Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I am shocked that Rush Limbaugh has been rejected in his attempt to become an owner of a National Football League team. So-called black leaders and a few others told lies about Rush, and the NFL rejected him just because there was controversy. This is so unfair.

Larry, I would like your opinion. — El

Dear El: For years, I have seen people level charges of racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination of the disabled, and religious bigotry against people without proof. I keep praying for the day when people will give a defendant a chance to rebut the charges and demand proof of the crime from the one making the charges.

In this age of political correctness, many innocent people are hurt and defamed by unscrupulous people. There are some so-called black leaders who make a living and have become rich pulling this scam.

What is sad is that everyone knows who these people are but the media keep them in power by continuing to give them ink. This practice will continue until the media stop going to them and giving them a voice.

This is just the beginning. The NFL doesn't realize it just opened a Pandora's box of political correctness for its sport. The next step for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be to demand to have seats on the NFL board — for a fee, of course — and they will decide whether the next prospective owner passes the race test.

Dear Larry: You commented about the sadness you felt when students in a high-school class, both black and white, felt they were bound by the stereotypes that blacks listen to rap music, drink 40s and are uneducated.

They also said they did not even know any blacks who shared your ideas.

Well, I have one for you. Maybe you will be surprised about something that came up when I did a presentation on Judaism to a class of Advanced Placement students. One asked — and more chimed in — why I would live a moral life if I didn't believe in hell. They didn't know what kept me on the right path.

I did a similar presentation to a regular class and asked them what their religions were. I was shocked to find out very few knew.

Maybe these are just young people thinking about topics for the first time. In any case, I felt sad, too. This is so surprising because these topics are actually discussed on television and in magazine articles.

Maybe they just don't come across this information in their daily lives and we assume too much about what adolescents think about. — Barbara

Dear Barbara: It is obvious this country is becoming a more and more secular society. It will not be too long before we follow the standards of Europe. Our churches and temples will be nothing but monuments to a foregone era.

It is not too late to change this trend, but there is little time to waste. I believe we must start with our elected officials and demand they reflect the majority view.

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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