Dear Larry: I'm sure you read about the black employee who was fired for cause in Connecticut and who then shot several of his white co-workers, claiming he worked in a racist environment. Many of us are wondering why President Barack Obama has not addressed the situation, as he did when the black professor was arrested trying to break in to his own house in Massachusetts. — Dan
Dear Dan: It is obvious the president is not fair when it comes to race relations. He, by his actions or inactions, carries the belief that America is a racist society toward Afro-Americans and that it is only whites who are guilty of racist crimes. He, like all biased people, will support those actions that fit his belief and ignore/discount any behaviors that contradict his convictions.
No rationally thinking person can support the actions of this deranged minority in Connecticut. But to condemn the person would weaken the president's argument, so in order not to admit to the obvious, he chooses to ignore the crime.
Dear Larry: Your response in the column regarding the NAACP is right on. All of the credibility of the NAACP is lost because of the positions it is taking.
It's all of the usual blame game — and usually blaming the wrong group or person. I especially agree with this sentence: "Its members do not hesitate to hurl accusations and insults at anyone who dares to have a differing opinion or political affiliation." They resort to name-calling when they do not have an argument.
Again they lose all credibility with their lack of an overall common-sense approach.
Obviously, they think that the average American, white or black, can't see through their smoke screen and lack of factual presentation.
Please let them know that their image is suffering badly. — David
Dear David: You told them; let's hope they are listening.
Dear Larry: I think politics are the most racist and dirty they've been since the start of the civil rights movement. I just heard Sen. Harry Reid say, "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican." This is the most condescending comment since he said President Obama is acceptable because he has light skin and no "Negro dialect."
I am so tired of this race stuff. Don't the politicians see they are losing a great number of voters when they keep bringing up race? I wish we could just discuss the issues and omit racial issues unless race is an obvious factor.
It is so obvious to me what politicians should do, and I am not any kind of political expert. Can you help me with this issue? — Lonnie
Dear Lonnie: Race is used in politics for several reasons. First of all, it might be a legitimate topic of discussion. If that is the case, it should be thoroughly discussed and vetted.
If there is no evidence of racial problems and it is just gratuitously tossed like a grenade, it is done to win the argument at hand. I find that people who run out of arguments use race as a last resort to win the point. Once race enters the discussion, the hurler puts the other person on the defensive.
The only way race can be diminished is for people not to be put off by the accusation of racism. Do not back down, and demand proof of the charge. Or be like a politician and pretend you did not hear the words.
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.
COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM
|
 |
Comments
|
10 Comments | Post Comment
|
|
Yet another example of Weeks's lack of perspective. A Harvard professor being harassed simply for being black (as it seemed at the time) is fundamentally different than a lowlife thief trying to use racial prejudice as a justification for murder. A better comparison would be to compare the black beer thief to the white supremacist low life recently convicted for planning to kill Obaba. I don't believe that Obama has commented on that, either, or the dozens of other similar incidents.
BTW, the letter about the NAACP was the most content-free I've read in a long time. The NAACP accused the Tea Party of having some racist elements. The response was a racist rant from a major Tea Party figure, thereby proving their point. Those are the facts. It's hard to see how the incident damaged the NAACP's credibility in any way whatsoever.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Geoffrey James
Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:04 AM
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey, James, I agree with your post, with one exception. I think the letter regarding NAACP's credibility refers to Shirly Sharrod's comments, which were quite unfortunate.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Ariana
Sat Aug 14, 2010 8:20 AM
|
|
|
|
Oh, I forgot to add, that her comments were also distorted by a conservative blogger. They weren't racist, as is evident from the full speech.
Comment: #3
Posted by: Ariana
Sat Aug 14, 2010 8:23 AM
|
|
|
|
Dear Larry,
I enjoy reading your comments on topical issues including politics and social issues, etc.. You seem to possess in abundance a rather rare commodity in today's world, common sense. I admire you for your up front, no nonsense, approach to telling it like it is, to use an old phrase. I look forward to reading your observations long into the future and wish you well in your quest to cast light into darkness as you try to supplant ignorance with knowledge.
Robert Janicki, OWG
(Old White Guy)
Comment: #4
Posted by: Robert Janicki
Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:07 AM
|
|
|
|
Larry, your column is often thought provoking. But your nasty comments about President Obama are uncalled for, and are absurd on the face of it. There's no way for you to know what's in Obama's heart. The truth is, as you've demonstrated many times in your column, you have a profound discomfort with all politicians who are progressive, and love all things right wing. You consistently defend the far right, and print letters attacking Democrats. If someone points out something appalling that a right wing politician said, or a racist comment that a Teapartier made, you deny it and say it's hearsay, and print, and agree with, letters saying as much. But if someone attributes an appalling statement to a Democrat, you print it and comment as if it must be true.
In spite of all of these things I like your column. You often bring up thought provoking things, and on many topics have a down to earth and balanced perspective. I've learned from you and appreciate your work. But your venom toward President Obama and other Democrats is tiresome. It also undermines any points you may be trying to make.
Comment: #5
Posted by: sarah morrow
Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:11 PM
|
|
|
|
Re: sarah morrow. It's not "venom." I'm tired of hearing all opposition to leftist politicians and policies branded as "hate" or whatever tiresome word. Meeks accurately explained why Obama's election has harmed, rather than helped, race relations in America. When Obama took the oath, I thought, "Well, at least we can finally put an end to the years and years of garbage about how America 'keeps the black man down.' Now that one's been elected president, we won't have to hear that anymore." Wrongo! The president, if he had a shred of dignity, would simply avoid racial matters entirely. He would also correct those supporters of his who try to claim that all criticism of the Obama Administration is based on race. He'd be a uniter. Instead, he's been a divider - but what else would you expect of a man who spent twenty years in the church of (and was married by) a pastor who refers to America as "The United States of KKK A?" I won't even get into the mess he's made of issues like unemployment, international relations, the war on terror, the gulf oil spill, and the federal budget.
Comment: #6
Posted by: Matt
Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:16 PM
|
|
|
|
Why? Because Obama couldn't care less.
He got involved in the incident with Gates because Gates is a colelge Professor and esteemed scholar of US History. The guy who shot his co-workers was an uneducated deliveryman who nobody knew of before the killings. The man's death won't elicit widespread feeling.
Comment: #7
Posted by: Roger
Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:03 AM
|
|
|
|
To Larry, Matt, et al...your comments regarding President Obama are sometimes absurd. The man is half WHITE whether he looks it or not! Unless he's some kinda self-hater, he's probably as racially UNBIASED as anyone can be when comes to blacks and whites! Duh!!!!
Comment: #8
Posted by: The Cardinal
Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:34 AM
|
|
|
|
The president likely sees the difference in the two situations and, based on that, feels that this situation doesn't merit his getting involved. The professor was singled out. He was doing nothing wrong or even suspicious. There was sufficient evidence there to suspect that race did play a factor. The beer factory worker, on the other hand, had been caught stealing from the company and was told to either quit or he'd be fired. He chose instead to scream racism and shoot people.
You see the difference, yes? Screaming race every time it could possibly be used gets noone anywhere. It doesn't help blacks, whites or anyone. Point out racism where it's happened already and you have a chance to correct it.
There was valid evidence to suspect racism in the Professors case. Not so much in the factory man's...Again, he was told to quit or be fired because he was stealing from the company. HE brought race into it to try and pass the blame for his actions.
You seem to have extreme expectations of the president, and try to insult him and downplay his actions because he doesn't fit your definition of what he should be doing. Maybe you should grow up?
Comment: #9
Posted by: Candi Anne
Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:27 AM
|
|
|
|
Larry Meeks:
I challenge you to read Barack Obama's book "Dreams From My Father" BEFORE you reply to one more letter about Barack Obama and issues of race relations. Your assumptions about Obama's racial ideals are absolutely absurd and profoundly ignorant. Actually, the book is even better on CD; it's read by Barack himself. If you listen to it and hear his voice clearly speak about race and how his experiences as a young man shaped his views, you might (might?) have a harder time in the future putting your words in his mouth.
I do thank you for the laugh, however -- this line is pure hypocrisy: "He, like all biased people, will support those actions that fit his belief and ignore/discount any behaviors that contradict his convictions."
YOUR bias against Obama and any liberal ideals is the only thing that's clear to me.
Comment: #10
Posted by: Johanna
Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:55 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
