Published: May 18, 2008 12:48 am            

Response to Bonnie Erbe column

Just a short comment concerning your (Bonnie Erbe) column about racism in the presidential primary. We all know that there is a certain amount of racism in all our lives. What really gets to me as a Caucasian American is that racism is only practiced by white people. You state that younger people that have grown up in a racially mixed culture aren't as race conscious as the older population. This must apply only to the white younger people. You stated that Obama "won" 90 percent plus of the black vote. Are we expected to believe 90 percent of any ethnic group is going to vote for a particular candidate without race or ethnicity being the cause and/or entering into it.

I would appreciate the media taking off the other blinder so as to be able to see both sides of this problem. I would like to live to see the time when race doesn't enter into our decisions to as great an extent as now. I would like to see white voters not vote against a candidate because he is black. Also black voters not vote for a candidate only because he is black. I am not so naive as to think all prejudice will ever be eliminated, but I do think it is not right to put all the blame on one segment of the citizens.

Ms. Erbe, I apologize in advance if I missunderstood that you were putting all the blame (racism) on the white voters for not giving Obama 90 percent plus of their vote as the black voters have in most of the states. There is not that much difference in the issues between the two candidates. Looks to me like the vote should have been closer to 50-50.

I agree, racism is rearing it's ugly head in this election. But please, let's share the blame among all of us and each of us try to see the flaws in our own lives.



Jack Mears

Meridian

        

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