Dennis Plante Responds: "Here, here Doug, you're absolutely right.... I only have one question. If gang-related terrorism in our inner-city neighborhoods is not a significant problem, then why are such a disproportionate number of homicides related to black-on-black crimes?..."
Doug Mann responds: I am absolutely right, but...? The rest of Dennis Plante's "response" is argumentation against a straw man that he sets up by putting words in my mouth. For example: Where did I say that "gang-related terrorism" in our inner-city neighborhoods is not a significant problem? In my opinion, street gang activity and related black-on-black violence are fostered by a political and corporate establishment run by mostly-white gangs, whose interests are served by doing as little as possible to enforce laws against race-based discrimination in the job and housing markets, public education, and ... law enforcement. Why do gangs recruit African American youths more than white youths? Why are so many young African American men under court supervision? Is it because of... a) irresponsible, lazy, shiftless, black, parents? b) a defective African American culture? c) Gangbanger genes? or d) none of the above? My answer to the above multiple guess question is d) none of the above. Dennis Plante also writes: "Discrimination exists in many forms, at ALL levels of our society. All that Tyrone Terril and CM Samuels are pointing-out is that there is a personal responsibility that ALL of us have in teaching our children what is acceptable and what is unacceotable behaviour." [And, the concluding paragraph of Dennis Plante's e-mail goes] "There are MANY rock-solid african american mothers AND fathers out there that need the same tools we give the white mothers and fathers in our society. DON'T take these tools away from them because we have not achieved racial equality in our society..." Doug Mann responds: So, making it a crime to be a parent of an alleged gang member is a tool to teach African Americans how to be good parents? To me it looks like a tool to increase police powers in the black community, a tool that is not designed to bring about racial equality in our society. -Doug Mann, King Field candidate for 8th ward city council http://educationright.com REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
