Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Racism
Columnist's words lack integrity
What exactly does it take to be a "syndicated columnist?"
In Sunday's Forum, David Sirota asserts that racism is alive and well in America today, in the same scope and breadth as in the 1960s. The only difference, in his opinion, is that racism today is more covert. As proof, he holds up "the mob stalking Barak Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright." He, as does Wright, conveniently omits the huge strides that have been made in last four or five decades.
This is actually a whole different style of racism, and Mr. Sirota is one of its practitioners. In the new racism, any non-white person of notoriety must be allowed to say anything outrageous, and disagreement is proof of racism. If we truly aspire not to be racist, a sermon or a political speech or newspaper op-ed has to be judged by the actual content, and not excused by the history of the deliverer. Obama said it himself, "Words matter."
Mr. Sirota writes of Obama's guilt by association with Pastor Wright, and likens the association to that of McCain to John Hagee, and of Clinton to Billy Graham. This comparison is patently absurd. Obama has been sitting in the pews for 20 years, tithing, and, one has to assume, listening. Are we to believe nothing in Wright's sermons has made an impression? How is this relationship similar to those of McCain and Clinton to Hagee and Graham?
The irony is that Obama aspires to be the candidate who proves racism is no longer an issue in America. Mr. Sirota and those like him, while fronting the appearance of support, are determined to prove him wrong. Their world view requires racism.
I guess I can answer my first question. Not much. Not journalistic integrity. Not honesty. Where do I sign up?
Chris Johnson
Marysville
In Sunday's Forum, David Sirota asserts that racism is alive and well in America today, in the same scope and breadth as in the 1960s. The only difference, in his opinion, is that racism today is more covert. As proof, he holds up "the mob stalking Barak Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright." He, as does Wright, conveniently omits the huge strides that have been made in last four or five decades.
This is actually a whole different style of racism, and Mr. Sirota is one of its practitioners. In the new racism, any non-white person of notoriety must be allowed to say anything outrageous, and disagreement is proof of racism. If we truly aspire not to be racist, a sermon or a political speech or newspaper op-ed has to be judged by the actual content, and not excused by the history of the deliverer. Obama said it himself, "Words matter."
Mr. Sirota writes of Obama's guilt by association with Pastor Wright, and likens the association to that of McCain to John Hagee, and of Clinton to Billy Graham. This comparison is patently absurd. Obama has been sitting in the pews for 20 years, tithing, and, one has to assume, listening. Are we to believe nothing in Wright's sermons has made an impression? How is this relationship similar to those of McCain and Clinton to Hagee and Graham?
The irony is that Obama aspires to be the candidate who proves racism is no longer an issue in America. Mr. Sirota and those like him, while fronting the appearance of support, are determined to prove him wrong. Their world view requires racism.
I guess I can answer my first question. Not much. Not journalistic integrity. Not honesty. Where do I sign up?
Chris Johnson
Marysville
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