[Peace-discuss] Flag flap

[Alfred Kagan]

Even the title of this message indicates a racial divide.  The word 
"flap" denotes something minor, but the issue of race is anything but 
minor. Politicians don't always plan every last word and action.  I 
don't think Dean understood what he was doing when he made his 
comment.  Sure he was trying to appeal to Southern whites, but I 
don't believe he understood the effects he would have on black 
people. If he had thought about it seriously, and if he had good 
advisors, he could easily have come up with another statement to 
appeal to white Southerners without alienating blacks folks. 
Anit-racism means taking these kinds of issues seriously.
-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu