Letters to the editor.I have met Darron Smith when he was an adjunct at Brigham Young University Brigham Young University, at Provo, Utah; Latter-Day Saints; coeducational; opened as an academy in 1875 and became a university in 1903. It is noted for its law and business schools. ["Colorblind col·or·blind or col·or-blind adj. Partially or totally unable to distinguish certain colors. Faith," July/August 2006]. I have to say that Brother Smith has indeed led me down a road of great discovery, and not just in Utah and American history--or in Latter-Day Saint history. The history of racism against people of African descent existed long before there was America and the African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. as slave. And I am sure you are well aware that the original African American slaves were South American. I tend to ignore comments about the racist history of the [Mormon] church just as I tend to ignore the racist history of the original Christian/Colonial/ Anti-African racists that have never apologized for nor recanted their nearly 600 years of racial wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do . However, Anti-Africanism also extends back to the synagogues of our father church, the church of Judaism. But I do not feel we should take up hatred or condemnation of either the Catholic Church or Jewish faith. We need to teach our children the great God above all has no malice against them, and the great baggage of racism we now bear was not placed upon us by that God but by the avarice av·a·rice n. Immoderate desire for wealth; cupidity. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin av and greed of our brothers. It has been to the detriment of the enslaved Enslaved may refer to:
tr.v. en·slaved, en·slav·ing, en·slaves To make into or as if into a slave. en·slave ment n. . Robert Butch Atlanta I would like to clarify the role of people with disabilities in the recent immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. rallies ["Passing the Torch," July/August 2006]. Chicago again led the nation on civil rights, and the community of people with disabilities led the march. Horacio Esparza made it happen for us. He and I are part of el Movimiento 10 de Marzo. [We spent] many hours in committee meetings, explaining why this community of immigrants with disabilities needed to be present at these historic events. We walked and rolled to Daley Plaza and to Grant Park. We were able to bring hundreds of people with disabilities to the march. You should give Horacio a call; maybe he can tell you about all the activities and real participation we had in the current immigrant rights movements. Marca Bristro and Access living have not been there yet; it's not fair to pin on someone else [our] hard work and leadership. Please consider finding out the real story behind the immigrant with disability struggle and how they had forgotten about us, until Horacio Esparza showed them that we exist and we want to live the American dream, too. Ramon Canellada Disability Resource Coordinator Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital |
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