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It is for all of these reasons and more that significant numbers of persons of color realize the importance -- the necessity -- of maintaining a hyphenated name such as African-American.
I bristle when John Q. Public proclaims that as a result of September 11, we are, at the drop of a hat, "all Americans." For other African Americans and myself, these words ring hollow. Such words are indicative of a collective that for centuries has either been unable or unwilling to see the political oppression, economic exploitation, and social degradation
endured by Blacks. Unquestionably 300-plus years of pain, suffering, disenfranchisement, and internalized oppression can and should result in a people finding solace in those of like experiences; seeking dialogue with those who understand; to position a shoulder for the repose of those who must endure life in a country that refuses, in a real way, to see them except as a problem or a statistic.
It is an unmitigated affront for anyone to assume that the horrific events of one day will magically erase the personal and institutional racism that pervades the very fiber of the United States and thus make my new moniker American. To those and others, I suggest you come back and make that request when the conditions that brought about the need of the hyphenated name have ceased to exist.
The events of September 11 must serve as a clarion call that this nation's words and actions continue to touch people around the globe in ways that are humiliating, harmful, and deadly. Let's dare to go beyond the displays of superficial patriotism and learn to want for our brothers and sisters what we want for ourselves.
Ahmad Daniels
Charlotte
Go Home, Anglowimp
To The Editors:
In response to David Walters' "Afghanistan's Plains" (CL, September 26): Mr. Walters, what the hell are you doing in this country? Leave NOW, before I see your face somewhere! You Eurowimps, or Anglowimps rather, will never understand American resolve or Americans at all. This isn't Vietnam, Nicaragua, or even a covert cold war operation. A chunk of NY was leveled! 7,000+ dead! This is unprecedented, except for Pearl Harbor. But even after Pearl Harbor there was dissent against striking back. They, including WWI hero General Pershing, thought it was insane to fight a war against people who would commit suicide attacks against our ships, i.e., the kamikazes. I know this one is different, and the President has reiterated this point over and over again. The war against terrorist thugs will go on indefinitely, which is fine with me. Bush said this will entail great sacrifice, a sacrifice I am prepared to undertake as a member of the NC Air National Guard. Not a single shot has been fired by a US soldier and the American Left has poured out on college campuses across the land, including UNCC last Wednesday, to blame the United States for these attacks. They camouflage themselves as just being anti-war, but they are really anti-American "blame America first-ers" who are hoping that the US military will be embarrassed by another Vietnam. These spoiled college kids are disillusioned romanticists. The ironic thing is they will never get close to being drafted to fight in this damn thing in the first place! You, Mr. Walters, are one of those people that think if we do nothing, the extremist Muslims will just cool off and go about their daily life. Wrong, they will continue doing this, because to them, it is an honorable, humanitarian mission to commit these barbarous acts. It is us -- freedom loving Jews, Muslims, Christians, whatever, of the world -- or the terrorists. The world is not big enough for both.
Jeff Jones
Charlotte
Housing Fiascos Make Me Angry
To The Editors:
Tara Servatius' stories regarding the Charlotte Housing Authority and Reid Park are sensational. I would like to know the city government's response/ explanation. I think the citizens deserve at least that from the mayor and city council regarding the Charlotte Housing Authority and Reid Park fiascos. I would like to know their response to squandering my tax dollars and not really helping those in desperate need of housing.
It's time for the CHA to use their resources and time to work on truly prioritizing their waiting list for the elderly and disabled, but instead they choose to waste valuable time on investigating Creative Loafing and "leaks." I believe any agency that is so worried about "leaks" instead of improving their services really does have something to hide. It should tell people something when the CHA refuses to release information that is public record. It should also tell people something when the CHA allows $20,000 a year to "drift" out their door. Do you realize how many people could be housed, or renovations done for that kind of money?
