Racial discrimination is worse than gender bias

Racial discrimination is worse than gender bias

EDITOR:

I’ve been meaning to get something off my chest. It’s been bothering me for a long time now. It is true that there has been discrimination against women for centuries as there has been against African-Americans. But there is a difference in intensity and quality of the experience. The wife of a governor and/or a president may not have had some desired or deserved opportunities, but in the end she still lives in a mansion whereas the sharecropper or laborer finding him or herself out of work might end up walking the streets, hungry and cold.

It is also true that when people see a woman coming toward them at night they don’t suddenly get the urge to cross the street. I know because I am the adoptive father of two wonderful African-American boys. There is discrimination and there is prejudice. They are not necessarily the same thing. Putting women down because of traditional practices is bad enough but when you add the factor of fear into it, it takes it to another level. And fear coming from racism has not vanished at all. It has only gone deeper into our subconscious where it lies dormant waiting to be re-stimulated by words and images carefully chosen to arouse those feelings. What Clinton has done, along with the tacit cooperation of Fox News and even the mainstream media is planted a seed of doubt in the consciousness of Americans. That seed is enough to arouse these primal fears so that white Americans are starting to cross the street on Obama. Before that they thought he was just like one of us. The suspicions have taken hold. No proof is needed. Allegations and insinuations are enough. That is how prejudice has always worked, not in the light of reason but in the darkness where shadows still lurk.

She has even accepted the endorsement of Richard Mellon Scaife, a notorious right-wing agitator. She may believe or pretends to believe that he is truly on her side now, but watch what happens when Obama is eliminated. Clinton has become intoxicated by her own self-importance, bragging about fighting like a mad dog.

Meanwhile, McCain is nursing a 40 year-old grudge against those who would make peace with “America’s enemies,” stealing victory out of the jaws of overwhelming military superiority. He says he hates war, but does not acknowledge any other way to deal with difficult situations. Anything short of total victory, destruction of the enemy, is seen as treason. Heroes are waiting to be made and the glory of victory is just around the corner. We have been around that corner a hundred times and still nothing but death and destruction in sight.

ROGER LAFONTAINE

Youngstown

Familiarity breeds contempt

EDITOR:

I’ve been reading with interest the recent articles and your editorial of April 27 regarding Attorney General Marc Dann’s behavior.

I’m a veteran of World War II and in the army we had a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.” That expression is just as valid now as it was then. A good leader must have the respect of those with whom he works.

In the case of our attorney general, he must also have the respect of the people of Ohio. Sad to say, respect for him is eroding.

DAVID B. BROWN M.D.

Girard