Mentioning racism often can keep it going

Leonard Pitts's Sunday column about Sarah Palin and the media was quite good. He does his best writing when he diverges from race, which he seldom does.

I don't see how constantly reminding everyone that racism still exists (and therefore the reader is more than likely a racist) helps to eliminate the last visages of it. Will he also let us know when and if we cease to be racists? By continually writing about racism, he is establishing an expectation and anticipation that it will continue. Some people are happy to oblige him.

I happened upon a quotation of Hoseau Ballou that fits both Pitts and the Sunday guest column by Karl Cassell about possible racial profiling by the Cedar Rapids cops (same issue). It is worth repeating: “Suspicion is far more apt to be wrong than right; oftener unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.”

Alvin Cummings

Walker