‘Letter to the Editor’ Archives
Omissions and distortions abound in libraries, too
To the Editor: by SANFORD BERMAN Much recent reporting and editorializing has concerned the removal of racist public monuments, changing objectionable names (like Lake Calhoun and Lindbergh Terminal in the Twin Cities), and the enshrinement of colonialism in galleries and museums. Never mentioned is the alarming and pervasive fact that libraries, too, often misrepresent, overlook, and even defame marginalized, exploited, indigenous, and ostracized communities. Try searching almost any school, public, or academic library catalog under the subject ”Native American Holocaust” (or “Native American Genocide”). You”'ll find nothing. It will seem as if the library either owns nothing on that topic or that such an event or experience never happened. Why? Because nearly all libraries rely totally on the Library of Congress (LC) to create subject headings. And LC has thus far failed to recognize the 1492-1900 Indian tragedy by [...]
Letter to the Editor Separating children from parents? “This is exactly who we are!”
BY DONNA NESTE I have been glued to MSNBC, writing letters, and emails to the Justice Dept., Homeland Security, the White House, and calling lawmakers in Washington; since the horrendous, immoral and, frankly, evil Trump policy was put in place; of separating children from their parents at the southern border. While watching this unbelievable darkness descend upon our nation (again) and unfold on cable television, I heard the talking heads say time and time again, “This is not who we are.” Really? This is exactly who we are. We have a history of separating children from their parents. We did it during our nation”'s “original sin,” slavery. We separated Native American children from their parents and put them in boarding schools. Stealing their land was not enough, we also had to steal their children. We imprisoned Japanese American families during World War II and we turned away a cruise ship, the St. Louis, with hundreds of Jewish people from our [...]
Messiah Demolishes Sanctuary and Sells to the Money Changers, 2018 A.D.
Opinion By HARVEY WINJE There is tragic irony this Passover/Good Friday/Easter Season in the Phillips Community. For Christians, this is a season of introspection, betrayal, death, and celebration. Passover March 30, 2018, is reminiscent of Passover 2,000 years ago when, “Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast those that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, ”˜It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”'” ”‰Matthew 21:12”“13. Sunday April 1, 2018, is Easter. (more…)
