Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 10, 2000
Re: Race distinctions don't really help, by Robyn E. Blumner, Dec. 3.
As a black American I wish that race distinctions were non-existent. The problem I find with Blumner's comments is that, as much as I try to not focus on the distinctions, white America consistently reminds me in discriminating ways that black is what I am.
The current problems in the presidential election are just the tip of the iceberg. As much as minorities just wanted to vote and be counted in this state, there has been a consistent attempt to exclude such votes.
Unfortunately, racial unity for some non-minorities seems to be based on "white is right." Unfortunately, the many contributions of blacks to help build the country since its beginning, have been discounted. Many feel the only ones who have fought, died, strived, invented, created and established within the country are whites. I question if the writer is even minutely aware of the many contributions of black Americans to this country. Therefore in order to raise awareness, distinctions are necessary.
But there is a deeper question in this matter. As we decide to be non-distinctive, what model will we take? Will it be one based on the standards of European-Americans or on standards of "for all"? In short, as long as white America tries to show we don't exist, we must distinctively show we do. I'm sorry that you don't understand, but of course you haven't walked in these shoes.
-- Frank B. Brunson, St. Petersburg
Re: Race distinctions don't really help, Dec. 3.
Kudos to Robyn Blumner for voicing the idea that maybe it is time we stop tracking, studying or categorizing people by skin color. I look forward to the day when I can read an article in the paper that does not refer to a person's race or color.
What would we think about an article that included the phrase "Jones, who wore blue shoes, and Smith, who wore brown shoes . . ."? We would obviously think it ridiculous in any discussion except one dealing with fashion. Statements reading "Jones, who is black, and Smith, who is white . . ." should be seen as similarly inappropriate.
I look forward to the day when talking about a person's skin color has about as much meaning as talking about their shoe color. Maybe we're not there yet, but if there is to be any hope for this country, we need to get there.
-- Kathleen Eggen, Dunedin
Kudos to Mary Jo Melone and Robyn E. Blumner for their excellent columns in the Dec. 3 Perspective section.
In her article, Beyond P.C, Melone expressed the sentiments of a lot people who keep their thoughts to themselves. Robyn Blumner's article outlining Ward Connerly's eminently common-sensical ideas was also inspiring.
There is only one race -- the human race, with its wonderfully, infinite variety. It's time to stop playing the "poor me" race card.
-- Paul Rekstad, Brooksville
Re: An apology to Vietnam would admit our lie, by Robert Jensen, Dec. 3.
"Come down, come down from your ivory tower . . ." is a refrain from a song of the early '60s. And obviously very apropos in describing where this self-acclaimed "professor of journalism" has been hiding for at least a few years.
I was a diplomatic brat, having spent my first 13 years living in Chile, Brazil and Mexico. I lived in Germany for six months with the U.S. Army, volunteered to go to Vietnam for a year and then voluntarily extended my tour for another six months.
I went to Vietnam because I wanted to find out for myself what was going on there during the "conflict." Each of us who went there for whatever reason came back with lifelong memories that will never go away. I cannot say that everything we did in Vietnam was right, proper, legal or moral. But I do know that millions of Vietnamese have come to live in this country and other countries in the world. And I ask the professor: Why is that? And I know that many Vietnamese village chiefs and their families were killed, maimed, raped or tortured in front of the other villagers, because the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese wanted to instill their own brand of government on the people.
But why should the American people care about such things? Why should they care about the 1-million Cambodians who were systematically killed, beheaded or placed in mass graves? I guess that the professor must have simply forgotten about all those folks. So, why should the United States try to aid such people around the world?
Yes, politics, money and the Cold War all entered into the equation. But I also think that the greatness of America is that its people do care about what happens to people anywhere. They don't like wasted wars or lost lives -- nor do I. I am still very upset with the way we pursued that war. I wish there were a way to stop wars and settle things through peace. The only problem is that there are a lot of really nasty, merciless, cold-blooded people in the world who won't ever let peace have a chance.
I don't know where the professor has been in his life, but as an academic, Lord, please forgive him, for he knows not what he sayeth.
-- John C. Wenrick
Re: Repairing the system, Dec. 3.
Your Sunday editorial made many valuable suggestions regarding the voting process but missed one that is critical -- allowing the completed ballot to be reviewed and verified by the voter before submitting it.
If the voter has the opportunity to review and verify his/her choices, the possibility of error in voting and the validity of complaints after the fact are both reduced. Such a voting process was used in some counties both north and south of Pinellas. They showed almost no change in the recounts and no complaints by voters. The same is true of voting machines. Such was not the case in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade etc., nor is it the case in Pinellas.
When voters finish voting using punched cards without printed information, they submit a ballot that cannot be personally verified, particularly when some lines are skipped. Yes, we should have a uniform system. And it should be one the voters can use and be sure their preferences are clear and unmistakable. The present situation will leave us with a dubious president, no matter who eventually is sworn in.
-- Bob DuBrul, Palm Harbor
Re: Repairing the system, Dec. 3.
Your summary of the faults in the Florida voting process that need to be corrected is well stated but has one glaring omission. Although the statistics are not readily available at this time, it is apparent that many absentee overseas voters -- particularly active-duty military voters -- were disenfranchised by inappropriate laws that were open to differing interpretations throughout Florida.
In a voting season in which many electoral travesties have come to light, the impact of denying any of our military personnel the right to have their vote counted ranks near the top. From personal experience, I know that our military personnel take their voting seriously. Considering that they are where they are, away from home, frequently in harm's way, protecting the freedom to vote for all citizens, it is even more critical that our legislators should make every effort to ensure that there are no inappropriate provisions in the law that would disenfranchise these military absentee voters.
So, I would suggest that any summary of faults needing to be fixed before the next election include the following:
Ensure that the law and instructions for absentee voting and counting by the county supervisors of election are uniform throughout the state and recognize the unique circumstances involving the preparation and submission of absentee ballots from members of the armed forces, especially those who may be deployed and not have normal postal services available.
-- Sherman G. Alexander, retired captain, U.S. Navy, St. Petersburg
After watching hours of the Broward County election board trying to determine the "intent" of each voter, I believe a much simpler method would be to have on each of the pages of our multipage punch-card ballots one additional line: "None of the above." That would stop this absolute nonsense, because all too many voters just did not want to vote for either candidate for president. They wanted to cast their ballots only for other positions on the ballot. To have some "political hack" determine their intent is wrong!
-- Bob Perlman, Palm Harbor
Because I was on duty at my nursing job last Sunday, I didn't finish reading Dave Barry until the next day. I nearly died laughing.
Therefore I intend to instruct my family that in the event I happen to actually die laughing while reading his column in the future, there may be some legal action to take, holding your paper liable for my demise.
But seriously, during all this ridiculous backing and forthing of our legal processes regarding our election, you should run Dave Barry on the front page in bold type to help us all start the day.
Long live Dave Barry.
-- Betty Upson-Schmitz, Largo