Focus on ‘whiteness’ facts, not feelings

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Focus on ‘whiteness’ facts, not feelings

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Offended? Offended by what? Here we go with the offended white people. Mr. [Ben] Lipovsky [‘‘Offended by whiteness commentary,” Letters to the Editor, March 1] probably speaks for many other white folk in his protest against [Columnist] Mr. [Van] Caldwell’s article on ‘‘whiteness” [‘‘‘Whiteness’ overlooked in history discussions,” Feb. 1].

One of the reasons race, slavery and the true unpleasant facts of America’s real history cannot maintain an open and ongoing forum is because many white people and more than a few black folk get offended or embarrassed or made to feel unpleasant in some way. Sorry Ben, but the fact is ‘‘whiteness” as applied to its social, political, economic, educational, etc., utilization was concocted and contrived as a means to mitigate the act of enslaving Africans and killing off Native Americans.

What exactly is there about this that offends you? Nothing Van Caldwell stated was racist. What exactly is your concept of racism? How much research have you invested in understanding race in America? It isn’t taught as part of any curriculum of primary education, so where did you obtain your facts and data on the subject? Everyone has an opinion, but what is it based upon?

Since you say Van’s commentary was debatable, let’s debate. Not about how we feel, but about what is factual and truthful. Feelings can’t always be intellectually supported or justified – they don’t have to be. But facts can be supported and substantiated, so let’s give it a go. Are you up for it?

John Moore, Bowie