Ethnically Speaking, February 21
by Larry Meeks
Dear Larry: I eagerly await the publication of your column each week and respect your views on the many topics covered.
I am curious as to what your view is on newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's calling the U.S. "essentially a nation of cowards" who fail to discuss the issue of race openly. He also said Americans still are "voluntarily socially segregated." Your thoughts, please. — Kara
Dear Kara: I believe Attorney General Eric Holder ...
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6 Comments | Post Comment
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Posted by: VAdame
Comment: #1
Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:53 PM
You have a message? OK, what is it?
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Posted by: Michelle
Comment: #2
Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:17 AM
I agree to a point. There is still inequality not just in who commits crime but in how two people of different races, who commit the same crime, are punished. In our older (and more segregated) cities, a children who commit the same act of vandalism (say, spraypainting an overpass) are punished differently, with a black or Hispanic child being sentenced to 6 months in juvenile hall while the white child is senteced to 3 months probation (perhaps some community service if a truly progressive judge).
If the Attorney General wants to look at racial issues, that is one that falls well within his area of expertise and bears looking into. If crime is crime, then it ought to be punished more equally.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #3
Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:30 PM
AMEN Larry! I'm pretty tired of hearing major black figures talk about the so-called need for a racial dialogue. Everyone knows this is simply code for "blame white people" for the present-day problems facing the black community. If a white person immediately took Mr Holder at his word and proceeded to try to enter into such "dialog" he'd immediately be called racist...especially if he pointed out any of the things that Larry has said. I think that if racial minorities in the US are serious about racial reconciliation (the ostensible aim of a "national dialog") then it ought to begin by each person taking responsibility for his/her own actions, and seeing people of different colors as individuals, rather than as members of a group. It's 2009 and race should no longer be something that divides people, not in a multicolored society like the US.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #4
Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:31 PM
Re: Michelle. If you provided any evidence for your claims of unequal punishment, I might be inclined to take you more seriously.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #5
Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:34 PM
Re: Lynn. Yes, it did. His message was that if Holder wants to do something productive, he can start asking black America to figure out why it has a 70% illegitmacy rate, higher crime rates than the rest of America, and scores of other social problems. Recall that the Attorney General (that's who Holder is) is the nation's chief law enforcement officer. His job description is to enforce federal laws, as well as do everything he can to assist state and local law enforcement in doing theirs. That includes black-on-black crime in inner cities.
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Posted by: Lynn
Comment: #6
Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:06 PM
What is your message to Eric Holder? The Creators.com website did not print that part of your column, and I wanted to read it. For shame, webmaster!
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