A NATION OF COWARDS

Even though it happened last month, this still rankles. In his official capacity as Attorney General, Eric Holder spoke to Justice Department employees, saying:

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. ...

We, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race. ...

It is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable. If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."

Al Barger at Blogcritics responds:

“This is an exceptionally stupid, wrong and dishonest thing to say. on every level, though it's a common refrain of left wingers such as Mr. Holder.” ... “What left wingers generally mean by saying that we haven't talked enough about race is not that we should have an open, honest discussion of our observations and perspectives on racial issues. It's that Whitey should feel more guilty and seek penance of being lectured to by self-righteous liberals — and of course giving over yet more of our money.”

The Examiner responds as well:

"Actually, what 'we' don’t talk about concerning racial issues is how Democrats are guilty of prejudice. 'We' talk plenty when a Republican is involved.

Ironically, it is this very double standard that is cowardly, for if the Left really want to end racism they must be willing to confront it within their own ranks and not just when their political opponents transgress."

And responds again:

"Not only were Holder’s comments morally bankrupt, demonstrably untrue, and compelling proof of his own outlandish hubris; they also carried distinctly chilling undertones of government coercion. It is not the province of law enforcement chiefs to be judges and chief scolds of what their countrymen discuss. ...The glaring hubris of a man who would deem himself fit to pronounce such moral judgments on his fellow citizens is astonishing."

John Derbyshire at National Review responds to the cowardice accusation:

“If we are afraid to talk about race, it’s with good reason. For white people, at least, talking openly about race is a sure way to get yourself in trouble. ... For an ordinary white middle-class Joe, with a family to feed and a job to hold on to, by far the wisest strategy is just to keep his mouth shut, parrot a few multi-culti catch-phrases if the topic comes up, rent a couple of good action movies to see him through the Martin Luther King holiday, and take a crossword puzzle along to keep himself awake through those Diversity Awareness seminars his company makes him attend once a year in hopes of insulating the firm against nuisance “discrimination” lawsuits.”

If Holder wants to have “have frank conversations about the racial matters” then it’s time to have the racists on the Democrat side of the partisan divide to shut up, sit down, and listen.