Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I just had to respond to the challenge made by our new attorney general, Eric Holder. He stated that Americans are cowards when it comes to discussing race issues.

First of all, I didn't like your comment that we have discussed this issue ad nauseam for the past 50 years. You are wrong. We have not discussed this issue enough. We still have people who do not like minorities. There are still minorities who do not have equality in housing, education and jobs. America never will have peace until all of America is equal.

My last point is white America does not want to discuss race relations. I have tried to have discussions with the people at my job, and they all refuse to talk.

How do you have a discussion when people will not open their mouths? — L.R.

Dear L.R.: If I were white, I never would discuss race with anyone, especially on the job. I have seen people branded as racists and their careers destroyed because they tried to discuss or prove points on race. For example, a supervisor told a minority employee she could not get a promotion until she stopped using certain ethnic slurs (including the N-word) and four-letter words. The employee and supervisor discussed this issue, and the employee filed a discrimination complaint.

The employee claimed her use of slang was perfectly OK in her environment. She also said the supervisor talked down to her. Obviously, the supervisor had the opposite opinion. It was a matter of "he said, she said." The employee won and got the promotion, and the supervisor was labeled a racist.

I have seen so-called race discussions turn into the bases for fights, shouting matches and grudges that festered for years.

I believe the time for discussion is over.

It is now time for action. The race barriers are broken, and the doors to opportunity are open. Let's discuss how we can take advantage of our freedom and stop worrying about someone who is not your enemy.

Opportunity happens when you discover when to stop fighting and start building.

Keep reading for other readers' responses.

From Tired of the Bull: I have found that too many minorities do not want a discussion. They just want me to listen while they make accusations and call me every vile name in their vocabularies.

From I Tried: You can't discuss anything with someone who fails to listen. We had a discussion in my school, and when I tried to present my views, I was shouted down and had to find another school to attend.

From Justin: I am a college student, and we discussed race in my sociology class. Only one side of the issue could be presented. Whenever people said things the minorities didn't like, both white and black students shouted them down. Even the professor joined in on the shouting. It is impossible to have a discussion on race, and it is not because people haven't tried.

From Anita: With whom are you going to have the discussion? Is the discussion going to take place between blacks and whites, blacks and blacks, or whites and whites? What is the expected outcome? We already know the answer: Blacks are good, and whites are bad. Anything other than that would be labeled wrong or racist. End of discussion.

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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