Sonny Scroggins receives award

From the Topeka Capital-Journal, Friday Nov. 7, 2008.
Source URL: http://www.cjonline.com/stories/110708/loc_353115113.shtml

I respect Sonny Scroggins. And even when I don't agree with him, I still respect his views.

The reason is because Sonny doesn't talk out of both sides of his mouth. In Sonny's words, if it ain't right for a white man to do or say it, then it also ain't right for a black man to do or say it.

I can respect a man who stands up for his beliefs. Even more so when they aren't hypocritical about them. And after a knowing Sonny for a few years, I consider him a good friend.

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Racism is Racism

Affirmative action IS racism. The sky IS blue. Those are two facts that are just plain common sense. One more and I'm on a roll...

The Wikipedia definition of RACISM: Racism, by its simplest definition, is discrimination based on racial group. People with racist beliefs might hate certain groups of people according to their race, or in the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism)

Telling me that I can't go this college because I'm white is every bit as racist as telling my friend he can't go this college because he's black.

I realize that some people are too racist to understand that. But I believe most people have enough common sense to understand that racism is bad no matter whom it's directed towards. Even if they don't have the courage to stand up and speak out against ALL forms of racism.

"It doesn't matter whether you call it 'reverse discrimination', 'white/black power' or 'affirmative action'; racism is still racism, and it's wrong."

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
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Buzz Hates Atheists

A guy name Buzz had his opinion about atheists published on CJonline, in a piece titled, "Letter: Rights for All Others". I wonder if he held anything back, or did he tell us how he really feels?

I'm not even atheist and I can see the bigotry in his words. I'm going to repeat some of his rant, but I'll switch the words "atheist" and "christian" so you can see how this sounds:

"What societal good have Christians ever done? Atheism is the only reason Christians even have the right to believe in God. It wasn't some native tribe's beads that gave Christians that right, because it was Atheists who established protections for minorities in this country."

In his letter, Buzz blames atheists for Hitler, Stalin, and several other nasty characters in history. It makes me wonder, does he also blame atheists for the Crusades, the Inquisition, Islam, Oil prices, the Titanic, and Mondays?

Buzz, is there anything bad that you DON'T blame on atheists?

For the record, I do see atheism as a type of religion (religiously anti-religious). And some atheists do go overboard sometimes when they are defending their beliefs against others. Some atheists are even as fanatical as some christian or muslim fanatics (like Pat Roberts, Louis Farrakhan, Phred Phelps, and Bin Laden).

However most atheists are good and simple people trying to survive and live their life as best as they can. Just like the vast majority of christians, jews, muslims, and even spiritual but non-religious people like me. They have their own beliefs and don't want to be harassed or treated unfairly because of their religion.

Hate-filled rants and religious bigotry have caused enough misery on our planet. And it started long before atheism was even thought of.

Sincerely,

Thomas Lessman
Website: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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World History Maps
: http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/

Racial Issues, Part 1

I think Glenda Overstreet and I may finally agree on *something* related to racial issues. Seriously! The last 3 paragraphs in her post, "Apology vs. Action", may be the best common-ground place to start healing America's racial issues.

America has serious racial issues that we haven't handled very well. When I say "we", I mean EVERYONE in America: Whites, Blacks, Natives, Grandparents, Adults, Children, even Deceased people. Every generation in American history has faced racial issues that have changed over time. The issues we face are not the exact same racial issues that our parents, great-grandparents, or great-great-great-great grandparents dealt with. And each generation has handled these issues in their own way.

These racial issues are very complex and deep-rooted, and it will take a LOT of work on all sides before these wounds can be healed. I appreciate Glenda's last 3 paragraphs because she at least acknowledges that slavery has happened to some members of every race at some point in history. I'll add further that every race has also, at some point, enslaved members of other races. There is no such thing as an "innocent race".

I understand that in America's early years most blacks were brutally enslaved by some whites (not ALL whites). I also understand that blacks suffered discrimination even after slavery was abolished, and that some blacks still face various forms of discrimination. The thing is, Blacks aren't the only race to face discrimination in modern America. Policies like affirmative action, racial quotas, and other ill-conceived policies only substitute one form of discrimination for other forms of discrimination.

Whites and Latinos, Natives, and other races all suffer various forms of discrimination from members of other races. Everyone has their own stories of discrimination they've faced in their lives. Speaking from my view as a white male, I've seen and experienced discrimination many times, in many ways. But individual stories are not the point.

People must look past their own personal experiences, and realize that racism affects everyone. Blacks have legitimate reasons to feel historically exploited by America. So have Natives and Whites. There isn't any race in America that hasn't been exploited or discriminated against at some point in history.

Today we are all supposedly recognized as equals before the law, regardless of race or gender or etc. Which is how it should always have been, because each one of us is as human as the next person. Nobody is more human than anyone else. We are all equally human.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
. http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
Email: talessman@yis.us
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World History Maps by Thomas Lessman
. http://www.worldhistorymaps.com/

"Politically-Correct" Racism

"Politically Correct" Racism
By Thomas Lessman, Date: 4-20-07

A joke by shock-jock Don Imus about "nappy-headed hos" helped set off another mini-explosion in the powder keg of racial issues in America. Imus apologized repeatedly but was suspended from his show and later fired. Several things about this whole episode bother me.

Why do some people think it's ok to insult, degrade, or discriminate against other races, but not their own?

Imus' joke was nothing compared to racial jokes told by Carlos Mencia, Dave Chapelle, or Chris Rock (who doesn't hide his contempt when he calls white people "crackers"). Many rap stars sing about "nappy-headed hos" (among other terms far more insulting*). Do the race crusaders think it's okay for some people to be racist, but not others?

Welcome to "politically-correct" racism and the glaring hypocrisy of racial politics in America.

Some of the most vocal protesters demanding Imus' blood openly flaunt their own racism, saying it's not really racism if it's said by someone who is black. The "politically-correct" racists were silent when Al Sharpton spoke about "blood-sucking Jews", but raised hell when Mel Gibson said it. Snoop Dogg, of all people, said that Imus' words were demeaning to black women. This from the guy who raps about using women and putting them in their place because, "we don't love them hoes". (While I like some of Snoop's songs, that doesn't change the fact that he's a racist hypocrit!)

When confronted with proof of their racism, most "politically-correct" racists respond predictably. First they try to deny it and accuse their critics of being racist. Then they try justifying their racism by claiming it's not really racism when blacks are racist because blacks are a minority.

I fully support the right of free speech whether I agree with the opinion or not. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are hypocritical, race-baiting opportunists, but in a free nation they have the same right to speak just like everyone else. What bothers me is that they think the right to be pompous, self-righteous, racist hypocrits belongs only to them.

Either racism is wrong and it's wrong for anyone to be racist, or it's not wrong and everyone can be racist. I personally believe racism is ignorant, but I refuse to stay silent while racist hypocrits like Sharpton, Jackson, and Snoop Dogg promote their own racism.

Some civil rights leaders DO understand that point. The only real civil rights leader in Topeka, Sonny Scroggins, has spent decades fighting racism in all forms. While Scroggins dislikes the terms used by Imus, he also understands that Imus' words were no worse than what Snoop Dogg raps. Recently, Sonny has been protesting on Wanamaker to stop Gangsta Rap (which made Snoop Dogg rich). Says Scroggins, "Either racism is wrong, or it isn't, but they can't have it both ways."

I respect those words of wisdom from Sonny, and I will be joining him in protest as time permits. I encourage you to protest with Sonny too, if you truly believe racism is racism regardless of the color of the racist. You can contact Sonny at 785-232-3761 or BiasBustersOfKansas@yahoo.com.

Respectfully,
Thomas A. Lessman
. www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
Email: talessman@yis.us.
Phone: 785-230-4546
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* "Where them nigga hoes at?" (FYI, that's the opening line of the rap song "Playa's Ball" by E-40 & Too Short.)