Syl Jones' Op-Ed article was insightful and largely on target. It pointed out racist double standards in the community. Jim Graham's attempt to equate Jones' article with a white person making similar allegations against the black community ignores the clear reality of which community is victimized by racism. The labelling of an opinion as racist for pointing out racism is an obvious effort to avoid examining racism.
Whether or not one agrees with Syl Jones opinion, Graham is wrong to attack the Star Tribune for printing it. The attack on a newspaper for promoting free speech further suggests a lack of willingness or ability to address Jones' views on their merits. The obvious purpose of the op-ed page is to publish a variety of viewpoints, including controversial ones. The Star Tribune needs a lot more (not less) articles that challenge the basic thinking and actions of the power structure. What would be helpful is more analysis of the police department's funcional role, as former police chief Tony Bouza put it, "to keep the oppressed classes down." and how this plays into the police federation's attack on the one African American council member and the corresponding outrage by the African American community. If the Star Tribune recognized this underlying class war, it would not have such a silly editorial telling everyone to just calm down and work together. Jordan Kushner Powderhorn JIM GRAHAM wrote: > > Syl Jones was allowed by the StarTribune to publish a prayer > about a horrible situation that if anything was as horrible as that > situation. It pointed out that if cloaked in the robe of "Political > Correctness", > even evil racism is allowed in our newspapers. > > Mr. Jones wrote: > "Lord, what are we going to do with these people? They can't see their own > hatred, even though it's as plain as the Roman noses on their pale faces. > You think the Israelites of old were stiff-necked? Try spending a few days > in Minneapolis. What's so bad about it, Lord, is these are people who claim > to be colorblind, whatever that means, when it suits them. But when the > victim is white, they can't wait to foment racial unrest. These are high and > mighty people, Lord, looking for a sin to blame on somebody, and most of > them are busy telling everyone who will listen that they are your servants!" > > Now if a white racist had written : > Lord, what are we going to do with these people? They can't see their own > hatred, even though it's as plain as the wide noses on their dark faces. You > think the Israelites of old were stiff-necked? Try spending a few days in > Minneapolis. What's so bad about it, Lord, is these are people who claim to > be colorblind, whatever that means, when it suits them. But when the victim > is black, they can't wait to foment racial unrest. These are high and mighty > people, Lord, looking for a sin to blame on somebody, and most of them are > busy telling everyone who will listen that they are your servants! > > What would have been the reaction of the StarTribune and the public? > > Hopefully, it would not have been published other than as an > object of scorn. Hopefully, the public would have resoundingly > condemned it for the racism it would have been. Even "get even racism", > from one who claims to be seeking justice, should be condemned. > > I am deeply disappointed that a Minneapolis newspaper continues > to fan the divisiveness and hidden racism that separates the people > in "Liberal" Minnesota to a greater degree than most Southern States. > Racism, and the evil headlines it creates, sell newspapers and the > StarTribune is certainly doing its part to continue that racism, even > though hypocritically hidden for the most part. Hidden in the cloak of > "Liberalism and Understanding" the Syl Jones "prayer" and the StarTribune > have continued to encourage the festering sore of racial separateness > that fuels the fire of racism. > > Jim Graham, > Ventura Village > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
