please. — Kara

Dear Kara: I believe Attorney General Eric Holder is making a mistake in making race an issue. Cabinet members have a limited amount of time and can deal with only limited numbers of issues during their tenures. Now that we have a black president, a black attorney general and all the other black accomplishments, it seems foolish to deal with this subject. It seems almost silly that someone of Eric Holder's stature would want to delve into whom Americans socialize with and would call Americans cowards.

How can the attorney general call Americans cowards for not discussing race relations? America has discussed race relations ad nauseam for the past 50 years. What more needs to be said or discussed?

America has acknowledged its race-relations errors and its horrible treatment of blacks. About 625,000 Americans died in the Civil War to settle the issue of slavery. All of the Jim Crow laws have been ruled unconstitutional and abolished. There is recourse under the law for anyone who violates someone's civil rights. Affirmative action has been inserted in almost every facet of our lives. In a few more short years, it is estimated, the entire American work force will be integrated fully.

In other words, the civil rights (race) war has been discussed, fought and won.

I believe minorities should act like winners and move on.

Nothing more needs to be said. Now is the time for minorities to take charge of their own lives.

Because Holder has extra time on his hands and wants to say something on race, I have a message for him:

Speak out against the breakdown of the black family. Seventy percent of all black children are born to single mothers. Say something about the men who go from woman to woman leaving trails of babies and never assuming responsibility. Mr. Holder, this is a national embarrassment.

Speak out against people who do not make education a priority. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 88 percent of all students graduate with high-school diplomas; only 65 percent of blacks graduate. Speak out against this lack of equality.

Mr. Holder, according to the Human Rights Watch, black males are incarcerated at a per capita rate that is six times greater than that of white males. This is your area of expertise; speak out on this issue. Say something to the effect of, "We all should obey the laws." Do not just make excuses and blame poverty. Advocate workable solutions. Call for America to discuss this issue and find out why there is a breakdown of law and order in the black community. Find out why 95 percent of all crimes that happen to black people are caused by black people. Find out why blacks prey on blacks and find the temerity to blame whites.

Mr. Holder, I could go on and on with my list of topics. If you are really interested in speaking out and discussing a topic that would bring about change, please contact me. I would love to help you.

America and I are not cowards. We just don't want to waste time discussing your nonproductive subject.

To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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