" Misleading Information "

            I thank Mr. Paul Gonsalves for his thoughtful response to

    my letter ( May 17 ) . I will personally assert my " ignorance " in

    many areas but I have a perfect right to discuss my personal experiences

    without being certified by the proper authorities.

           True any information can be misleading. Does that make it a

    menace to social tranquility ? Only " experts " should be heard on

    the long list of " sensitive issues " ?

         I cannot believe that " negro " originally -even in the mouth of

    slave traders - was anything but a descriptive word . Did the first

    " white devil " setting his evil eyes on African people see " black

    things " for sale ?

         My point was that I never heard the word " negro " spoken

    maliciously or contemptuously by whites.

          Mr. Gonsalve's logic would lead to blacks repudiating their last

    names. ( hence Malcolm  X ). It could even lead to them rejecting the

    English language altogether !

        Perhaps Mr. Gonsalves - ignoring main points of my letter - thought

    it was insensitive of me to report an unpleasant incident: blacks calling

    one another the nasty N- word ?

        My point was quite simple : If you want people to respect you, you

    begin by respecting yourself.

         I have no intention of calling black people any names now offensive

    to them. But most blacks never were offended by the word " negro". Their

    self-appointed leaders decided that the  innocuous word had to go.

       In conclusion  this business of " sensitivity " in matters of race

    and gender is getting quite ludicrous.  We need more common sense and

    common decency in our society and less politically correct " sensitivity".