Letter: Author’s attack on ‘Race Theory’ suffered from bad timing

Posted 5/6/21

When I read Michael Byrnes’ letter of last week, entitled “ Critical Race Theory – A Dystopian Pathology, ” it made me think of the old saying, “ Timing is …

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Letter: Author’s attack on ‘Race Theory’ suffered from bad timing

Posted

When I read Michael Byrnes’ letter of last week, entitled “Critical Race Theory – A Dystopian Pathology,” it made me think of the old saying, “Timing is everything.”

In his letter, Mr. Byrnes labeled his neighbors who place high value on the full and transparent education of our children, and who speak out against institutionalized bias, as a band of rabid ‘Marxists’ who are out to ruin civilization as we know it. Mr. Byrnes describes a dystopian pathology where our citizens are given access to truth and allowed to exercise their judgement freely. I suppose in Mr. Byrnes’ Utopia, facts are selected, and institutions limit equality to the ‘real Americans.’

His timing was so well placed, I believe he deserves a lifetime achievement award …

Appearing in the same issue of The Phoenix was the reporting on the neo-Nazis who defaced our library with hate filled posters. No need to go to the library in a Utopia where factual knowledge is forsaken.

And on a broader scale, it was the same week that Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd; the U.S. attorney interceded with the State of Georgia’s attorney, who couldn’t find a chargeable crime for a group of three rednecks who lynched a young black man last year; Republican-led state legislatures in Georgia, Florida and Texas are rushing to pass legislation to limit voting access; and Mitch McConnell was quoted as saying, we (Republicans) won’t be re-elected “if we allow the Senate to pass the National Voting rights legislation” (HR1), (which limits the election influence of foreign powers, corporations, dark money and ensures equal access of all individuals to vote).

All this as we celebrate the three-month anniversary of the white nationalists storming our capital to liberate America for the ‘Real Americans’ …

Mr. Byrnes argues that what binds us together is keeping our head in the sand, denying our historical and ongoing institutionalized racism. Ignorance will set us free and keep things in the box just the way we like them. To me that sounds like nativism.

Mr. Byrnes wants us all to get along and holds out an olive branch by calling people he disagrees with Marxists. I do not know Mr. Byrnes personally, so I will forgive him for calling me a Marxist and lecturing. Instead, I would suggest that we find a middle way and focus our energy on efforts that recognize the value of racial diversity, helping others who are in need, and building an inclusive society based on mutual respect and kindness. I believe those actions would make us stronger as a community.

Steve Kloeblen
Bristol

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.