Lyle Browning said:

"Jumping into the intent of the post, there are those who appear to be
blissfully unaware that racism exists in other venues than in the
white world."

Lyle,

Perhaps you are jumping to false conclusion when you attempt to "jump into 
the intent of the post". I cannot imagine that anyone sophisticated enough 
to be part of this discussion would not be aware that racism, which is 
described as the presumption that one race, usually one's own, is superior 
to other/another race/s, does not exist in people of other races. But what 
is the point of berating it?

Certainly racism has been a factor in the public and private behaviors of 
many white persons in Virginia. Does that mean that ALL white persons are 
racists? Certainly not. No more than to say that all blacks are racist 
because some join organizations which publically and privately extoll racist 
level of price in their race.

It is not necessary to incessantly point out that there were exceptions to 
the wide-spread sense of white superiority over people of color. It is, 
perhaps, necessary to point out the destructive results of that racism. Why? 
If for no other reason than to keep it from rearing its ugly head again.

In another discussion on immigration, some posters typically point out that 
the posters who decry immigration when it involves people of color are 
actually racist in their objections. It is not just a black/white issue. It 
is a matter of how tolerant each of us is. Who is it you would prefer to 
deny rights to and why? Is it justified to deny equal rights and 
opportunities to non-European races only?

The contention raised a few days ago by a poster who assumed that the zoo in 
DC would bar attendees who were not of African descent on this one day of 
the year was an example in point. No reasonable person would believe 
admission, with money in hand, would be denied. It's just that the day was 
set aside for those of African descent to come together as they have for a 
century in an environment pleasing to them. So what?

Do people need the consent of the "majority" in order to celebrate a holiday 
of their choosing? No, they do not. It is immaterial the source of that 
holiday. If people choose to celebrate the day, let them do so in peace and 
freedom.

Let's stop with trying to be a "control freak". Let freedom ring!

Anne
Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org