Many Blacks Have Doubts. Here's Why

Washington Post ^ | 10/28/2001 | Jonetta Rose Barras

[Pokey78]

On Oct. 16, more than 200 people packed the moot court at Howard University's School of Law for a "black community national dialogue" on war, terrorism and peace. The participants had plenty to say about the military campaign in Afghanistan -- its antecedents and posthumous ramifications -- and much of it was critical.

[dighton]

Many blacks are serving our country and putting their lives on the line. Screw these other idiots.

[notaliberal]

In our Sacramento freep today we had a very positive response to our signs supporting our troops by blacks. I would guess that a good 95 percent of blacks, and there were many, gave us an enthusiastic thumbs up!

[weston]

So... 80% of African-Americans support Bush and this war on terrorism....

GOOD FOR THEM!!!

[RickyJ]

What's the reason for this difference?

Oh please, do I have to spell it out for you?

How about 6 million black who happen to be Muslim?

Isn't it funny how Muslims stick together like that?

[APBaer]

"What's the reason for this difference?"

Perhaps, the Bell Curve?

[Captainpaintball]

I guarantee if OBL bombed Harlem, this bee-yatch would have PLENTY of positive things to say about this war!

[dighton]

GI haunted by hero friend he had to kill

[Darheel]

'6 million blacks who happen to be Muslim?'

You mean, of course, in Africa. There aren't more than 2 million muslims in the whole United States. Muslims who used to be Christians on top of it.

[Mike Darancette]

What's the reason for this difference?

Either they don't mind the possibility of being murdered where they live or work; our slavery still has its good points.

Thankfully these gutless ones are in the minority.

[umgud]

I've heard there are over 6 million Muslims in the US. I don't know what percentage of those are black.

[VaBthang4]

Great response.

[Dr. Frank fan]

So many gems in one short piece.

There's the part where the author draws conclusions about an entire population of people based on her oh-so-representative experiences at "receptions, dinner parties and public meetings, during interviews, and from listeners to my weekly talk show on WPFW-FM radio." Yup, sounds like she really has her finger on the pulse of the nation. I can't tell you what a huge and representative percentage of the population you can find regularly attending "receptions"!

Then there's the part where she agonizes and dissects a gap between black and white opinion as if it's the largest thing imaginable. And what do the numbers turn out to be? 20 vs. 6. 17 vs. 11. We're supposed to care about such a small difference? Any way you slice it over 80 percent - black or white - are on board. What's the problem?

How about this chronicle of the reporter's tireless efforts at research, which begins: "Sifting through my radio calls, black-oriented Web sites, my reporting on the question, and the comments made at Howard and elsewhere...." In other words: she did no research to speak of, instead aimlessly web-surfing and culling information which falls into her lap wherever she happens to go. Including her own reporting "on the question"! She's a regular Bob Woodward, yessir. She's reporting on her own reporting here. Why didn't I think of that? Brilliant!

I'd respond to the rest of the article but after this point it's mostly just a bunch of unsubstantiated cliched nonsense. Maybe I'll just wait for her to write another article describing this one.....

[wretchard]

I would guess that the civilian casualties from terror have been disproportionately black and are likely to be in any reasonable scenario. First, blacks live in urban areas, like New York. They are overrepresented in public service jobs, like the Postal Service in Washington D.C. and other big cities. Any future OBL attacks are likely to be in urban areas. Osama Bin Laden is not going to target a small town in Idaho.

There are a lot of blacks in the military, too. So their combat deaths are likely to be at par, or greater than that of other ethnic groups. Therefore blacks are more at risk, not by any racist design but by demographic distribution.

I think they realize this, and understand that the middle aged, SUV driving, cowardly liberal has the option of giving Osama Bin Laden a pass. After all, Susan Sontag is sheltered behind a wall of African-American bodies.

[APBaer]

" 200 people packed the moot court at Howard University's School of Law "

This is the School of Law? where the students? were shown jumping up and down in glee
when their fellow African-American was acquitted of murdering his white wife.

[Darheel]

I keep hearing that on CNN, but it isn't true. From what I've read, it is anathema for muslims to live here because of all the kafirs. In the koran I believe it says that to live among non-believers is to turn your back on what i believe is a demon named allah; they are as 'bad' as we are to someone from say, Saudi Arabia or Iran. For all intents and purposes the vast majority of muslims that live here are not muslims at all. 6 million? Muhogwash!

[Paul Atreides]

Would these dissenters be the same ones who feel disenfranchised in Florida, join the military solely for college money, and are scared the war will take money out of their sacred cow programs? It's a shame that a small number of people are given a forum and cast a bad light on the rest.

[Mark]

This was a good article:

Letter to Maxine Waters from Larry Elder, L.A. talk show host