You can’t quarantine this ugly disease: As an educated African American woman, it seems like the more educated I become, the more ignorant others get. Bob Gross [Letters, June 20] indicated that when whites are abused by blacks, the voices of racial activists are silent. He cited an incident involving a white woman who hit and killed a black child while driving. It wasn’t the woman’s fault, but it is possible that the blacks interpreted her dismissal as a white woman being protected by a white system. As a result, blacks retaliated. It does not excuse their behavior, but I understand.
What if the reverse happened? Do you really believe that the black person would have been protected by police? Do you actually believe that the scales of justice would have been in favor of the black person? History suggests otherwise. Whites are not afraid to live around blacks. Ignorant, racist, miseducated, and misguided whites are afraid to live around blacks.
Not all blacks are bad neighbors, just like not all whites are good neighbors. When you examine the history of race relations, you will see that blacks are often victimized by other blacks. Shit, if anyone should be running, it’s me. But where would I run to? Would I run to an all-white neighborhood? No, because I’m just as afraid of waking up to a burning cross on my lawn and a brick through my window as I am of having a misguided black person come into my house because I have something they want.
The bottom line, Bob, is that ignorance comes in all colors. Until we take individual responsibility for our own behavior, we will continue to blame entire races for what one person does. I refuse to carry the burden of my entire race on my shoulder. Not every black person is my brother or sister, just like not every white person is my enemy.
So, when a white person moves out of the neighborhood because blacks move in, it does suggest an agenda. It suggests that some white folks are inflicted with an infectious disease that has permeated every race and nationality. Not every black is out to get you and your people. Injustice is injustice, regardless of race.
Monique Moore
Cleveland
Sick and tired of being sick and tired: While Bob Gross’ letter is compelling, truthful, and understanding, it still seems you’re not getting the whole spectrum of what it is you’re saying.
There is no argument — gangs are the evil pit of the city, which puts fear into everyone living here, no matter what race. But why is it that when so-called “gang activity” arises in areas such as Garfield Heights, Bay Village, or Sagamore Hills, it’s news, and everyone wants to get involved? But if it’s areas like Korman, Hough Heights, Prospect, or Kinsman (where I’m from), no one cares? If you think that I’m pointing fingers or looking for a scapegoat, I’m not.
Just like you, I’m a taxpayer who’s sick and tired of being afraid of these kids in the street, whether or not they’re going to rob me the moment I step out of my home. Just like you, I’m sick of these so-called leaders of the city promising something to the people, and it all falls on deaf ears. We are all tired. You are not the only one.
Tiana Wilkins
Cleveland
Suburban Rock
Make the housewives desperate: Regarding Scene‘s article on drug dealing in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood [“The Crackdown,” June 13]: It would be interesting to see what would happen if the Cleveland police launched an effort to pursue suburban buyers. Every day, suburban crack addicts slip easily into this and other Cleveland neighborhoods.
In Tremont, before the old Valley View housing project was demolished, an addict could simply drive up Interstate 77, exit at West Seventh to buy drugs, and quickly return to the suburbs. What would happen if we cut off the demand? We never read of suburbanites who are busted for buying drugs during inner-city shopping trips. If these consumers were suddenly wary of the cops, wouldn’t that reduce demand and thus curtail dealing?
Grant Billingsley
Sagamore Hills
Wave the Black Flag
Fugazi you, Rock Hall: Black Flag will never be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [“Rock the Vote,” June 20]. They’re more influential than any of the other clowns you brought up though, especially Metallica. Talk about overrated. My nomination (who would also refuse to accept it): Fugazi.
Zaq Rizer
Akron
I see London, I see France: The Rock Hall is a joke. Instead of showing off Madonna’s stained underwear or Patty Smith’s used tampon collection, they ought to do things like:
1. Reunite the original King Crimson (whom they will not induct) to perform their first album in its entirety.
2. Do the same with the original Genesis.
3. Reunite the living Beatles — Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr — and get Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne to fill in for John Lennon and George Harrison; and
4. Put Yoko Ono on trial for breaking up the Beatles.
And do all of it here — not in New York.
Things like that would make the Rock Hall something people might give a damn about. Until then, let them have sparse crowds for Madonna’s vagina toupee or Eddie Van Halen’s empty vodka bottle collection.
Rick Ray Perry
Maria Shriver’s got better odds: I suppose this story means the Dead Kennedys have no chance, even though “Too Drunk to Fuck” might be the best rock and roll song title ever.
Chas Nebe Eastlake
This article appears in Jul 4-10, 2007.
Cleveland Cares
July 2 @ 2PM, my house, about twenty doors down from Second District Police Station was burglarized, my neighbor witnessed the punks break down the back fence and load a vehicle parked in the alley with my property.
She went to Second District to report the crime while STILL in progress and guess what? She’s required to fill out a police report, yes that’s right, she’s filling out a report while the burglary is STILL in progress. After completing the report she is informed to return home to call 911, yes that’s right again, she’s told to return home while the burglary is STILL in progress.
She returns home, calls 911 and informs the operator there is STILL a burglary in progress, yes that’s right, the burglary is STILL in progress.
The vehicle in the alley leaves because it’s filled and the two other perpetrators proceed to load a dumpster while waiting for the vehicle to return.
How much time has passed? Time to fill a police report and return home to call 911, half-hour maybe?
The two burglars waiting for the vehicles return use my cordless landline to call the get-away cars driver to inquire what’s taking so long, the drivers cell phone number is actually stored on my phone.
A fire truck came down the street and spooked the burglars away, the police show up later and close my back door, which was nice.
So
My neighbor physically goes to Second District to report a burglary in progress and what do they do? They sit her down to fill out paperwork. What?
Then she is informed to return home to call 911. What?
The police are given the cell phone number of the get-away driver, do they not have access to phone records?
Not only are these punks burglars, they now have a handgun, but why, why were they not apprehended? The police had plenty of notice, they could have blocked the car in the alley.
I guess the question is why, why do I stay in this hellhole of a city when it doesn’t give a damn about it’s working-class tax paying citizens. I could but don’t want to live in the suburbs but why should I stay when the city doesn’t want me?
Vandalizing a window screen and back fence = $100
Getting your house burglarized = $1000
Filling out a police report AT the police station and being told to return home and call 911 while the crime is STILL in progress = Priceless
I forgot, why is Cleveland the second fastest dying city in the country again?
Coming Soon to a workplace like yours!! Tobacco testing! I would just like to comment on the recent article (see Below) regarding the Cleveland Clinic’s (TOBY COSGROVE CEO) decision to no longer hire smokers. So apparently the Clinic has desided in it’s infinate wisdom that It will try to set an example for it’s patients and not hire smokers. I ask myself am I really living in a time in American History when corporations are permitted to so ditate what we do in our private lives that we have resorted to this?
*A couple of points to make here. The clinic lose out on hiring skilled quality individuals including Nurses, Doctors and other hospital personel who happen to smoke. So, a gifted surgeon from Eastern Europe or the Middle East where smoking is a more acceptable and more common habit would be denied employement.
*I am sure that Toby Cosgrove and the rest of the Suits on the Hospital Board will be exempt from testing. I hope that the testing is across the board. If it is to be done, No one individual should be exempt from testing. P.S. Mr. Cosgrove no Cigars for you on the weekends, you’ll come up hot for tobacco. P.S. let the maintenance guys/Contractors working on the new heart hospital know that no Coppenhagen or Skoal is to be used either, they wouldnt want to test positive either. If your Signifigant other smokes you should probably divorce them…. otherwise you’ll lose your sweet job at the clinic.
*The clinic has already decided that it is in your best interest to Not eat McDonalds, and the latest is a ban on hiring individual. The clinic has also decided that it’s employees should not play more than 1 hour per day on the XBOX, Fornicating more than once a week is also prohibited. Where does it stop?
Beginning next year Clinic employes will have there Saliva tested to determine how many Quarter Pounders they have eaten.
Manditory triathalon training will begin 2008.
Shouldn’t there be a clear delination between behaviors at home and at work?
Shouldn’t it be OK for Adults to decide for themselves what is in there best interest to do in there private lives?
This is just another of Mr. Cosgrove’s rediculous little experiments in fear. Trying to remove McDonalds from the hospital, attempting to re-route Euclid Avenue, and now Tobacco testing.
What about offering employees free smoking cessation classes? Positive incentives make positive employees.
George Orwell would be proud Mr. Cosgrove
Those individuals with Greater than 30% body fat will be gathered and shipped via rail car Ashtabula County to Camp Toby for Re-Education.
While I am not ignorant to the dangers of smoking and how it is responsible for huge numbers of individuals with Cancer and Heart Disease. As well as the massive financial burden on this country’s Health Care system.
Education, Explaination and Encouragement would perhaps be a better tactic.
In this country, We still have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness at least the last time I checked.
A concerned Nurse.
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Clinic, which has targeted fatty foods at its lunch counters and scooted smokers away from its buildings and sidewalks, now will ban the hiring of anyone who smokes.
The move is part of a healthy work force initiative that included the appointment Thursday of Dr. Michael Roizen, author of a series of best-selling books on making healthy lifestyles, as the first chief wellness officer of the research hospital.
Beginning Sept. 1, Ohio’s second-biggest employer with 36,300 employees will no longer hire smokers. The policy will not affect current employees, who can get free stop-smoking help from the clinic. Prospective employees will be tested for tobacco use along with drugs.
in the Plain Dealer regarding