Comments on: Saturday's letters to the editor

By: Bill Bestpitch

Bill Bestpitch — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:09:11 +0000

"We are talking about a past where all the participants on both sides are long dead." Comment by Jim W.

Ever been to Twin Lakes State Park outside of Farmville? Before 1976, it was two parks, Goodwin Lake and Prince Edward Lake. Until the early 1960's Prince Edward Lake State Park was the ONLY state park that admitted blacks. Not all the people who were denied access to all the other state parks are long dead.

To think that all the prejudice and discrimination has been erased over the last four-and-a-half decades defies common sense. Yes, we have made incredible progress, but we haven't achieved anything close to a color-blind society where race and ethnicity don't matter.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:28:31 +0000

We are an odd bunch, we go to the past, parse, re-enact and revisit when it suits our purposes and we say look to the future and forget the past when that suits our purposes. The history is real, the discrimination and inhumane treatment was real, the racial tension, stereotyping, discrimination, and inequality STILL EXIST. We sure could forget the past a lot easier if it was the past!

By: Jim W.

Jim W. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:01:33 +0000

We are talking about a past where all the participants on both sides are long dead. I'm sure if we go back far enough even us "typical white guys" have ancestors who were slaves. Would it not be more beneficial to concentrate all this effort and concern on where slavery is actually being practiced today, say like in Africa where it was invented????

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:00:03 +0000

"Even if someone has been victimized, the important thing is for them is to not let themselves be stymied by the mentality that freezes them from proactively participating in their own advancement.'

Ok Professor, but the obligation goes two ways. If a group feels (rightly) that they've been institutional victims of discrimination, it's incumbent on both sides to try to both make amends and prevent it from continuing into the future.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:32:55 +0000

Good question The Professor: "Why does it seem like some want to invent sinister intentions in a common-sense truth?" I am going out on a limb here and will answer: I dunno, maybe BECAUSE THE SINISTER INTENTIONS WERE THERE! "all men are created equal" as they held slaves like cattle and mules ring a bell?

Yes, Jim W. you, or anyone else may say that I "write like "a typical leftest female", because I certainly intend to. No good being a Liberal if you are too mealy mouthed to make that known now is there?

By: The Professor

The Professor — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:45:40 +0000

Kristen,

I'm sorry, but you've missed the point as well. Even if someone has been victimized, the important thing is for them is to not let themselves be stymied by the mentality that freezes them from proactively participating in their own advancement. Why does it seem like some want to invent sinister intentions in a common-sense truth?

By: Jim W.

Jim W. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:01 +0000

"I should have said that you write and appear to think like a typical white male."

Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 5, 2009 @ 5:02 pm

Interesting statement, so it is OK to say you write like "a typical leftest female?"

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:02:26 +0000

BUD, today's editorial about not dallying on Sotomayor is an important message simply because Ricci has no REAL relevance to her fitness for the court nor is it the 'cause celebre' that the Conservatives want it to be IMHO. My responses were not so much to the Ricci case specifically as to the issue of "Time to discard race in job decisions" in the LTE section, which is why I made the comments here. A case that makes it to the SCOTUS is never as cut and dried and free of baggage as many would like.

By: BUD

BUD — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:08:01 +0000

Sandi, I don't know how seldom it is BUT today's editorial about not dallying on Sotomayor accuses the conservative bloc of activism in the Ricci case which was the source of my comment. Your remarks about the test
that only some people can pass and being the sole mechanism for determining promotions were way off base in the context of Ricci as neither are the case.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:02:18 +0000

C. Ramsey, thankfully no, we have never met. I sincerely apologize for assuming you are a white male. I should have said that you write and appear to think like a typical white male. I have seen minorities write as you do, but seldom with the consistency you show. My apologies for stereotyping, how racist of me. Guess we all have burdens to bear.