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Farewell
Dear Larry: You are the sanest man in America! I look forward to your columns because I ALWAYS agree with your answers. Great work! Thanks for speaking the simple truth about all issues — racial, political, parental, common sense, etc.
I often …Read more.
Hate Groups
Dear Larry: I want to forget for a moment that it is their constitutional right, because I detest the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and all other groups that preach hate. A long time ago, they came into cities across America without any protest. Now …Read more.
Troubles With Raising Teenage Son
Dear Larry: I am African-American and a single mother with three children, ages 15, 10 and 8. All of them are boys. I am having a lot of problems with them, especially the eldest.
He argues with me about almost everything. He thinks he is the man/…Read more.
How To Get Race Relations Back on Track
Dear Larry: So many of my friends are upset with the way things are going, especially race relations. They are not saying anything openly, but among themselves there is constant complaining and fear. There is something simmering and brewing that …Read more.
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The United States Isn't Perfect, But Still AcceptingDear Larry: I truly enjoy your column, as it informs, educates and opens minds. A few weeks ago a woman named Martha responded in your column that Germany is so open-minded and accepting. I could not tell from her letter if she is a native-born German or someone who lived there because of a job. Perhaps she is from a very open-minded group of people, but she does not represent the vast majority of people there. Germans are not in any way, shape or form open to marriages of different cultures, or to others moving to their country. Most of my family is from and currently lives in the former East Germany. My children have studied in Germany for high school and college, and their host families reside in the former West Germany. When I have been in Germany, and when friends and family have visited here in the United States, I have not seen any form of acceptance except from my dear friend, who married a woman from Turkey. My friend and his wife have experienced extreme discrimination. He is a surgeon who has been shunned because he chose to marry a fellow doctor, who just happens to be from Turkey. Relatives from Germany feel that Turks, Poles and every other non-German in their country are taking jobs from the citizens. Germany is still experiencing many problems from the merger of East and West Germany. Violence has increased, and people blame it on the many cultures and races left behind from the Soviet Union or USSR. Germans want their country to remain a German country, just like France.
On one of my last visits, an elderly relative told me that when she walks down the street, many signs are in English and she cannot understand them. She wants the Americans to stop making the country into a U.S. suburb. I can see her point. Many signs in my U.S. city are in Korean. I'd love to shop at certain places, but I have no idea what they sell or what kind of businesses they are. Just like in Germany, our classrooms are inundated with dear little children who do not speak English and we do not have the resources to reach every child, as we should. My teacher friends in Germany say that they are facing the same issues. Perhaps the strains on our lives and theirs are perceived to be racist when in fact they are ones that have drained us financially and emotionally. I love all of my German friends and family. They are caring people, but they would never say that their country is ahead of us in eliminating racism. In truth it is quite the contrary. They have said to me many times that they wish they were as advanced as we in the United States are in dealing with the problems. — Lorrie Dear Lorrie: Your letter is a testimony to what I have said many times: The United States is not perfect, but it is better than any other country on this little blue marble. Thank you for your thoughtful response. To find out more about Larry Meeks, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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