TERRE HAUTE —
Perhaps, in a way that he doesn’t understand, Attorney General Eric Holder is correct in accusing America of being cowardly about discussing issues of race.
Flashpoint has now, on two consecutive Sundays, featured opinions suggesting that the shooting of Trayvon Martin is either the result of racism or of the inability of sectors of society to coexist. There were, oddly enough, very few comments to either piece online. Incidents such as this shooting indicate the need for critical thinking, not criticizing, placing blame and grandstanding for political gain or media ratings. That said, let us allow the authorities to proceed with the investigation and let them decide upon the proper course of legal action to be taken.
There was a conspicuous irony in the opinion piece by Mrs. Hart-Craig. While she rightfully excoriated racists and their behavior, she quickly assumed “facts” to fit her narrative of a racist white man “murdering” an innocent black teen. The “racist white man” was in fact a gentleman of mixed ethnicity as are many of us in this post Civil Rights Era. None of us at the time of Mrs. Hart-Craig’s piece had any real knowledge of the sequence of events as they unfolded. All that we had was information parsed out by the news media, which, as we saw in the last week, is often manipulated and edited to portray events to fit their need for ratings.
Mrs. Hart-Craig, as president of the Terre Haute branch of the NAACP, should have been the first to urge a calm, thorough investigation of the Sanford, Fla., incident. Instead, she chose the route of clamoring for “justice” when we did not know at the time a crime had been committed. This was the behavior one would have expected from the Jesse Jacksons, Al Sharptons and skinheads of the world, not a “leader” of any organization. To call Mr. Zimmerman a murderer before he had been arrested was a despicable characterization of events that we do not yet understand.
It is true, as Mrs. Hart-Craig wrote, young black and brown men don’t have to be drug dealers or thugs when they are gunned down. However, a casual review of FBI statistics shows that the vast majority of crimes committed upon blacks is by blacks and the majority of that is drug- or gang-related. Many of the truly innocent who are killed in urban areas are done so in drive-by shootings related to drug or turf wars. Even suggesting that white racism is responsible for a statistically relevant number of deaths in the United States of America is appalling. It just is not so. Her emotional statement, “Thousands of young black and brown men are gunned down, run over, beat down, and hanged simply because of someone’s irrational fear of men of color,” deserves an apology to everyone in the Wabash Valley. Such accusations belong in the mouths of the Black Muslims, New Black Panthers and other such groups.
No parents of any color want their child to die needlessly. No good parent of any ethnicity would willingly allow their children to put themselves purposefully into an environment which elevates the risk of being exposed to a culture of drugs, alcohol and violence and misogyny. This may require saying “no” to little Johnny or Janie. Styles of dress and behavior and verbal skills speak volumes to the character of the person. As parents, we are charged to teach attitudes of hard work, desire for learning, honesty and respect to those entrusted to us by God. Simply blaming outcomes of child rearing on racism and not considering the parenting or lack thereof, serves only to perpetuate a culture of dependency and the soft bigotry of low expectations.
Sadly, the real tragedy here may be that so many people believe this incident is a national tragedy to the black community while ignoring the number of children who die everyday from abuse, neglect and abortion in the same communities.
— Edward Kesler
West Terre Haute
Opinion
FLASHPOINT: Be careful when making accusations of ‘racism’
- Opinion
-
-
EDITORIAL: Cleaning up voter rolls
It’s not a lot of money in the big scheme of things, but the $2 million designated in the recent session of the General Assembly will begin the messy but necessary process of cleaning up Indiana’s voter registration rolls.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 22, 2013
Rich history all along the river
Great work by Duke employees
-
RONN MOTT: Rabid Republicans
The so-called news people at Fox News can hardly sit still long enough to report on the latest gossip or untruth about our sitting President. They can hardly contain themselves.
-
READERS’ FORUM: May 21, 2013
• Great response to annual golf outing
• Doing your part on climate change
-
LIZ CIANCONE: Smell of fresh air gave way to dryers
Remember when clean clothes smelled like fresh air and sunshine rather than fabric softener and dryer sheets?
-
READERS' FORUM: May 20, 2013
The dangers of a little knowledge
Students enjoyed Rose study trip
-
Mark Bennett: High-profile mural connects historical dots from city to river
At 96 feet wide and 2 stories tall, the power, impact and value of the Wabash will be evident.
-
EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 19, 2013
• Flawed reasoning on gun checks
• A hint of things yet to come?
• Are the ‘makers’ doing the ‘taking’?
• The ‘Obamination’ is finally revealed
• Pondering effects of Obamacare
• Fantasizing on the ‘Apocalypse’
• Another view of Hinduism
• Great experience for HCMS students
-
FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
Given the nature of politicians, grand claims of accomplishments and overblown rhetoric about “historic” efforts are to be expected at the close of any legislative session.
-
RONN MOTT: Mushrooms = Hoosier happiness
Someone wrote or said a few years ago a statement that would define the word “Hoosier.” According to this urban legend, a Hoosier is somebody dribbling a basketball around the Indy 500 while eating a fried, morel mushroom. It did not define me, at the time.
-
EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 17, 2013
Hinduism doesn’t deserve ridicule — Shefali Purohit, Terre Haute
-
RONN MOTT: Israel’s Air Force
Recently the Israeli Air Force bombed and rocketed a convoy leaving Syria going to Lebanon with rockets that were going to be used to attack Israel. It did not get there. It was destroyed.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
-
Readers' Forum: May 16, 2013
Moving Deming folks sounds ‘nuts’
-
Readers' Forum: May 15, 2013
Participants rise to the challenge: I would like to write a letter congratulating all the Wabash Valley Roadrunners that competed in the One America Indianapolis Mini Marathon.
-
RONN MOTT: Media merry-go-round
Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows. That isn’t a unique phrase to this writer or to this era in time. But, when it comes to the musical chairs of broadcasting, it certainly applies.
-
LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops
Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?
-
READERS' FORUM: May 14, 2013
ISTEP failure exposes flaws
Community hasn’t changed its spirit
Egregious threat to nation’s defense
-
READERS' FORUM: May 13, 2013
• Women’s group criticizes Bucshon
• Let’s hope this doesn’t come true
• Many get thanks for fest success
-
MARK BENNETT: Life at face value: Mom’s simple advice still presents a valuable daily challenge
Most moms don’t base their advice on scientific research.
(Unless, of course, your mother is a scientific researcher. If so, carry a No. 2 pencil and take good notes.) -
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
-
GUEST COLUMN: Nursing more than medicine and bandages
Being a nurse … Like most nurses, I chose this profession because I had a strong desire to help others and no other career would allow me the opportunity to touch lives the way I have been able to through nursing.
-
READERS' FORUM: May 12, 2013
Vigo Youth Football, entering 45th year, seeks new support
Media ignoring important case on abortions
Proud to be old-fashioned
Guns in school? What’s next?
Promoting hate not a ‘brave’ act
-
FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
Last year, the people of Indiana entrusted the Republican Party with some of their most precious possessions.
-
RONN MOTT: ‘Raccoons II’
In the Algonquin Indian language, raccoon means “working with hands.” They are really cute little fellows until they injure a child, or a pet, or leave feces around where you certainly do not want it.
-
Readers’ Forum: May 11, 2013
I just wanted to express my disappointment at the lack of response shown by President Obama after the Boston Marathon bombings.
-
Readers' Forum: May 10, 2013
CANDLES event plants new seed: On April 26, CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center hosted an event called “Sowing Seeds of Peace: A Celebration of Spring” at the Apple House. Our purpose was to introduce people to our concept of forgiveness as a seed for peace.
-
RONN MOTT: ‘NRA Convention’
At the recent NRA Convention in Houston, Texas, where the right-wing political hot air almost lifted the convention's building off its foundation, the NRA trotted out the forever yours political dame of the right wing, Sarah Palin. Sarah did not disappoint.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
EDITORIAL: Cleaning up voter rolls
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Today in History May 22
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
