Foolishness does not seem to preclude having one’s letter published in the Great Neck News.
A. Fried’s letter in the July 17, 2015 issue drove me to paroxysms of rage. If I read him correctly, he was justifying slavery and bigotry, but I’ll let you be the judge.
Commenting on the Confederate flag controversy in South Carolina, he wrote: “The flag reminds us of our former glory, of great and brave leaders…” It is obvious that the “us” Fried references does not include the millions of blacks for whom that flag is a reminder of the days when they were chattel — property owned by whites. They were sold at auction and witnessed their families torn asunder.
Diseases which were common among slaves included beriberi, rickets, kwashiorkor, dysentery, whooping cough and worms.
There was a callous disregard for human suffering and for every enlightened overseer there were several Simon Legrees.
Yet Fried contends that “most [slaves] were treated fairly.”
Might I recommend the film “Twelve Years a Slave” or the book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin?”
Fried’s justification for slavery continues.
He points out that American presidents owned slaves. But we all know that American presidents cheat on their wives, propel us into unnecessary wars and lie to the electorate.
Are these the standards we hold up as exemplary?
He states that President Wilson “promoted segregation.”
True enough! Historians acknowledge that Wilson was a southerner and a bigot, so he should not be cited as a role model in matters of race.
But there’s more.
Fried writes: “Our Confederate flag is a reminder of our history, of tranquil and cordial and gracious living.”
But this does not mesh with the fact that between 1877 and 1950 nearly 4,000 black men, women and children were lynched in the south.
Where is the tranquility and the cordiality in that?
These 4,000 victims of racism — these hapless souls swinging from trees — deserve better.
We can honor their memory by getting our history right, by eschewing unvarnished ignorance, and recognizing a symbol of hatred like the Confederate flag when we see it.
Dr. Hal Sobel
Great Neck
