Dear Larry: I want to respond to the controversy regarding Dr. Laura Schlessinger. She made headlines for using the N-word on her radio show in response to a caller who is black. The caller was having relationship troubles with her white husband and his relatives and friends for being racially insensitive.

According to what the caller said, these people were asking, "How do you black people like doing this?" and saying, "You black people really like doing that." Schlessinger didn't think it was racist.

To this woman: Is it racist when white readers of this column say the same things?

I do feel that Dr. Laura could have spoken metaphorically while addressing the issue instead of using the actual N-word. But she did raise a good question: How can some blacks say that they get so offended when a white person makes a joke or says something that is considered racially insensitive but take no offense when one of their peers says the exact same thing or worse?

For the past few years, I've seen white people make jokes and have opinions of black people. They've wound up getting fired, getting suspended or being sent to sensitivity training programs. The managers say they do this because they are deathly afraid that some civil rights person will shut them down.

I was at a show starring Chris Rock. He used the N-word multiple times in his act. Rock's audience was mostly black, and not one person took offense. There is an obvious double standard.

A white person I know went to a comedy club featuring a black comedian who called white people "crackers." No one got angry about this term, including the white people who were in attendance.

One of the whites decided to have a little fun and pretended to be offended by going into a tirade. The comedian was stunned and speechless. After a slight pause, this white person informed the comedian that he was just joking. The comedian laughed, with a sigh of relief, and so did the other audience members. However, the people running the club were not amused and had him escorted out of the club for "being disruptive."

My question is this, Larry: How come blacks can get away with telling white jokes but not the other way around? — Pope

Dear Pope: People get away with telling white jokes because whites do not take offense and speak up. This is the reason there is a double standard. Blacks and other minorities speak up and make a fuss at any perceived offense.

America is now so sensitized about offending that minorities can make any claim of being offended and the "offender" immediately is deemed guilty unless he can prove his innocence.

If you are too timid to demand respect, you will be ostracized and disrespected.

Dear Larry: As a Jewish American, I say BUILD THE MOSQUE near ground zero. The reason for having a top-quality community center for Muslims is to prevent the mood that encourages Muslims to become terrorists.

I understand the anger that the families of the 9/11 victims have. But there's going to be a point at which people will move on with their lives. This attack happened almost nine years ago. Most of us have other things on our minds.

I don't have time to cherish old grievances. — Ben

Dear Ben: We remember the attack on Pearl Harbor, and that memory galvanized and sustained the country through World War II. We never should forget that America is not immune from a determined enemy.

The loss of life at the World Trade Center was even greater. It never should be forgotten. It always should serve as another reminder never to let our guard down against people who want to destroy our way of life.

You may want to forget, but I disagree with you. I believe forgetting would cause an even greater loss of life.

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.