From our Mailbag 12/10/02 - 12/20/02



by YOU

THE WORLD - From Ed C., Bloomfield, MI, USA:

SUBJECT: Yes honey, me again

Dear Raheem:

Actually, "ad hominem" is an attack against a person's ideas because of who they, objectively, are - I attack you because of what your ideas and mindset,subjectively, appear to me - racially blind and hateful. Almost as if you think no white person in their right mind would dare take you to task over it, since that would be too politically incorrect. Personally, if you were a white dude I would have the same basic problems with your mindset.

We've also danced the Robert Jensen dance before (and that linked article does not discuss white privilege, though I recall the article you are referring to. Find the correct article in the archives; otherwise, I think you were a bit "S & L" ). Despite that, you still haven't explained how a person "passively" catches group guilt. Give us YOUR theory, not a regurgitation of someone else's theory. Most men on this planet get privilege over women, and have throughout history. Does anyone(like you) suggest we untie the twisted knots of history and repay the women of the present, for the abused women of the past? Nope. My theory: unless you actively had a hand in things, nobody needs to feel guilty over people who died at a younger age than us, are shorter/fatter/taller/poorer/whatever than us. Fighting against injustice in the present and future is a much straighter path to self-preservation.

Regarding the Jewish settlements with the Swiss and German governments. There are radical differences those circumstances, from what black American's have in play. Many of the original Jews are still alive, or their first-generation children, who were alive and suffered during the time of the Holocaust, are still alive. Additionally, the German and Swiss corporations who benefited the most from the forced labor are still around, which is why they picked a major part of the "tab." Legal precedent: a precedent is a new status quo, rarely stable. The next precedent may be for international courts or tribunales to say that,"any civil rights abuses that happened over 100 years ago, can't be compensated for". If you have such faith in the European courts, why don't you and your ilk FIRST try to get a settlement from the Europeans for the slave trade money,and cheap goods money their ancestors benefited from, and then come after the American white co[mpanies?]

Do I personally think I have had an easier time in life because I am not black? Absolutely. Do I think more black American's could have an easier time in life if they had less of a myopic view of non-black America - absolutely.

On the benefits of those labors of the past - I think we both benefit from them. I suspect you and your parents, just like me and mine, benefit from the underpaid labors of my grandparents AND yours. Any kind of final accounting would require another act of retribution and injustice, and another to offset that, and another....

E.C.
[Emphasis ours. - Ed.]


RADIO RAHEEM RESPONDS: E.C.

BECAUSE in the "back channels" I have been chastised by our Esteemed Editor about the length of my responses to your continued carping, I asked for special permission to respond to just this one more.

Rod said in his e-mail: "One more. You guys are starting to bore me, so I'm sure you must be boring the readers."

I took that as carte blanche to give you one last lecture cum history lesson before I sign off and (unless he cuts my leash short) I intend to do that here.

Firstly, it seems interesting to me that ONLY when the question of race is brought up here at G21 do we get the kind of voluminous response from you and "your ilk" and the volume of mail that we do. I think it's because the issue of racism is still a very American problem. I think, as I type this to you after watching Trent Lott on the BET channel, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate might agree - if he still has that job by the time Mr. Rod brings this here rag to press.

I bring that first point up because I read a lot of damned good stuff here from other writers every week and I'm the only one getting most of the mail. What do you think, E.C.? Am I the only writer here bringing up anything important?

Now that I've given you a "point to ponder", let me get down to addressin' your issues.

1. How'd that Saturday Night Live thing used to go? "Jane, you ignorant slut!..." (I couldn't resist!) On your first objection, about the Jensen "white privilege". I DIDN'T SAY it was in the article by Ms. Menutis, but in the links to the Jensen archives. And I quote: "You can follow the link to his page from her article to read about it, E.C."

   Seemed like simple instructions to me at the time.

   Now as to MY theory, I never contended that anyone PASSIVELY collected group guilt. In fact, as far as my theory is concerned, E.C., many of ya'll were ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND REMAIN IN COMPLICITY. Got that?

   your window to the world

   g21 #336: Holiday 2002 Special Edition AMERICAN DREAMS G21 AFRICA G21 ASIA G21 BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSTORE G21 Digital Internet Postcards JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. You'll be glad you did. Surveys that affect our look and feel and much more. Be part of the In-Crowd! G21 E-MAIL NEWSLETTER GLOBAL*BEAT HOT LINKS IRISH EYES LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA MY GLASS HOUSE NEW YORK STATE POWERSSOUND RADIOACTIVE RDR THE SEX COLUMN TABLOID HART VICTORIA'S SECRETS VOX POPULI Search our Site: sitemap RECOMMENDED DAILY REQUIREMENT ARCHIVES. LAST WEEK's EDITION MEET THE G-CREW! These are the people behind this jam-band every week. HOME TABLE OF CONTENTS & BACK ISSUES

   When you say that you and I both benefit from the labors of our forebears, you conveniently ignore the fact that there is still white privilege but no such thing in God's green America as black privilege. In fact, the contrary is THE RULE. Ask Trent Lott. Nobody in their right mind, to use your phrase, E.C., is saying there wouldn't have been so many problems if we hadn't accepted the Italians, the Chinese, the Irish in the year 2002, E.C. BUT THEY CAN STILL FEEL, if they are part of the powerful white establishment, THAT IT'S OKAY TO SAY THAT ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE. He even thought he would probably get away with it. It didn't appear in outraged media coverage the next day, even though the facts now show that PLENTY of press people were there, E.C.! How about you explain to me why that is.

   In other words, E.C., I am not talking about "the sins of the fathers." I'm talking about the sins of some of your running buddies RIGHT NOW.

   Since you seem to be such an expert on my columns here at G21, you already know that I've said Trent Lott was a racist from day one. (Now I leave it to you, as the apologist for the "innocence" of white America, to look at his voting record in Congress and show me how I was wrong.)

2. Now I get it! What you object to is me writing that reparations should come from American companies, businesses and taxpayers! (Because you're one of them.) It's okay if I wrote we should go after the Europeans. As Arsenio used to say, that just makes me go "Hmmnn..."
3. Since this is the last dispensation I got to write to you on this subject here in "Vox Populi" from our Esteemed Editor, E.C., I'll just close by saying this:

   Obviously, you can't admit that you have a problem with Black people sayin' anything that calls white people to task. That's okay. I'll accept that. You see, I do think women should also be compensated for all the housework they did FOR FREE over the years. I think that EVERY NATION ON EARTH owe their women a major debt and should PAY UP the overdue bill. I think our Black sisters should get more, because it wasn't part of their "wifely duties," as they was kidnapped. Many of them had to offer other services by force, which explains brothers with green eyes like our Esteemed Editor.

E.C., I know you have a problem with all that I've said. But Rod won't let me say no more. I been cut off. So I'm outtah here.

Peace Out.


From James G., (No City Provided), USA:

SUBJECT: Your life well deserved in hell

the only one you'll be seeing in hell is in the mirror!


From Karen H. (No City Provided), USA:

SUBJECT: ARTICLE ON MY DAUGHTER IN 1978

IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP ME LOCATE A BACK COPY CONTAINING A PHOTO OF MY DAUGHTER MISTY AND HER " FAKE DOCTOR " BARRY VINOCUR . I BELIEVE THE BACK ISSUE WAS SEPT. 30,1980. YOUR HELP WOULD BE A BLESSING!

THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR WHAT EVER ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE ME,

KAREN H.


ROD RESPONDS: Karen,

I'm not certain why you are writing to us. Our publication has only been around since 1990. How would we be able to help you with a photo from some other publication?

Regards,
Rod


From Mphuthumi N., Queenstown, SOUTH AFRICA:

SUBJECT: Your Magazine

I'm a frequent visitor and an avid reader of your superb World Magazine (Generation 21). I stay on the South African Townships (bet you never thought your magazine reaches that far), and find a lot of comforting affinity in reading G21, especially My Glasshouse column. The glove of the author there fits my hand extraordinarily.

I've attached a piece to this email about my recent experiences in case you should wish to include it on your magazine as a social commentary. The piece is about a German friend of mine who came to stay in our townships for six months. Here in South Africa a white man staying in the townships, which are entirely inhabited by black people, is a novel thing. The piece summarizes our experiences in a self-explanatory manner.

Not to be too presumptuous, but could you kindly tell Mattie Lennon he might have a better chance in "writing about nothing" were he to read Beau Brummel, that greatest of trifling wits; and while at it look up Horatio for ease and careless elegance of doing it.

Take care and keep up the spirit.
Mphuthumi N

+++ THE PREVIOUS VOX POPULI +++ THE NEXT VOX POPULI +++

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
We want your feedback on this stuff. Go to the TALK BACK page and tell us what you think!

via e-mail