Comments on: An Open Letter To Eric http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/ where I'm a Rank Stranger Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:41:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: helenl http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50743 helenl Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:11:36 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50743 Eric, Antisemitism is as bad as racism. All the -isms hurt us as does all hatred. Let's be sure we aren't arguing about words and what we think they should mean rather than ideas. I think you have a lot to teach me. Visit often. You bring an important viewpoint to this blog. Helen Eric, Antisemitism is as bad as racism. All the -isms hurt us as does all hatred. Let’s be sure we aren’t arguing about words and what we think they should mean rather than ideas. I think you have a lot to teach me. Visit often. You bring an important viewpoint to this blog. Helen

]]> By: Eric-Odessit http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50740 Eric-Odessit Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:12:14 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50740 Helen, First of all, Happy Birthday! May you enjoy many more! I wish you health and happiness. I was going to describe my own attitude toward Antisemitism, since I am more familiar with this subject. It was pretty much institutionalized in this country, although perhaps not to the extend racism was. It is not any more. Does it meant that there are no anti-Semites in this country? No, of course not. Heck, you go to any leftist demonstration nowadays, you will see plenty. I countered my share of those demonstration as a member of Protest Warrior. You'd be embarrassed to hear what I've heard. But do I care about those anti-Semites? No, absolutely not. They don't affect my life. I think the same is true about black people and racists. Having said that, back in the Soviet Union non-Jews were not aware for the most part about government Antisemitism. So, there is a possibility that I might not know about institutions practicing racism. So, if you can give examples, I would appreciate it. That reminds me: I was going to have lunch with a friend, a former co-worker, who happens to be black. I will ask him. I suggested a post about Tuskegee Airmen as a part of your Black History Month series. But then, it's your blog. Again, Happy Birthday! Eric. Helen,
First of all, Happy Birthday! May you enjoy many more! I wish you health and happiness.
I was going to describe my own attitude toward Antisemitism, since I am more familiar with this subject. It was pretty much institutionalized in this country, although perhaps not to the extend racism was. It is not any more. Does it meant that there are no anti-Semites in this country? No, of course not. Heck, you go to any leftist demonstration nowadays, you will see plenty. I countered my share of those demonstration as a member of Protest Warrior. You’d be embarrassed to hear what I’ve heard. But do I care about those anti-Semites? No, absolutely not. They don’t affect my life. I think the same is true about black people and racists.
Having said that, back in the Soviet Union non-Jews were not aware for the most part about government Antisemitism. So, there is a possibility that I might not know about institutions practicing racism. So, if you can give examples, I would appreciate it. That reminds me: I was going to have lunch with a friend, a former co-worker, who happens to be black. I will ask him.
I suggested a post about Tuskegee Airmen as a part of your Black History Month series. But then, it’s your blog.
Again, Happy Birthday!
Eric.

]]> By: helenl http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50738 helenl Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:55:13 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50738 Eric, I too am against prejudging people on the basis of their racial differences. That is right. But it is ignorant to refuse to see that racism in the US has been mostly against black and, although many wrongs have been corrected and conditions are far, far better than they were, that racism (against blacks) still exists in the US. Yes, other from of racism have existed here (in the US) but not to the extent that it has against blacks. Talk to intelligent, educated black people and see if they have personally experienced racism. Don't take my word for it. No, I'm not going to post about Tuskegee Airmen. I have already promised Judy I'd post answers to her questions. It's not because I don't find it interesting. But I still have to find posts for Black History Month (February 14-28), finish condensing the Lenten messages (March 2-24), write my State of the Blog entry (February 18), get my book Manuscript ready for mailing to 2 or 3 places (postmark date February 15), . . . I need to write a book review and find a place to publish it, I have a bit more work toward April's Dead Mule, and I have a dirty house and company next weekend. My birthday is tomorrow, Valentine's Day Thursday, and . . . . next weekend the Daytona 500! I have a life, man. :-) LOL And when, oh when, am I going to have time to write some new poems? Or go railfanning? Eric, I too am against prejudging people on the basis of their racial differences. That is right.

But it is ignorant to refuse to see that racism in the US has been mostly against black and, although many wrongs have been corrected and conditions are far, far better than they were, that racism (against blacks) still exists in the US. Yes, other from of racism have existed here (in the US) but not to the extent that it has against blacks. Talk to intelligent, educated black people and see if they have personally experienced racism. Don’t take my word for it.

No, I’m not going to post about Tuskegee Airmen. I have already promised Judy I’d post answers to her questions. It’s not because I don’t find it interesting. But I still have to find posts for Black History Month (February 14-28), finish condensing the Lenten messages (March 2-24), write my State of the Blog entry (February 18), get my book Manuscript ready for mailing to 2 or 3 places (postmark date February 15), . . . I need to write a book review and find a place to publish it, I have a bit more work toward April’s Dead Mule, and I have a dirty house and company next weekend. My birthday is tomorrow, Valentine’s Day Thursday, and . . . . next weekend the Daytona 500! I have a life, man. :-) LOL And when, oh when, am I going to have time to write some new poems? Or go railfanning?

]]> By: Eric-Odessit http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50736 Eric-Odessit Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:33:43 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50736 One more question: are you going to post about Tuskegee Airmen? Please don't misunderstand: it is your blog, and who am I to ask for any specific posts? But I am just curious. It is related, I think, to that other discussion about pacifism that you had with Judyrose. Thanks. Eric. One more question: are you going to post about Tuskegee Airmen? Please don’t misunderstand: it is your blog, and who am I to ask for any specific posts? But I am just curious. It is related, I think, to that other discussion about pacifism that you had with Judyrose.
Thanks.
Eric.

]]> By: Eric-Odessit http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50735 Eric-Odessit Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:26:42 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50735 So, I am against prejudging people on the basis of their racial differences. How is it wrong? Eric. So, I am against prejudging people on the basis of their racial differences. How is it wrong?
Eric.

]]> By: helenl http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50733 helenl Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:59:19 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50733 Eric, You are just wrong. No need to write more. This kind of an attitude sets us back. Eric, You are just wrong. No need to write more. This kind of an attitude sets us back.

]]> By: Eric-Odessit http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50732 Eric-Odessit Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:36:56 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50732 Helen, You missed my point. My point is that racism in the US is long gone. Sure, there are racist individuals, but there is no racism as an institution. My point is that the only institution that comes the closest to racism is Affirmative Action: prejudging people on basis of race. I'll write more later. Eric. Helen,
You missed my point. My point is that racism in the US is long gone. Sure, there are racist individuals, but there is no racism as an institution. My point is that the only institution that comes the closest to racism is Affirmative Action: prejudging people on basis of race.
I’ll write more later.
Eric.

]]> By: helenl http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50727 helenl Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:35:33 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50727 Hi Eric, I had to approve this comment, too. It's the URLs. You still keep talking about groups other than blacks. The Nazis did nothing to Jews in the US. That's a part of world history. We are talking about an election<strong> i</strong><strong>n the US</strong>. I don't know how to make this any plainer:We are talking about <strong>racism in the US</strong>. This isn't about the Soviet Union or Jews. All racism is bad. In fact, all prejudice and all hatred is bad. Sexism is bad. Intolerance is bad. Homophobia is bad. The Holocaust was very, very bad. <strong>But in the US, racism has been about color and Africans since the times of slavery.</strong> If we get that one right, the others will follow. Hi Eric,

I had to approve this comment, too. It’s the URLs.

You still keep talking about groups other than blacks. The Nazis did nothing to Jews in the US. That’s a part of world history. We are talking about an election in the US. I don’t know how to make this any plainer:We are talking about racism in the US. This isn’t about the Soviet Union or Jews. All racism is bad. In fact, all prejudice and all hatred is bad. Sexism is bad. Intolerance is bad. Homophobia is bad. The Holocaust was very, very bad. But in the US, racism has been about color and Africans since the times of slavery. If we get that one right, the others will follow.

]]> By: Eric-Odessit http://helenl.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/an-open-letter-to-eric/#comment-50726 Eric-Odessit Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:37:53 +0000 http://helenl.wordpress.com/?p=1430#comment-50726 Helen, My point was that there is a difference between a government-sponsored and government-enforced racism on one side and racism of stupid and ignorant individuals on another. Yes, you are correct, there were racist laws in this country, not everywhere, but in some places. But they've been gone for over 40 years. There were other minorities who faced discrimination at one time or another. I've heard stories about signs in La Mesa, CA (suburb of San Diego), that said: "No Jews and dogs allowed". That was in 1950s. Jews were not admitted to Harvard. Hebrew College http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_College was founded as an alternative to Harvard. I've heard about it because my father's friend's daughter went there. Yet you don't hear about Affirmative Action for Jews. The same is true for Chinese. Right now my daughters don't view black people differently from anybody else. I'd lie to keep it that way. But no, someone will surely try to teach them about their special victim status. What I'd like them to learn about racism is this: there were bad and stupid people that passed bad and stupid laws that discriminated against black people. That was obviously idiotic, so all good and smart people said: "Enough of that silliness", and stopped that. In case someone might think that I plan to teach my kids about special victim status of the Jews, I'll clarify what I will tell them. I will tell them: "There were bad guys called Nazis who wanted to kill all the Jews in the world. Members of our family were killed. But all the good people fought the war against those bad guys. My grandfathers and Mommy's grandfather fought in that war. The good guys won. So, good people need to fight against evil". There. No special victim status. In fact, one of things I hate about Hollywood portrayal of the Holocaust is this portrayal of the Jews as victims who were led to the slaughter as sheep. No, not true. The Jews fought back whenever and wherever they could. So, again, no special victim status for me. I don't need it. As for poverty, the best thing to address it is to allow free enterprise to take care of it. Nothing works better. Ironically, Russia is a good example. In places where business climate is good the standard of living has skyrocketed. The government does have a role in it: it has to enforce the law, so that dishonest people do not profit from their dishonesty. The government should also provide a minimal safety net. But that is where the role of government should end. Helen, one more thing. As long as you keep posting on Black History Month, could you please dedicate one post to this fine group of pilots: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen If there was a group that made the biggest contribution to showing the idiocy of racism and segregation, that must be them. I know, you are against the war, bu surely you must agree that that war had to be fought. Best regards, Eric. Helen,
My point was that there is a difference between a government-sponsored and government-enforced racism on one side and racism of stupid and ignorant individuals on another. Yes, you are correct, there were racist laws in this country, not everywhere, but in some places. But they’ve been gone for over 40 years.
There were other minorities who faced discrimination at one time or another. I’ve heard stories about signs in La Mesa, CA (suburb of San Diego), that said: “No Jews and dogs allowed”. That was in 1950s. Jews were not admitted to Harvard. Hebrew College
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_College
was founded as an alternative to Harvard. I’ve heard about it because my father’s friend’s daughter went there. Yet you don’t hear about Affirmative Action for Jews. The same is true for Chinese.
Right now my daughters don’t view black people differently from anybody else. I’d lie to keep it that way. But no, someone will surely try to teach them about their special victim status. What I’d like them to learn about racism is this: there were bad and stupid people that passed bad and stupid laws that discriminated against black people. That was obviously idiotic, so all good and smart people said: “Enough of that silliness”, and stopped that.
In case someone might think that I plan to teach my kids about special victim status of the Jews, I’ll clarify what I will tell them. I will tell them: “There were bad guys called Nazis who wanted to kill all the Jews in the world. Members of our family were killed. But all the good people fought the war against those bad guys. My grandfathers and Mommy’s grandfather fought in that war. The good guys won. So, good people need to fight against evil”. There. No special victim status. In fact, one of things I hate about Hollywood portrayal of the Holocaust is this portrayal of the Jews as victims who were led to the slaughter as sheep. No, not true. The Jews fought back whenever and wherever they could. So, again, no special victim status for me. I don’t need it.
As for poverty, the best thing to address it is to allow free enterprise to take care of it. Nothing works better. Ironically, Russia is a good example. In places where business climate is good the standard of living has skyrocketed. The government does have a role in it: it has to enforce the law, so that dishonest people do not profit from their dishonesty. The government should also provide a minimal safety net. But that is where the role of government should end.
Helen, one more thing. As long as you keep posting on Black History Month, could you please dedicate one post to this fine group of pilots:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen
If there was a group that made the biggest contribution to showing the idiocy of racism and segregation, that must be them. I know, you are against the war, bu surely you must agree that that war had to be fought.
Best regards,
Eric.

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