Why do people feel it necessary to make racial issues out of things that obviously aren't? It makes it impossible to defend the real claims of racism (ie. Jena) when they arise, because of so many attention-grabbers looking for free publicity everytime a Black person is in the news.
Do I think that Michael Vick deserves a fair trial and opportunity to present his case? Of course. Truthfully, he had that opportunity, and confessed - the responsible thing to do. He owned up to his crime, accepted the consequences, and set about making it right.
However, I don't agree with the celebrities who say that dogfighting is just "a Black thing" and everyone who jumped on that bandwagon. Yes, cultures are different, and there are different standards for what is acceptable.
This is why we have a system of laws. To prescribe for everyone, in no uncertain terms what behaviors in our society are OK, and which ones aren't.
Americans of all colors have decided that forcing pet dogs to fight to the death is cruel and unacceptable. Torturing defenseless animals for entertainment is not a part of our culture or any other. That's why these laws were established in the first place.
In my eyes, these are the same people that say that selling drugs in our communities is OK, because it's part of the "hip hop culture". It's just what people do these days. Acting ignorant is OK, because it's just who we are. Our kids don't want to do well in school because it's a "black" thing... we have to be tough. It's just who we are.
No, that is not who we are.
It's this kind of mentality that is destroying an entire generation of young people. How can we expect to raise young people with the courage to do the right thing, when celebrities jump behind the ones doing wrong whether they deserve it or not?
We used to have the moral edge because when Black people stood up, it was for a good reason. Now, when we stand up, people laugh because we support ridiculously stupid causes.
When a mature person gets caught doing something wrong, he owns up to it and takes responsibility. When an immature person gets caught, he whines about the consequences and places the blame on someone else.
Is it just me, or does it seem like a lot of people in our community still have some growing up to do?
Posted By: Jon C.
Friday, September 7th 2007 at 10:45AM
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