Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I am writing to ask your opinion on a topic that has recently come to my attention. I have learned that several universities, most recently the University of Michigan-Dearborn, are using taxpayer money to install footbaths for Muslim students. It is an outrage to use public money for this on public university campuses.

The universities are also allowing special break times for these students to pray five times a day.

Larry, I believe that if the Catholic students asked for a break at noon to pray the Angelus, or if the Jewish students requested that Friday classes end at 4 p.m. in winter so that they could be home in time for the Shabbat, the ACLU and others would be up in arms. They would be crying about separation of church and state. When it comes to Muslim students crossing the separation line, they are strangely silent. The fact that this is happening at public universities, using taxpayer money, seems completely unconstitutional.

I would love to know your opinion on this matter. Thank you for your column. — A Concerned Reader

Dear Concerned: Your letter seemed so far out, I had to check it out to make sure were are not pulling my leg. I am shocked to find out you are correct. According to my sources, UM is preparing to pay $25,000 for two footbaths and has already approved the expenditure. It is my understanding that the university's reagents did not approve this political bomb. It was an action by the school's administration.

I know the school probably resisted doing this but finally got worn down by the constant requests for a footbath.

I am sure the university is going out of its way to be fair to Muslim students and is trying to appease them. In their zeal to placate, the school is discriminating against every other religious group. I am appalled by this double standard.

I do hope the school officials will change their minds and treat Islam the same as any other religion in America. I also hope the school will come to the realization that its actions are why people do not trust institutions and demand oversight groups to keep an eye on them. 

Dear Larry: I just read an opinion piece that talked about how Joe Lewis, Michael Jordan and Jim Brown didn't have tattoos or weird names but still scored points and made money. He talked about how the athletes weren't all louts outside the ring, but now they are.

I am 30 years old and I remember Michael Jordan from when I was a kid. In 1986 you didn't see all these athletes with tattoos or bad habits.

Larry, my question to you is: When did this "sleaze-ball athlete" cult start? Was it in the early 1990s? — Alice

Dear Alice: I am not sure of the exact date, but I remember it becoming popularized with basketball's tattooed pincushion Dennis Rodman. He became the media darling when he and Madonna began a torrid affair. She said Rodman looked sexy and said, "You're staying with me, in my room."

This happened in the early 1990s. The next big leap forward came when Cher made tattoos mainstream with the Hollywood types. I hear she has now regretted her decision.

The ugliness of tattoos reached its pinnacle when the dysfunctional boxing champion Mike Tyson tattooed his face. Let's pray enough is enough.

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