New Restaurant on Detroit Ave.

[Justine Cooper]

But racism is fear, 100%, and whether you acknowledge it or not, Sharon was correct in pointing out that there were racist remarks made on this thread early on.

We can only acknowledge what we want it to become ourselves, and for me it is a safe, clean, loving, accepting community. That does not appear to be a long shot either.

[Stephen Eisel]

But racism is fear, 100%, and whether you acknowledge it or not, Sharon was correct in pointing out that there were racist remarks made on this thread early on.

We can only acknowledge what we want it to become ourselves, and for me it is a safe, clean, loving, accepting community. That does not appear to be a long shot either.

No, Sharon chose to take the comments out of context and make this a race issue. The words Section 8 and ghetto do not apply exclusively to people of color. She is the one that miscontrued things. For the record, I would love for more people of color, doctors, lawyers, nurses, truck drivers, bakers etc to move to Lakewood.. It does not bother me that section 8 property exist in Lakewood. If it did then I would have bought a house in Pepper Pike. This is about acceptable behavior with in a community not the color of someones skin..

[Jim O'Bryan]

We can only acknowledge what we want it to become ourselves, and for me it is a safe, clean, loving, accepting community. That does not appear to be a long shot either.

Amen



.

[Justine Cooper]

Entrepreneur of the year!!!!

This city really needs to do something about section 8 housing..

I only see one content for this.

[Justine Cooper]

This kind of stuff makes me want to scream "You are no longer in the ghetto"

What content was this comment then? We tried to let the horse die, but blaming someone who stood up to say racism is not okay is not okay. If several people "took it out of context" then maybe you need to examine it,not blame the offended.

[Stephen Eisel]

Entrepreneur of the year!!!!

This city really needs to do something about section 8 housing..

I only see one content for this.

Did you notice the smiley face???

[Stephen Eisel]

This kind of stuff makes me want to scream "You are no longer in the ghetto"

What content was this comment then? We tried to let the horse die, but blaming someone who stood up to say racism is not okay is not okay. If several people "took it out of context" then maybe you need to examine it,not blame the offended.

I think that you are getting a bit dramatic. The content of the comment does not refer to a specific race of the person in the picture. This has more to do with the thought police wanting to limit what we can and cannot say then it does about racism.

Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi-
Function: noun
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
- rac·ist /-sist also -shist/ noun or adjective

[Grace O'Malley]

This has more to do with the thought police wanting to limit what we can and cannot say then it does about racism.

Perhaps you should have showed some restraint on your own comments and not have been so quick to throw out the Section 8 comment.

I agree with Gary, Justine, Sharon, and the others who feel that there is an underlying current of racism evident here.

The problem is that the racism is so ingrained that its hard for those spewing these type of comments to even realize or acknowledge what they've done.

[Gary Rice]

As the few 'Deckers and readers and readers of my column know, my struggle for civil rights goes back to childhood.

I was born with speech, hearing, orthopedic and a few other exceptionalities. As such, my family had to fight for preferential seating, gym excuses, and hostile teachers who did not want to cut any slack where it obviously needed to be cut. Through all this, I heard remarks expressed like "You're coddling him","Let him grow up and be a man", "He only hears what he wants to hear", "The kid walks like a duck", and so on...

When I went down South, I discovered that many of the black people were talked about and treated just as badly as I had been. (I found it to be just as bad for them up here too, only it was less overt) I got in trouble for drinking from a "colored" drinking fountain. I started to speak my mind...

When I got a little older, I discovered that virtually anyone having any form of exceptionality, including the gifted, could be treated badly, just for being different.

So it became my lot in life to stand up for underdogs. I became a special-ed teacher, with certification in learning and severe behavior problems. I wanted all of the students everyone else rejected. That was my prayer, and the answer I received, was a great, long career in education, with some terrific students!

It has been my observation that some people are trying to do the same thing now, as those hard-hearted adults did to me as a child. They claim that things like human rights, racism, welfare issues, and the plight of the poor are "fake" issues of the "left", rather than issues of humanity.

If we only had stronger law enforcement, some say, perhaps this would all go away.

Zero tolerance, I think they call it.

This makes my blood boil.

Did the Birmingham Police make the civil rights movement go away?

Did they do any better in Selma?

Or in Belfast?

Beirut?

Baghdad?

Lakewood?

The struggle for human dignity and civil rights is a long one. My posting here will not end the discussion. I would simply suggest to those who care:

Don't drop the baton that's been handed off to you.

Run with it.

[Stephen Eisel]

This has more to do with the thought police wanting to limit what we can and cannot say then it does about racism.

Perhaps you should have showed some restraint on your own comments and not have been so quick to throw out the Section 8 comment.

I agree with Gary, Justine, Sharon, and the others who feel that there is an underlying current of racism evident here.

The problem is that the racism is so ingrained that its hard for those spewing these type of comments to even realize or acknowledge what they've done.

Writing off color comments does not make some one a racist or mean that racism exist.. People choose to get upset. The words on this page have no power. People have chosen to give these written words power. This is all about drama and people with thin skin. To draw a conclusion that racism is ingrained in some one because of a couple posts in this thread is ridiculous.

[Justine Cooper]

I bet Rosa Parks was called dramatic too. Standing up for what feels right in your heart is not drama. I tried to turn the discussion towards love and acceptance but you brought it right back to arguing about being "right". Thou sure protesteth alot.

[Rob Burgoyne]

This girl is not a television character or part of a stand-up comedy act. She is a real person, she is my neighbor and she is the future of our city. The ghetto and section 8 comments were prejudicial-- Stephen prejudged that she was section 8 by her appearance. Simple. These comments are hurtful even if the author or others do not see it this way. Does poking fun of Section 8 make you feel better? Because it is probably fueling the fire by dividing our community at a crucial time in it's history.

What it comes down to is this: picking on kids is ridiculous! I promise that I will pop my head into any conversation that decides to take the image of a real life kid and attach such "off color" nonsense to it. This is an adult forum that is available for anyone in the world to view. How safe is it to have a pic of your daughter posted with these tongue and cheek comments? I'm guessing this is why Jim has since decided to cleverly(?) block the identity of the youth in his original post (note: it still appears in the replies).

Think what you want, type what you want, just leave specific kids out of it and I will stay off your back. As for Stephen's smiley faces and attempts to embarrass or silence me by labeling me the politically correct thought police-- off it isn't going to work.

I know we aren't going to think the same way about everything. But, lets try to bridge the gaps not fill them with fire. Let's reach out to our less fortunate neighbors and not give them more reasons to distrust or disrespect us. There are some positive rays of hope in this thread and I thank the rest of you for contemplating this dragged out yet important topic.

Peace,
Rob

[Stephen Eisel]

This girl is not a television character or part of a stand-up comedy act. She is a real person, she is my neighbor and she is the future of our city. The ghetto and section 8 comments were prejudicial-- Stephen prejudged that she was section 8 by her appearance. Simple. These comments are hurtful even if the author or others do not see it this way. Does poking fun of Section 8 make you feel better? Because it is probably fueling the fire by dividing our community at a crucial time in it's history.

What it comes down to is this: picking on kids is ridiculous! I promise that I will pop my head into any conversation that decides to take the image of a real life kid and attach such "off color" nonsense to it. This is an adult forum that is available for anyone in the world to view. How safe is it to have a pic of your daughter posted with these tongue and cheek comments? I'm guessing this is why Jim has since decided to cleverly(?) block the identity of the youth in his original post (note: it still appears in the replies).

Think what you want, type what you want, just leave specific kids out of it and I will stay off your back. As for Stephen's smiley faces and attempts to embarrass or silence me by labeling me the politically correct thought police--(edited) off it isn't going to work.

I know we aren't going to think the same way about everything. But, lets try to bridge the gaps not fill them with fire. Let's reach out to our less fortunate neighbors and not give them more reasons to distrust or disrespect us. There are some positive rays of hope in this thread and I thank the rest of you for contemplating this dragged out yet important topic.

Peace,
Rob

My comments were pretty general comments and not directed at any one particular race. Had I wanted to directmy comments at a particular race then I would have mentioned that race by name. I have no problem speaking my mind. It is you that assumes that the words "Section 8 and Ghetto can only be directed at black people. Note, I never said black people need to go. I tongue and cheeked referred to ghetto behavior and ditto on the section 8 comment. Nobody is picking on the child. It is the childs behavior that has alarmed some of us. And some of us made light of the situation. It is sad that some people here have over reacted. Yes, I have been a victim of racism, profiling, and prejudice. I harbor no ill will towards any race. And yes making fun of real life is how some of us deal with these type of things..

edited to take out the f word..

[Dave Sharosky]

Well, this will be my final post in this thread since it's about done. First let me point something out to everyone. It's interesting to listen to everyone talk about not coming to conclusions about this girl in the photo. Don't let race or section 8 or stereotypes be your judge on who people are. But a main theme I've heard discussed by all, which I believe goes back to the young lady in the photo is that she's poor. Discussion has been about the unfortunate, down and out and those that can't help themselves. It's been the theme throughout these responses and I believe....it all goes back to the girl in the picture. How do we know she's poor? Because she's African-American? The way she dresses or wears her hair? Is that not a pre-judgment by all who spoke here? Just a thought.

Also, my main point here and in other places is about parenting. And this did go directly to the girl in the photo. She's young and has a spirit to make some money, as we all did as children. The problem is she is a child and doesn't realize all the dangers in the world. Especially where's she's located at. Breaking the photo down to it's elements....I ask AGAIN to which no one replied, to all on here whether you have children or not: Would you let your child do that at that location? Right on the busy road (even if you were standing next to her)? Would you rather have her in front of your residence? Especially in this day in age with the lunatics that will snatch a child in a second no matter where they're at? Please, for the last few questions I asked, everyone leave previous comments and thoughts about this post from your reply. I would like to hear your thoughts about those last few questions specifically.

[Brian Pedaci]

For those who didn't think their comments were hurtful or derogatory - would you have said the same thing to her face? What if she's reading this thread?