Letter from the Editor: NYU’s Diversity and Inclusion Forum
November 19, 2015
Dear Readers,
Over the past several weeks, there has been a marked increase in discussions about racial tension on college campuses. From Mizzou to Yale and all over the country, students of color are sending a clear message: We will not be silenced. In an attempt to open discussions about racism on our campus, NYU hosted a forum on Wednesday about diversity and inclusion.
Racism is not a problem that one conversation will “fix,” we must take action. Students of color have been systematically silenced all over the country and it is time for people to listen what they have to say. We cannot continue to believe that racism is something that happens only in other places — not in New York, not at NYU. This forum was a start, but it was reactionary. Students of color on our campus have been demanding change for years and they have been ignored.
As a newspaper, our job is to serve the community and give voices to those who are not being heard. Instead of a traditional news piece, we choose instead to ask each and every one of you to watch the full forum. Yes, it is long, but today was about listening. These members of the NYU community have something to say and you owe it to them to really hear them.
We encourage you to continue this discussion through Facebook, Twitter and the comments below. For our part, we as a newspaper will continue to report on the issues that matter to our community and hope this starts a dialogue among students and faculty. We cannot let this conversation end now. And while Wednesday was for listening, this forum means nothing if the university does not take steps to create lasting change.
Howard Sachs • Nov 19, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Thank you for your thoughts. Many of us off campus are interested in what you think and how you see the world. I thought about your editorial and I respond with respect.
First, I noted that your moderators say will delete what they consider “hate speech.” Well, that is quite interesting. I consider the main message of your editorial is a deep hate for America. It’s interesting that you are not self aware in that regard. Your message is that this country is essentially full of racism. I think that is a very hateful thing to say. I also know it is not true. I personally would not have deleted your editorial. I love our 1st Amendment. Freedom of speech is a beautiful part of America and with that comes the freedom to spew truth and lies and love and hate.
Large numbers of you have embraced the most vibrant religion in the world today. That is Leftism. It is antithetical to American values in every respect. In regard to racism. America is the least racist society that has existed in human history. Millions if not billions of cream colored, beige, brown, and deeply black colored people all over the world would give almost anything to come and live here. They certainly know they are not coming to the place you describe – a place full of racism.
What a beautiful history we have as well. With our great American values we were the people that essentially rid most of the world of slavery. We sacrificed nearly 3/4 of a million of white men doing so. We focused on the ideals of our founders and Declaration of Independence and rid racism from America long long ago. Such history is a great testament to our beautiful country.
America today is a wonderful place full of kind, open, free and tolerant people. What is profoundly ironic is that the only true widespread racism that remains in America is with the Democratic Left. Here are the people focused daily on skin pigment- thinking about it; talking about it; obsessed with it. Here are the people, namely people like you that care deeply about how much melanin molecule concentration is in a man’s skin cells. I can hear all of you now “We need a black President. We need more black students on our campuses. We need more black CEO’s. We need black dorms and black graduations, and black studies courses.” How regressive. How vile and racist characterizing a man based on his color.
People with true American values know pigment molecules are about as important as what color sunglasses you ware. What is important ; what is only important, is a man’s character, his values, his skills , virtue and the way he treats others.
Your views are the hate. Your views are the throw-back regressive ones. You views are not America. Your views are the values of the shameful leftism that saturates our Universities. Shame on you.
It is doubly shameful knowing all the evil that still fills the world. Millions are being murdered, beheaded, crucified, enslaved and raped by the barbarians of radical Islam- and you shout and scream about micro-agressions and the fantasy of white privilege and structural racism in America. Millions are enslaved in North Korea, and you rail against plant food; carbon dioxide. Shame on you. You are not strong, brave, virtuous Americans. You are the opposite.