Friday, June 10, 2005

Questions for the Raleigh N&O editorial writers

An editorial in today's News and Observer, Talk of Healing, concerns public reaction to the despicable cross-burnings in Durham. The N&O says in part:

It's true that many of the vigils have been attended mainly by white people. The N&O's Nikole Hannah-Jones quoted some African-American residents as saying that whites' angst over the cross-burnings ought instead to be expressed at the ongoing, often subtle racism that blacks experience daily. Those residents have a point.

Questions for the N&O editorial writers.

Why no criticism or explanation from you when your editorial cartoon series, Doonesbury, recently put into President Bush's mouth the racist and sexist term, "Brown Sugar," as he was drawn speaking to Secretary of State Rice?

Democrat Senate minority leader Harry Reid recently praised U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as "one smart guy." In the same interview, Reid called Scalia's fellow Justice, Clarence Thomas, "an embarrassment to the Supreme Court." "I think that (Thomas') opinions are poorly written," Reid continued. "I just don't think that he's done a good job as a Supreme Court justice."

Reid subsequently acknowledged he'd never read a court opinion by either the white Scalia or the black Thomas, who have similar judicial philosophies.

Why no N&O editorial criticism of Senator Reed's not subtle racist remarks?

6 comments:

Gun Trash said...

Both good points, John. Might be the basis of a brief letter to the editor.

There's some chance it would be printed. But, I imagine little chance of it generating an answer from them!

JWM said...

Thanks for the nice words.

Over the years, I've sent letters and e-mails directly to the N&O's editorial page editor, Steve Ford. And I've left him voicemail messages.

In all cases, I think my contacts have been civil and fact-based; much as I try to make the posts here.

So what's happened?

Well, the next response I receive from Ford, even if it's only pro forma, will be his first response.

N&O staffers tell me not to worry: "He's that way with lots of people."

So there we are.

John

Gun Trash said...

Well, he probably subscribes to the publication, but on the off chance he doesn't, you might consider emailing Stevie this link from Editor and Publisher.

Anonymous said...

I think the odds of having the N&O perform a balanced look at racial issues is as likely as seeing them do a balanced review of the Swift Boat Vets.

In other words: none at all.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I just re-read this and noticed the "African-American" bit.

I wonder if they were properly distinguising between "African-American" and "African-Caribbean-American" blacks? Because, you know, one group is now claiming that, for college admissions and "social mobility" purposes the other group shouldn't be counted.

Two guesses which is which?

-C

SCP said...

Good post John, and as you know from my site I am supporting anyone who fisks the N&O.

Ref. Steve Ford, he is hopeless, but even Ted Vaden, whose new job it is to be the "public editor" sends back form e-mails with little visible follow-up.