I am not shocked however at some of the comments. It is suggested that “ALL people and not just White people need to move past race (Eric Gregory)”, yet I ask in what order should that movement be made? Should the race which has perpetrated the crime in it’s most heinous form begin taking the necessary actions to move past it? Or is that burden too, to be placed upon the welted backs of the race for which such appalling acts were considered acceptable? Mrslane suggested that the author has a race issue by acknowledging racism not only in it’s outward appearance, but it’s subconcious and institutionalized manifestation as well. Mr. Gregory also liken his racist experience of not being hired as a tit for tat experience that blacks have endured. With all due respect, if you could call upon such experiences for the past 400 years, perhaps then you would have a case for comparison.

Kudos to the author.

A person who considers themselves “white” and reads this article gets offended? So how do you think people of other races feel when they are called names or stereotyped, lumped together as a group, as if they are all one? What about religions? Political parties? Ethics? Cultural/ethnic backgrounds? Weight? Disabilities/scars? Gender? I’ve been discriminated against, abused, threatened, intimidated, etc. for ALL those reasons – and for my race as well.

I suppose people consider me “white”. I read the article and accepted that I was part of the target audience – although my people have lived on this continent for 400 years, so I honestly have no idea what blood runs through my veins.

Mr. Manis wrote the article the way he did because he wanted to get people’s attention. If it angered you, perhaps he hit a sore spot. Maybe it would pay to let go of the anger just a little bit and read the article again – and ask yourself exactly why you’re angry.

Do you feel as though you have been discriminated against because you’re white? Does that anger you? Offend you? So now maybe you have a little taste of what people go through every day, all around the world, because of various belief systems that lead to prejudice and discrimination. And maybe – just maybe – instead of being angry, you could try to do your part not to add to the problem.

John Dahling, a British historian, in “The History of Freedom, 1907 said, “The one prevailing evil of democracy is the Tyranny of the Majority.” Here is this country, that tyranny has allowed this pestilence of racism to fester in the Heart of America. Recognizing and acknowledging that fact is the beginning of its termination.

I think that perhaps you realize white people are not the only ones guilty of racism but are simply “looking after your own” so to speak with this article.

I don’t know that this is the best approach to a topic like racism. I believe that before we can conquer racism, we must lay bare the facts surrounding it.

The most important fact about racism in today’s world is that it is not just limited to White’s oppressing everyone else.

Many years ago I went into a soul food restaurant here in Clarksville as an experienced food service worker only to be told that the position had been filled without even having the chance to fill out an application. I later ran into an African American friend who went in 2 hours after I did and got the job which had allegedly been filled.

I believe that ALL people and not just White people need to move past race. I don’t pretend to know all the answers, but I believe that articles like this which sternly point the finger at white people without making note that racism is not solely a white against everyone else issue can do more harm than good.

Thank you for your insights.

Eric Gregory