Ethnically Speaking, February 28
by Larry Meeks
Dear Larry: I just had to respond to the challenge made by our new attorney general, Eric Holder. He stated that Americans are cowards when it comes to discussing race issues.
First of all, I didn't like your comment that we have discussed this issue ad nauseam for the past 50 years. You are wrong. We have not discussed this issue enough. We still have people who do not like minorities. There are still minorities who do not have equality in housing, education and jobs. America never wi ...
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Posted by: Jeff
Comment: #1
Mon Mar 2, 2009 12:12 PM
Larry: Thank you for your views and discussion topics. I work in the child abuse and neglect field and have found there to be no discrimination when it comes to children coming into our program. The common factor is that these parents, of all races, put their needs before those of their children. A majority of our cases involve substance abuse, especially mothers that abuse drugs during their pregnancies. Sixty-five percent of all the children in my county receive free meals at the schools. One of the local churches fixes backpacks of food to feed these children over the weekend. What is bothering me right now is that there was a recent community forum addressing differential racial performance in the schools. There was all the bemoaning about lower test scores, higher drop-out rates, and more discipline occurrences for minority students. They were blaming the school administration, the teachers, and cultural insensitivity. No one mentioned parental responsibility. It is not the school's job to raise these children. With a 70% rate of minority children in single-parent homes, there has been a complete abandonment of family responsibility. This is not to take away from all the hard-working single mothers and grandparents that step up. Unfortunately, this group is smaller than it should be.
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Posted by: Diana
Comment: #2
Sun Mar 1, 2009 11:38 AM
Why do people think racial issues only exist between blacks and whites? I went to a very racially diverse school and when a race riot broke out the only white people involved were the ones too slow to get out of the way. The instigators were black, mexican, and arabian. That doesn't mean I have never known a white racist but I have seen them come in all shapes and colors. This is not a white issue. I am white and have been a victim of racism, especially by black women. I could care less about race or racism. It's not my problem and I won't allow anyone to make it my problem. I judge people on who they are as a person and I am teaching my daughter to do the same. I think it is sad that there are a lot of people of color out there that don't seem to get that they are racists and not victims. I'd also like to point out that I was taught in school that slavery started here because blacks were stolen from Africa. I was shocked to learn that the majority of slaves brought over were sold by their own tribes because they were slaves in their own tribes paying for crimes they committed against members of their tribe. Why were we told lies? I can't see how the truth is worse than the lie because slavery is horrible no matter the color or race of the people enslaved. Slavery goes on to this very day through out the world - why don't these people that feel so badly about it do something about that instead of using the "Once upon a time" defense for having their hand out? The truth is they don't care about slavery - they only care that they can use it to get things they didn't work for and don't deserve all the while hating people of other races. Nice.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #3
Sun Mar 1, 2009 9:19 PM
Re: Diana. Well said. Very plainly-stated and articulately spoken. I can't possibly improve on it.
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