What a sham
Thank you for your concise and succinct wrap-up on the elections (“Thank God and Hallellujah,” Nov. 15), and hopefully, the beginning of the end of the NeoCons. The column summed up exactly the sentiments of many people I know in Charlotte who, notwithstanding the overt Republican majority in this town, have known all along this “emperor has no clothes.”
Don’t forget the recurrent episodes of administration security removing any non-Repug protesters during Republican-Fascist rallies (and sometimes physical harassment), the obvious complicity in outing a CIA agent, although stating that “anyone involved in the cabinet would be fired,” and the scariest desecration of our Constitution rights: the abolishment of Habeus Corpus, disguised in the latest ridiculous “anti-terrorism” bill, designed to protect you and me from al-Qaeda taking over the Bank of America building and marching down Trade and Tryon.
— Peter Smith, Charlotte
The past is the past
John Suggs is right (“Hating the Haters,” Nov. 22). What we need is balance and acceptance of all cultures and stop hating, which is another form of ignorance.
Let’s face it — the world is too small for prejudice against Jews, blacks, Asians, Hispanics and others. If you were dying in a hospital and needed a blood transfusion to save your life, would you care what nationality or religion made the blood donation?
Do you care what nationality an eye surgeon who can restore your sight is?
Who should care what nationality or religion wrote so many wonderful Broadway shows and music — Jews like Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Adolph Green and Betty Comden. Look what Einstein gave us. He was Jewish.
Gays like Truman Copote and Elton John gave us books and music for all to enjoy. In 1946 there were no black pro ballplayers. What would your favorite team look like today without black athletes?
Let’s get over the past. The time is now for acceptance. Put aside the prejudice and hatred you were taught and let’s use all people’s talents. That’s the only path to the future.
— H. A. Thompson, Charlotte
Divided we fall
Maybe it is because the North American people are so divided that we are left in the dark on the real issues of the world (“American Myopia,” Nov. 29). We are so locked into a mentality of “looking out for number one and damn anyone else” that it makes us easily deceived by all those who control our resources to the lands beyond our oceans. 230 years have passed since our country was created and we still suffer the dividing effects of racism and prejudice. I think that if we could all pretend to be color-blind and not put so much emphasis on monetary values, we can become a stronger nation with the abilities to truly defend ourselves from terrorists, who not only threaten us but the whole world, too. Our country bears one flag, one government, one Constitution, but not one people. We are supposed to be a country of equality, freedom, and enlightenment, not the bastard child of slavery, persecution, and isolationist ideals. The question shouldn’t be what our next step ought to be, but how are we to take that step.
Maybe our nation isn’t ready to accept such extreme ideals of ‘loving thy neighbor’ or ‘treating others as you would have them treat you’. I’m not saying that we should all swing towards a Christian government; I just think that if we upgraded our morals from hate-mongering to the pursuit of happiness, that this nation would really become the greatest country in the world. “To Thine Own Self Be True.” People, I think it is time that we stop talking the talk and start walking the walk that our forefathers believed we could do (even if they themselves didn’t, from time to time).
— Heather Potter, Charlotte
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2006.
Yes some people would reject a blood transfusion from someone of a race they hate. I’m reminded of an episode of the Jefferson’s where George saved a redneck’s life with mouth to mouth. On his way to the hospital the redneck said “You should’ve let me die.” White people live in a bubble and cannot see out. The world is more complex than just everyone holding hands and proclaiming our problems are gone. Black people still suffer from the legacy of slavery and need reparations. We need police to stop harassing us and shooting us. We need affirmative action and other legal remedies to institutionalized racism. The problem is white privilege and white supremacy. Whites think white supremacy is just the KKK. It’s not. It’s any attitude of superiority by whites based purely on skin color and whites have been trained on how not to see it but it’s everywhere. Whites need to eradicate white privilege because it’s never been about race to rich people. It’s been about class and they use race to divide the masses to maintain their power and influence. Whites continue to fall for it. The problem is not us. Whites must rid themselves personally of their unjust beliefs of non-whites. No one can help you but yourselves. Whites created this problem and whites must fix it. I know it won’t happen in my lifetime and probably never but it is a goal worth pursuing. And if all you want to say to me is “You are race-baiting nigger!!!” then don’t waste your time and mine with that empty reply.
It’s not ok to forget about the past when it still affects the present. I won’t and we can’t until there is justice so save your breath with the one God, one nation crap that is insulting to non-believers. no justice. No peace. Know justice. Know peace. Peace.