Capt. Jay Baker, a spokesman for the Atlanta-area Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, appeared to brush off with flippant remarks the murderous shooting spree at three massage parlors last week that left eight people dead, including six Asian women. He told reporters that the young, white suspect who professed to love guns and God was having a “really bad day.” A later apology by the Sheriff’s Office still belies a pervasive culture that marginalizes the impact of violence against minorities.
Might I as a pediatrician offer some medical advice? I reassure the parents of my patients, irrespective of their appearance or beliefs, that I treat their children like I would my own. That was the oath I signed up for. That is the teaching of my Muslim faith, which is that, in the eyes of God, there is no superiority of one ethnic group over another.
To send a firm warning to all would-be terrorists to desist, law enforcement officials should do as doctors are taught to do for their patients — be the strong voice for the victims as if they were your own kin.
Sohail, thanks for your letter, but what about the recent Boulder, Colorado shootings? Because victims were not minorities, does that mean your advice does not apply to those victims? And what of the Colorado shooter, did he believe there is no superiority of one ethnic group over another?
Terrence - have you noticed that the news media are already coming up with all kinds of excuses for the criminal who killed at Boulder? He had mental issues and was known to fly off the handle. Next thing we will find out that he will be excused because of his mental capacity. Racism is not involved because he only killed white folks. No such analysis for the murderer in Atlanta: he is just a white guy with a problem that has been exposed ad nauseum. .
Yes, Mr. van Ulden, I’ve noticed the excuses are devoid of any hint of racism, although one may make the jump that racism was involved, since all victims were white. I’ve also noticed the usual cast of misfits rushing to judgment for gun control, although it remains to be seen whether the firearms used were legally obtained, or not.
Ray, I was in awe earlier this month from your comments, but your comments in “Matt Grocott and the US Constitution” are a cut above. Dirk has also upped his game. Are your recent COVID vaccinations injecting more life into those comments? Just a thought, the vaccination is supposed to kill or inactivate viruses, so maybe it is working, to kill or inactivate the hate- and personal attack-filled commenters we normally see in much higher volume. Maybe I’ll be able to be vaccinated soon – so I can raise my game (although I can see my views are well-represented by yourself and Dirk).
Yes, I have noticed that our friends... and yes... they are our friends... from the left side of the aisle have been conspicuously absent of late. Thanks for the compliment, but I don't know if I have really "upped" my game.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, for months, I have hit hard against the failure of Democratic leadership in our cities and its horrendously negative effect on Black communities. No rebuttal from the left. There is none.
The answer is for both sides to roll up their sleeves and extend a hand up instead of hand outs to rebuild those communities. But the left's leadership cannot let go of their "systemic racism" mantra. I wish I could describe the leftists to you but the DJ's filters will not allow me to use the semantically correct words to do so.
Now, I do have a theory about why our friends on the left have not been as visible, and the theory lines up with the movie, "High Noon." Dirk has become Will Kane (the character played by Gary Cooper). The left side of the aisle is represented by Frank Miller... Kane's nemesis. However, unlike the movie, where Miller confronts Kane... the left is laying low. They do not want to take on Gary Cooper or Dirk.
I'm sorry you live with a state of mind that requires the need to reassure the parents of your patients. As a man of color, let me offer you some advice. Don't buy into the malarkey popularized in current media reportage. After all, wouldn't you agree with me that real racists would run the other way from your practice. And real Americans judge others by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Finally, why would you presume to know what Capt. Baker was thinking? I prefer to give others the benefit of doubt.
For the following quote, one can easily replace newspaper with other forms of news outlets.
“If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're misinformed.”
It was my belief in the sincerity of Mr. Husain's words that led me to offer him my thoughts. It was the sole reason for my reply to him. I thank you for your sincerity and wisdom.
"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us"
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(10) comments
Sohail, thanks for your letter, but what about the recent Boulder, Colorado shootings? Because victims were not minorities, does that mean your advice does not apply to those victims? And what of the Colorado shooter, did he believe there is no superiority of one ethnic group over another?
Terrence - have you noticed that the news media are already coming up with all kinds of excuses for the criminal who killed at Boulder? He had mental issues and was known to fly off the handle. Next thing we will find out that he will be excused because of his mental capacity. Racism is not involved because he only killed white folks. No such analysis for the murderer in Atlanta: he is just a white guy with a problem that has been exposed ad nauseum. .
Yes, Mr. van Ulden, I’ve noticed the excuses are devoid of any hint of racism, although one may make the jump that racism was involved, since all victims were white. I’ve also noticed the usual cast of misfits rushing to judgment for gun control, although it remains to be seen whether the firearms used were legally obtained, or not.
Hey, Terence
Skip over to Mike Oberg's "Matt Grocott and the US Constitution" LTE... I've got some thoughts on Democrats and racism.
Ray, I was in awe earlier this month from your comments, but your comments in “Matt Grocott and the US Constitution” are a cut above. Dirk has also upped his game. Are your recent COVID vaccinations injecting more life into those comments? Just a thought, the vaccination is supposed to kill or inactivate viruses, so maybe it is working, to kill or inactivate the hate- and personal attack-filled commenters we normally see in much higher volume. Maybe I’ll be able to be vaccinated soon – so I can raise my game (although I can see my views are well-represented by yourself and Dirk).
Hi, Terence
Yes, I have noticed that our friends... and yes... they are our friends... from the left side of the aisle have been conspicuously absent of late. Thanks for the compliment, but I don't know if I have really "upped" my game.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, for months, I have hit hard against the failure of Democratic leadership in our cities and its horrendously negative effect on Black communities. No rebuttal from the left. There is none.
The answer is for both sides to roll up their sleeves and extend a hand up instead of hand outs to rebuild those communities. But the left's leadership cannot let go of their "systemic racism" mantra. I wish I could describe the leftists to you but the DJ's filters will not allow me to use the semantically correct words to do so.
Now, I do have a theory about why our friends on the left have not been as visible, and the theory lines up with the movie, "High Noon." Dirk has become Will Kane (the character played by Gary Cooper). The left side of the aisle is represented by Frank Miller... Kane's nemesis. However, unlike the movie, where Miller confronts Kane... the left is laying low. They do not want to take on Gary Cooper or Dirk.
Re "really bad day" remark. He was repeating the words of the suspect.
Mr. Husain,
I'm sorry you live with a state of mind that requires the need to reassure the parents of your patients. As a man of color, let me offer you some advice. Don't buy into the malarkey popularized in current media reportage. After all, wouldn't you agree with me that real racists would run the other way from your practice. And real Americans judge others by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Finally, why would you presume to know what Capt. Baker was thinking? I prefer to give others the benefit of doubt.
For the following quote, one can easily replace newspaper with other forms of news outlets.
“If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're misinformed.”
Mark Twain
Wilfredo! Wise words as always.
I don't doubt Dr. Husain's sincerity, and he sounds like someone who would give care to other parents' children as he would his own.
As an aside, the original Hippocratic Oath prohibited abortion. I wonder how many med school grads today are aware that the oath has changed?
Mr. Fowler,
It was my belief in the sincerity of Mr. Husain's words that led me to offer him my thoughts. It was the sole reason for my reply to him. I thank you for your sincerity and wisdom.
"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us"
Socrates
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.