RGB vacancy is more than filling a seat
While we all grieve Supreme Court legend Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) in our own way, the nation grieves more. A champion for humanitarian causes and women’s rights, she revolted against all obstacles and reached epic stature in her lifetime. Her legacy paved the way for the lives that we see of countless Americans.
The vacancy/vacuum created on Supreme Court bench is a tall order to fill for anyone. The vacancy pivots on the signatory issues such as whether we have health care or not, clean air and clean water or not, marriage equality or not, labor protection or not, voting rights or not — all of which were resting on this great lady’s shoulders.
Currently, the nation is beset with calamity after calamity, COVID reigns supreme, fire ravages the West and the national election is looming near. The nation is divided at an all-time high. Most of us would like to erase the year 2020 from our memory. We the people have the power over how to end this year and usher in the new one.
It calls for us to honor RBG’s last, “most fervent wish” — that she not be replaced before a new president is elected in November.
We the citizens have a responsibility and a voice in trying to fill the huge void and VOTE to sustain all those mentioned values.
Syamala Jagannathan
Morgantown
Prejudice and racism must change in America
In the early seventies, I attended a weekend workshop that dealt with raising one’s awareness to the Black culture. The workshop was conducted by a well-known African American sociology professor from Harvard. A major portion of the workshop was having each participant share their views about white and Black culture. At the end of workshop, most of us felt we understood each other’s culture better than before. And just before we left, the professor asked, “How many of you white people would have no problem with my Black son knocking on your door and he says to you, ‘I’m here to pick up your daughter for our date.’ ” The professor then said, “Please raise your hands, white people, if you’re okay with this.” Not one white person raised their hand.
At the time, there was less acceptance of mixed-race dating and marriage. Still how many hands would go up today among white people? And how many of us can say we’re not prejudiced?
For me, the “Black Lives Matter” protests were not only about the hateful brutal acts of police, it’s about us accepting for centuries the violence against Black people and not really doing anything about it. Black people are still the most oppressed group in America — still being treated unequally when it comes to jobs, salaries and promotions.
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkley, points out that prejudices can eventually lead to systemic racism. A major point he makes is that we need to acknowledge our differences with Black people and other minorities instead of trying to ignore them. Learning about prejudices and racism can also give us self-insights and motivations we need to undertake for the “journey of change.”
The more we learn about each other and our identities, values and dreams, the richer we become as Americans. Break the split between “us and them” and more likely we will see less prejudice and racism in America as we become more of “us.”
Ron Iannone
Morgantown
Questionable BOPARC expenses seen in ad
I’m amazed to read in BOPARCS expenses in the Sept. 29 paper that BOPARC spent $24,635 at Pro Performance, $12,035 at Sandy Beach Resort (Google says it’s at Myrtle Beach) and $1,607 at Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse.
Could someone explain these expenses to the taxpayers? Why are we paying for gym memberships, trips to beach and a very expensive dinner on the backs of the taxpayers?
You conned the good people of Morgantown to vote for a levy for the goal of better parks and another sheet of ice. What did we get? We got slapped in the face! The above three items alone equal over $38 grand!
I also see we paid Enterprise $46,000 dollars. I hope none of that was for vehicle rentals for the trip to Myrtle Beach to eat that expensive steak!
Dow Jones
Morgantown
