Letters to the Editor

What You Say

Sean Gone

I was somewhat saddened to see that both Sean O'Neal and the DJ Nights listings are disappearing [Music, "Auf Wiedersehen, Good (DJ) Night," Brian Howard, May 10, 2007]. While O'Neal has no doubt left his mark on the Philly techno scene, I think more important has been his contribution to Philly's nightlife. His section has been the weekly source for accurate (and detailed) club listings for the last seven years.

Philly seems to have an uneasy relationship with clubs and DJs. The sidewalks don't roll up at 7 p.m. anymore, but we still don't have the kind of vibrant, well-attended late-night-club scene here that Europe has long enjoyed. I hope CP will be wise enough to find a replacement. I can't be the only one who flips to the DJ listings section as soon as I pick up a copy. 

Matt Vrazo
Via E-mail

Despite the phony gasps from the audience during the last mayoral debate, the brief exchange between [Michael] Nutter and [Chaka] Fattah highlights how the white media hijacks concepts developed from the ongoing struggle for justice by African-Americans and redefines those concepts in a manner that either discourages discussion or minimizes offending whites [News, "How Far Have We Come?" Daniel Urevick-Ackelsberg, May 10, 2007]. In the past, in the white media, affirmative action became reverse racism or quotas. Later, Afrocentricity was undermined by the emergence of multiculturalism, a concept of social inclusion for groups who never protested for inclusion in the first place.

In the context of multiculturalism, which, aside from other ethnic groups, also includes Jews, gays, women and the handicapped, isn't it strange that we've never heard of terms like the J-word, the G-word, the W-word or the H-word? We haven't heard such terms because, when it comes down to intractable racism and discrimination, the central group remains African-Americans. Rather than face this fact, the white establishment prefers to dodge it and invent diversionary definitions that distort reality in its favor.

The so-called race card initially emerged to discourage your routinely racist white politicians from stirring up their white racist constituencies by maligning blacks. But white supremacy, the flip side of white racism, dies with great difficulty. Thus, the race card evolved into a gag order on all mention of racial issues, whether legitimate or not.

Then, the same people who redefined it have the gall to hypocritically question why people avoid talking about race. Even here, more diversion and distortion is employed, because the call has never been about discussing race, but rather discussing white racism, without which race would be rendered irrelevant. Fattah should not and does not subscribe to the white media's definition of the race card, and owes no one an apology.

It is beyond insulting to have a spokesman for a Jewish organization weigh in on the discussion about the propriety of Fattah's retort (as occurred in the Inky). Just as Jews attempt to control any and all interpretations and definitions associated with anti-Semitism and the political policies adopted by Israel, it's just basic respectful reciprocity to grant African-Americans equal social space to do the same with their own.

Len Trower
Center City

The next time you get upset when filling up your carat alocal gas station, why not consider the public transportation alternative [Slant, "Some Token Praise," Nathaniel Popkin, May 10, 2007]? New Jersey Transit,SEPTA, PATCO and private transportation owners offervarious options such as local and expressbus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway andcommuter rail services.In most cases, these transportation systems are funded with your tax dollars. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single-occupancy vehicles. Utilize your investments and reap the benefits.You'll be supporting a cleaner environment and be less stressed upon arrival at your final destination.

Economically successful communities are not 100 percent dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility.Seniors, students, low- and middle-income peopleneed these transportation alternatives.Let others do the driving and there will be more time to enjoy reading great publications like the one you are looking at right now!

Larry Penner
Great Neck, N.Y.