Columnist blinded by own prejudice

I find the Saturday op-ed “Covington students show us how whiteness works” by Melissa Crum offensive because it conveyed the attitude held by too many: that whites will always be guilty regardless of the facts. This was about a group of high-school students who were waiting for their bus and being harassed by a hate group, the Black Hebrew Israelites, and the interaction of a Native American with a drum.

Crum excused the hate group harassing the students by not addressing their actions, perhaps because they are black and it would not support her theory. When the facts came out, the high-school students were found innocent of any wrongdoing, except for what one might conjure up.

But the students are white and, in Crum’s theory, had to be guilty so she finds them guilty of “whiteness.” She wrote: “Whiteness is a manufactured concept that influences our social, political and economic way of being. It relies on the dehumanizing characterization of nonwhite people. To sustain whiteness, those invested in it use their power to dismiss or minimize the humanity of nonwhite people.”

That’s deep and charging high-school students with “whiteness” in this case seems hyperbolic. I believe the writer is blinded by color. For example, paint the students black, perhaps students from Columbus Africentic, and the hate group white. What would her verdict be? Would she find the black students guilty of “blackness”?

S.M. Phillips, Westerville

Black Hebrew Israelites should be held accountable

I wonder which might best apply to the Saturday op-ed “Covington students show us how whiteness works” by Melissa Crum: double standard or reverse racism. Considering the fact that the instigators were members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, how would she have felt if someone titled it “Black Hebrew Israelites show us how blackness operates”? Would that be racist?

Given that this group taunted both the Native American group and the Covington students with racist and profane shouts, where is their responsibility in her mind? How would she respond if an alternative article stated, “Black allies must call out blackness. This means critiquing the Black Hebrew Israelites and holding them accountable”? Would she criticize one group and turn a blind eye to the behavior of another?

True equality would mean that everybody’s actions would be held to and judged by the same standards and not get a “pass” because of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Any other approach would be patronizing and demeaning to all groups. All groups should be held accountable for their actions, not just those with whom we disagree. John M. Row, Columbus

Congressional inaction makes wall necessary

I respond to the Sunday letter “President should listen to intelligence experts” from John G. Stumpf. The president listens most closely to the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents when it comes to building the wall. And he has certainly stood up to foreign threats by toning down nuclear testing (North Korea), leveling more sanctions (Russia) and imposing tariffs and trade agreements (China). I’m not sure what metrics Stumpf is utilizing to say relations with allies are at an alltime low. I get the impression our allies now realize America once again will stand strong and not apologize for our past behavior as our previous president did.

And Stumpf said we need border security, but not a wall. The wall would provide security, like it does around other countries, prisons and the homes of the affluent. I think he meant we need immigration reform.

If people that cross illegally can’t be sent back due to our stupid laws then build a wall to help keep them out. Congress has had decades to rewrite the laws. Steve Combs, Columbus

Alarming statistic cited without context

I respond to the Jan. 27 op-ed “Razor commercial isn’t the best forum to debate #Metoo issues” by Esther Cepeda. I am a single, multiracial (half Caucasian, half Asian Indian) male in my mid-20s, and I will be graduating from medical school this May.

One of the statistics that Cepeda included was: “One research finding many are still stunned by is that, were they not afraid of getting in trouble, 40 percent of college males say they might force a girl to have sex.” The way that she included the statistic is quite dangerous, given that she provided no contextual background or any explanation of this study’s methods.

With no qualifying information about how this statistic was found, the average reader may make the generalization that 40 percent of all college-aged males in the U.S. would consider forcing a girl to have sex. This statistic came from a sample size of 73 males from a single institution; in no way can this be used to extrapolate to the entire population of college-aged males.

If Cepeda plans to use statistics such as this one, she must provide adequate background information to address the merit of the research. Alexander Malik, New Albany

United States remains a work in progress

The furor over the “Make America Great Again” hats has made me wonder what we mean when we say “great.” Whenever I think of people I know were great, I recognize that they never thought about themselves in that way. I doubt that Martin Luther King Jr., although he recognized that he was doing important work, ever thought of himself as great. George Washington in his farewell address apologized for the mistakes he made in leading our newborn nation.

America’s greatness, I think, has always been in the hope of what we could become, not the flawed country that we have always been. It is in our striving to be better that we struck the sparks that illuminated the world with the hope for liberty. Whenever we congratulate ourselves as being great, or dream that we once were great, by the very nature of that type of thinking, we become less than we could be.

I would like people to be able to buy a hopeful hat, a hat that calls for striving, for unity, a hat that isn’t in a solid angry color, whose words aren’t in bold demanding letters. I would like to see a hopeful hat that says we should strive to “make America great.”

F.C. Mcleod, Pataskala

Ada G. Kent, Worthington

Politicians minimize danger of cannabis

Before we lose another generation of young people, we need to learn the truth about the connection between cannabis and mental illness. Alex Berenson’s recently released book “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence” and paper should be required reading in every statehouse across the country.

For way too long the harmful effects of cannabis usage have been hidden or minimized by the cannabis industry and overlooked by politicians looking for additional tax revenue. If we don’t come to grips with the truth about the harmful effects of cannabis, the consequences will impact all of us.

Joseph Smith, Columbus