Wednesday, July 17, 2002

While I do agree with some of what Billy Murphy says in his column on racism [The Citizen, July 10], I feel the need to address one particular piece of his argument (I will leave it to someone with firsthand experience as an African-American, Mexican-American, Haitian immigrant, etc., to address the most obvious flaws).

I want to challenge his idea that he should not feel "guilty" about the "sad" episode in our country's past that he says he neither caused nor perpetuated.

Nobody can disconnect themselves from the past; to do so is to disconnect with everything, good and bad, including "our forefathers" and our Constitution, for example, things most people in this country regard with pride. To disconnect with particular episodes means to disconnect with everything this country is, good and bad.

Oftentimes, the same people who pointedly separate themselves from slavery are the same ones who unabashedly claim credit for America rescuing England and France in the 20th century, even though they never wore a uniform.

Nobody should be able to pick and choose which pieces of the past they would like to claim. At the risk of sounding metaphysical, we are all still connected to each episode in history, and Mr. Murphy saying that he has no reason to feel guilty about slavery rings with a defensiveness that strikes me as callous and grating.

Jennifer Atkins Jackson

Pittsburgh, Penn.

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