At Resisting Defamation, we believe that a slur-free society is possible, and we have established free two-hour seminars to teach about this river of sludge and how to combat it.
TO: Hon. County Supervisors, County of Santa Clara
FM: Bo Sears, President, Resisting Defamation
ON: May 27, 2008
About five years ago, on August 19, 2003, the County Board of Supervisors approved two resolutions, one to educate judges, teachers, attorneys, county residents, and students about the history and harm of the N-word, and the other to denounce all demeaning epithets against all residents. To date, none of the county agencies (Office of Human Relations, Human Relations Commission, or the Network for a Hate-Free Community) has made any visible effort to carry out the underlying purposes of either resolution.
With regard to demeaning epithets against all residents, I am sure you are aware of the gush of demeaning epithets by the San Jose Mercury News toward the diverse white American peoples in Santa Clara County. They are certainly no secret and over the past 36 months have included:
White boy, white privilege, wasp, nerdy, non-Hispanic whites, white flight, redneck, hillbilly, cracker, white trash, non-Latino whites, geek, white-bread, lily-white, typical white person, goober, yankee dog, white resentment, acting white, and Wonder Bread.
Consequently, Resisting Defamation has formed its own online syllabus [ www.ResistingDefamation.org ] and will be advertising free two-hour seminars for residents to teach them how to combat this gush of hate speech. We certainly cannot rely on the Office of Human Relations, the Human Relations Commission, or the Network for a Hate-Free Community to do anything to alleviate this public expression of demeaning epithets.
A copy of our statement to the Human Relations Commission tonight (5/27/08) is attached (below).
========
A River Of Sludge From
The San Jose Mercury News
Yes, the San Jose Mercury News still prints epithets to demean and dehumanize the diverse white American peoples. This has a particularly negative impact on children. Here are some examples from the past 36 months.
White boy, white privilege, wasp, nerdy, non‑Hispanic whites, white flight, redneck, hillbilly, cracker, white trash, non-Latino whites, geek, white‑bread, lily-white, typical white person, goober, yankee dog, white resentment, acting white, and Wonder Bread.
These epithets appeared in articles, editorials, headlines, photo captions, and quoted remarks. No rebuttal is ever allowed on its pages.
County Supervisors Denounced
Demeaning Epithets Five Years Ago
The Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County adopted a resolution on August 19, 2003, denouncing epithets against all members of our community, but the San Jose Mercury News continues to use epithets that smother diversity, strip the victim of nationality, suppress the right of self-naming, express prejudicial disgust, and dehumanize the victim with animal, insect, plant, or food names.
All children have the right to a decent sense of self-respect – and none should have to swim this river of sludge.
Free Two-Hour Seminars
Available
At Resisting Defamation, we believe that a slur-free society is possible, and we have established free two-hour seminars to teach about this river of sludge and how to combat it.
Check out our online syllabus at www.ResistingDefamation.org and use the contact tab to let us know of your interest in attending a free two-hour seminar in San Jose.
Everyone is welcome. Let us know if you will need special assistance in any way.
Bo Sears
Board of Directors
Resisting Defamation