Yes the Strib is correct to include diverse opinions. Personally I would like to see more edgy opinions in the Strib. Thus commentary from racists like Jones should occasional grace the pages of the Strib. Even though I disagree with Jones that the Caucasian Race is wholly to blame for any Black/White strife, I think it is important to have access to radical opinions as well as the boring middle of the road stuff we normally see. Similarly, there should be occasional commentary by White racists, so we can see what those radicals are thinking. Of course the Strib would never do that, because political correctness overrides their desire for balanced coverage.
Apparently Mr. Jones is given a regular forum in the Strib because they want to give a voice to the Black community. While this is an admirable aim, I don't believe Syl is helping Blacks at all. His regular contributions give the impression that most Blacks in the community are racists like Jones. I don't believe this is the case. I don't think any writer could really "represent" Blacks as a whole. But if the Strib needs to have a token Black on the paper, they should at least look for one with more moderate views, which I believe would be closer to the thinking of the average Black person. Mark Anderson Bancroft Neighborhood ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordan S. Kushner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "JIM GRAHAM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "List Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Mpls list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 1:25 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] List Manager's suggested reading of Syl Jones' racist prayer > 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 _______________________________________ 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
