Capitol times. (Middletown, Pa.) 1982-2013, March 03, 2003, Image 8

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Put down the picket sign demonstrators because you're not picking up any gasoline tabs for anyone. We all know what this
impending war is about: business deals and oil. It is just as much the protester's fault as it is pro-war individuals. Are the protesters driv
ing around in hydrogen based cars? Are they giving ANYTHING for the development of such technology? No, such funds are from OUR
taxes. Protesters against this war are probably owners of SUVs and are the first to crank the air conditioner if it's above 80. If anybody
wanted to correctly protest this war they would be walking to Washington D.C. instead of taking the most significant form of pollution;
the luxury bus. I hope they enjoy the movie on the way because I'm dying from the bus exhaust. Hey, at least they're going to a peace
protest in comfort.
Also, I'm sure the people of Iraq love living under the control of a madman that practices routine maneuvers with biological
gases within his own country. Call me crazy, but isnt that what Hitler did during the Holocaust? Individuals who do not think liberation
of this country is warranted should be deported and forced to live there, for a period no less than two years, then asked, "did you ever
take your freedom for granted?"
Also, it has been said for decades and if you still dont know it, the French are Assholes.
Controversially,
The Devil's Advocate
Responses to last issue s topic
To the Devil's Advocate:
Why do we need Black History Month?
-Because Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream that is yet to come to pass
-Because there was a time when African Americans and other peoples of African descent were
classified as a race that had not made any contributions to human civilization.
-Because there are still people like Professor John Burgess, of Columbia University, an important
figure in American scholarship, who defined the African race as "a race of men which has never
created any civilization of any kind..."
-Because it took the struggles of Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson and his search for the truth to neu
tralize the apparent ignorance and deliberate distortion of Black History.
-Because behavior may be controlled by laws but attitudes can only change through education
and the elimination of ignorance.
-Because Racism is built on ignorance
dice
-Because even with the yearly observance of Black History Month since 1976, educators are yet
to expand black history into greater, more inclusive American narrative.
-Because in the year 2003, we still see news headlines that say "... the first African American
t 0...
-Because I, a young black woman, just learned yesterday that there was a time in New Orleans
(at a park that has actually now been reduced to a square), slave-drummers hands were amputat
ed just to prevent them from playing the drums.
Of course many people don't have much use for the annual staging of "Black History
Month." It does not seem to contribute to a broader understanding or acknowledgement of
African-Americans' widespread contributions to this country. Yes, people are sick and tired of
the once a month celebration, pack full with repetitive old movies on TV. What is needed is the
integration of black history into American history.
But in the mean time, till we reach that goal, black history should and will continue to be cele
brated.
I believe strongly that Black History Month should be the reaffirmation of struggle and determi
nation to change attitudes and heighten the understanding of the African experience. Knowledge
can come only if black history is properly taught as part and parcel of American history.
And in response to other ethnic groups not having a month set aside for them:
-March is Women's History Month
-May is Asian/ Pacific American Heritage Month
-September is National Hispanic Heritage Month
-November is American Indian Heritage Month
The Holocaust did not happen here in the U.S., and we all celebrate Cinco de Mayo (to
an extent), even though the battle had nothing to do with the U.S.
-Olubukola Adeoye
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Education trumps ignorance and helps eliminate preju-
Protesters against the War in Iraq
are iiNpocritical atib istiorant of
civiiimi conbitiotis voiber 14usse111
To the Devil's Advocate:
I happen to agree with you, wholeheartedly, but from
a different stance than you seem to be taking. Our country's
population is made of an incredible mix of different nationali
ties and ethnicities, but yet we seem to only educate and pub
licly celebrate a few. I see two answers to this. One, get rid of
all racial and ethnic education. We are all Americans and
should only learn about American history and tradition.
Personally, I don't care for this option.
The other possibility is to expand our cultural expec
tations further. We have twelve months and 52 weeks in each
year. Why not use each month or week to explore and cele
brate all the various nationalities and ethnicities blended in our
culture? I have great grandparents listed on the Wall of
Immigration in New York city. Now, while I check off the
answers of "Caucasian" and "American" on my question
naires, I am also Jewish, German, and Austrian.
While I would never support a campaign to educate
the public less, I would certainly argue that having only a
Black History Month seems, as you said, counterproductive.
In my opinion recognizing the many generations of immigra
tion in our country would broaden the public's view of them
selves as belonging to a world of people, not just a country.
Who knows, maybe we can work on world peace after all.
Anonymous Student