SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
December 5, 2014
Sullivan’s
Salvos 12/9/14
In this edition:
*Reader Feedback
*White Privilege
*City of Literature
*Did You Know?
*Reader Feedback
I
write Salvos every week. There is really no such thing as a “typical” week, but
I probably average 5-10 responses per edition. Sometimes readers agree with me,
and sometimes they disagree. Then there are these…
I
got a handwritten response in the mail on Tuesday, December 2nd, and I felt it
was worth sharing. I have copied it in quotes verbatim below, including any
errors in capitalization, spelling or punctuation.
“Hello-
read you Sullivan’s Salvos a while ago. You obviously have no idea what is
going on in IC. People like you are turning IC into ghetto.
If you think we need a new jail, put a fence around broadway. Move
some of this black trash into your house, or Karen Kubbys.
Do you know the caseys in SE Iowa City was robbed before it was
even open?
Wait
until they break into your house.”
The
letter was unsigned. The return address area of the envelope read, “no return
address for fear of reprisal from heroin crazed negroes”
Yeah.
It is rare, but I have received letters like this before. Sometimes they are
more personal – this writer appears to know nothing about my kids.
So
why do I share this? Because the public needs to know what goes on in our
county. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. What’s more, people need to
understand that silence can be deafening. We must not be afraid to call for
diversity in our schools, neighborhoods, and places of employment. If we don’t,
the type of fear demonstrated in the letter wins out.
At
last Thursday’s Board meeting, I replaced my nameplate with a sign that said,
“Black lives matter!” In the big scheme of things, this action does not amount
to much. But it does clearly state my concern.
If
you share my concerns, I urge you to do something this week that demonstrates
your feelings. If you feel differently than I, say that. And if you are going
to write me with your opinions, please have the guts to sign your name.
*White Privilege
The
verdict in Ferguson, Missouri has resulted in many well-meaning experts
explaining the idea of “white privilege” to the masses. This is not working
particularly well, and I think I know why.
First,
a bit of background: According to Wikipedia, white privilege is a term for societal privileges that benefit white
people beyond what is commonly experienced by non-white people under the same
social, political, or economic circumstances. These privileges are unearned and
are distributed based on values of the dominant group.
So
for starters, we have a wordy definition. In short, it means whites enjoy
certain advantages just for being white. I think examples help.
One major example is that police stop blacks at much higher
percentages than whites. (This is often referred to as “driving while black”.) Black
people get followed around in stores more frequently than do whites. Black
children end up in special ed and “behavioral” classrooms in much higher
percentages than whites. Even little things like the color of “flesh colored”
band-aids serve to illustrate the point. There are many other examples related
to criminal justice, passing wealth through generations, employment, academia,
housing, and virtually every other aspect of our lives.
Yet
many people (mostly white) deny that white privilege even exists. Here is where
my theory comes into play.
I
think many people are hurting in our world. Instead of sharing in the economic
gains of the past 6 years, they rightfully feel they have lost ground. The
American Dream – home ownership, two cars, three weeks vacation, free health
insurance, putting the kids through college, secure retirement at 65, a little
money “just in case” – that life no longer exists for most Americans.
So
try telling these folks they are “privileged”. They certainly do not FEEL
privileged – far from it! They live lives full of stress every day. How can
that possibly be a life of “privilege”?
And
when we feel this way, we look for someone to blame. Unfortunately, instead of
looking toward the 1% that run things, we tend to blame folks who look or speak
differently than us.
Perhaps
this very real phenomenon of white privilege needs a new name. Because
struggling whites resent being told they are “privileged” – even when it is
true.
I
did some searching, and I am not the first person to have these thoughts. Here
are a few excellent reads:
*occupywallstreet.net/story/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person
*www.theroot.com/articles/white_privilege_extends_to_the_poor.html
*http://www.thenation.com/blog/179989/what-white-privilege-looks-when-youre-poor
When
resources are scarce, people tend to view others as the competition – “we”
becomes “us and them.” Obviously, that type of divisiveness works wonders for
the 1%. It is a simple, time-honored strategy – divide and conquer. I sincerely
hope that we can build a coalition that understands we must all work together
to seize power from the 1%.
*City of Literature
Iowa
City was bestowed with an honor in 2008 that does not generate the civic pride
it should. In November of that year, Iowa City was designated as a “United
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) City of
Literature.” Iowa City was only the third city in the world to receive such a
designation.
In response to this prestigious award, a 501C.3 nonprofit
organization was formed to assist in maintaining and building upon these
literary traditions. Known as the City of Literature, this organization has
grown to fill an important niche in the cultural affairs of our area. I have
had the distinct privilege of serving on the City of Literature Board since
its’ inception.
Unfortunately,
I am going off that Board as of January. It has really been cool to be involved
in this endeavor. I simply love living in a place where – as local poet Marvin
Bell said so well – “words have dirt on their shoes.”
I
urge you to visit the City of Literature website at http://cityofliteratureusa.org.
Find something that interests you, and get involved. Thank you, City of
Literature – it has been a blast!
*DID YOU KNOW?
Johnson County is about 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic, and 6% African American.
(Source: US Census Bureau.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
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As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:00 PM
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