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Furthering Race Relations is Duty of News Reporting, Not Relaying Facts

To the Editor:
I recently came across this quote in an article from your online edition.

 

"Murder and shootings involving the crowds of roaming and raging blacks leaving the Happyland Club have been a destructive tradition in St. Mary’s"

 

My question is how is this informative?  Why do you choose these types of descriptions? Hell, anyone who knows anything about Happyland Bar knows that it is bar that is frequented by BLACK PEOPLE!!!!!   To use words like "roaming and raging" in describing African American people do nothing but incite anger and to re-inforce negative stereotypes.    Having been born and raised in St. Mary's County "and" frequented Happyland on several occasions, I take issue with the quote.  I never thought myself of as a "roaming and raging black"   Might I add, I've seen the similar descriptions for white people as well ( e.g. "redneck bars" ). 

 

The problem with your reporting of the "facts" is  when you use the "race words" you remove the focus from the criminals and their acts .  The outrage then gets redirected to your description of a people rather than the crime, which is the real story.  While it's not your responsibility to further race relations or break down racial stereotypes, I would think you would use better judgment in your reporting to not exacerbate them either.

 Brian Thomas
(Editor's Note:  A more correct description of the behavior of these after-closing crowd of hoodlums from the Happyland Club is that they act like animals, not black animals, not white animals, but simply animals.  This lack of any control or accountability is more common with young blacks coming from black bars than from whites.  It is up to the black community to figure out why this has happened and to exercise leadership.  But in each instance those who go to prison for murder and those who go to the funeral home on a slab are black.  But perhaps if we don't mention the race, there will be no skin color listed on the prison entrance forms or the medical examiner's report and we will all live happily ever after in racial harmony.)

 

Think of Young Children Who See Harsh Words

To the Editor:
Your reply to my comment is still not defended on your behalf what I'm saying and I know you know I'm saying is that the way you categorize crimes and any other sorts of news with race being a factor is irresponsible and should not be done think of all the young White and Black children who log on or logged onto to your site in the past and present their being basically informed that white people are redneck cracker and black people are raging black thugs.   The fact that theirs more whites in st Marys than blacks does not give you the right to put on a show for them bashing a race with a thesaurus in one hand while typing with the other. No one who wrote a letter to the so called editor who is not editing anything what so ever is defending violence what they are saying is be considerate in the usage of words. your whole article was blasting on black people. Violence is violence and people are people please write articles on your page with that in mind next time.

 PS. your election time reply was very irresponsible as well do you think before you reply. Tom Mc Kay's probably behind this news group.
Mike Jones

(Editor's Note:  Characterizing violent criminals who kill, deal drugs, drink and drive and maim, tear up stores and commit mayhem as raging black thugs or ruthless rednecks is simply a matter of calling a spade a spade. If the shoe fits, wear it. An entire community of people of all races are sick and tired of these criminals and the weak court system and ineffective law officers who pander to and pamper these hoodlums.  People of all races are tired of being victimized by these jerks and to offer defense of them is silly, to suggest it is time to tone down the rhetoric is more pandering pabulum which only perpetuates the problem.) 
 

                                                              

" the appalling silence of the good people"
To the Editor;

 

Being born and raised here in St. Mary’s County I never thought that we would see a time like this.  What happened to RESPONSIBILITY?  Do we have any elected officials who REALLY care?  If it was so important to those who are in charge, paid or NOT, we would have police officers stopping our youth from entering the parking lots turned war zones.  If you’re not paying their not staying!  Why is it so important to have undercover VANS sitting in our neighborhoods?  I don’t recall many home owners associations paying Cops to sit out in front of any homes.  What makes Drugs more important than lives?  Be it BLACK or WHITE, the violence needs to cease. 

Readers don’t be so angry at the opinion of ONE!  Trust that he is saying what a lot of folks wish they had the balls to say.  If that is his opinion of blacks, then we have to accept that, as ignorant as it may be!   I am certain, at least for those in my generation that we were not taught to care about the opinions of others, they can’t make or break us, and we are what we make of ourselves.  Someone needs to start teaching our youth to be accountable for their own actions.  If you allow others opinions of you to guide your way you are certainly doomed to fail.  Misery loves company.

I know, as I am sure that many others do, that there are many children black and white that partake in the night life here in St. Mary’s County, that are not doing anything wrong.  There are bad seeds in every basket that over time spoil the whole bunch.  We all know that categorizing or placing labels on folks is just the easy thing to do.  If one black person robs a store then of course every robbery that goes on for the year leaves blacks in question. It’s not right, but it’s the way of society, until we decide to change.

With all that we could say lets remember one thing.  We have the will to make a change.  In the words of Dr. Marin Luther King, "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."  I hope we all get the point in this statement.  If you have a solution, speak up please.  We ALL seem to need help.  Don’t be afraid to DO something! 

          As for me and my family who have deep roots here in St. Mary’s county, we were always taught to speak our peace and moreover to respect one another.  Today’s issues are not about black and white they are about a generation that lacks the respect for one another that just a few years ago was held as the cornerstone to human society.  It has not been so long ago that segregation was at the forefront of society that parents could forget how important it is to instill in their children what qualities children, adults, citizens, neighbors, AMERICANS should uphold.

I really Hate to see a time when we have such a lack of respect for one another that we cannot even speak kind words as ADULTS.  It starts with role modeling and setting examples.  I KNOW your mother or some adult figure in your life has said, “If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all”.  If the press decides to go back to a time when everything was about your racial status, than what can we expect from our children?  It may get you the type of negative responses that you are seeking, but, if you EXPECT nothing for yourself, what do you anticipate getting from others. 

How about proposing a solution?  How about taking some of your wisdom and making a determination to do something!  It seems like you ALWAYS say a lot, but what have you done?  What are you doing?  Put up or shut up!   It is so easy to see the elephant on your neighbor’s porch, but have you examined the ant on your own?  No, you haven’t looked very close at that lately.  Now have you?

Ignorance is learned behavior.  I’d love to meet your parents!

 

Sabana Moore
(Editor's Note:  Amen.)

 White Crimes Are Not Reported, Only Blacks

To the Editor:

As to the article about the shooting at Wawa Sun. morning, Let me first start by saying no crime or violence should be considered okay, no matter the criminal.  Your word selection as well as facts are the wrong doings that need policing.  Your on-line article talked about the "crowds of roaming raging blacks leaving the Happyland Club".  Lets not even start to count the drunkenness crimes and acts of violence committed by the upstanding white population of St. Mary's County. When you report on these incidents, the bashing, name calling and race labeling are conveniently left out.  Just last month there was a shooting at Boatman's in Oakville where the shooter was a white male, but not once was he singled out because of his race.  Also in your article you talked about the shooting in the past out in front of Gloria's Pawn shop in the middle of the day.  Let the record show that the suspect and victim of that bold rush hour shooting where both "good old St. Mary's County white boys".  As far as your wrongful facts, you tried to convey the fact that there were 300-400 raging blacks fighting. Any halfway smart individual would no that there is no way to even to begin to fit vehicles for 300-400 people arriving from Happyland at Wawa, never mind the fact that there hasn't been 300-400 people at Happyland at a single time in it's history.

         The bottom line is the only reason St. Mary's Today is even in business is due to the overwhelming nosiness of this counties residents.   Your job as reporters is to report the story and relay the FACTS, your beliefs and opinions are definitely not needed.  Stop giving good citizens bad names by categorizing people and wrongful facts.   

Damion Somerville

(Editor's Note:  Baloney is the most important part of your ignorant letter.  We have reported on the Hell-Hole redneck bars repeatedly, such as Mousetrap, Monks Inn, Brass Rail, and the murders which have taken place there.   The roaming raging crowds of black thugs who rip up the 24 hour stores should be an embarrassment to the black population of this county as these upstanding young people try to get away with whatever they can as they hide in the crowd and keep from being singled out.   This is just a case of mass stupidity, such as the crowd of morons who fought in the middle of the highway near the Mirage and were hit by a truck.  The Bozo at Boatmans was identified by race.  Fact: the thugs involved in the Gloria's shooting were all black.  We have the photos to prove it, you just don't know what you are talking about.  There are many occasions in which crowds that size have been at Happyland.  Your opinions are yours and just because you don't want to hear about others insisting on accountability from any race or group who cause violence in the community doesn't mean that others give a hoot what you think.  There are far more whites in St. Mary's County than blacks and far more of our news coverage of boozing drivers and druggies have involved whites than blacks.  You are ignorant of the facts.) 
Above, under arrest, is one of the "Good old St. Mary's County white boys" that this reader claims were responsible for the shoot out which took place, back and forth across Great Mills Road, during the afternoon rush hour, endangering dozens of drivers.  These black thugs got into an argument at a basketball game at Great Mills High School, and using their lifelong lack of self control and personal low level of self esteem and mental midget intelligence, decided to carry their grudge into the highway using firearms.  Center photo shows two men being questioned by police in connection with the shootout while one of those involved is administered medical care in the parking lot after one of the opposing gangs scored a hit.
ST. MARY'S TODAY file photos

Don't Mention Race of Thugs and Killers
 

To the Editor: 
I don't know who writes these horrible articles or what they call articles to up date the people of and surrounding St. Marys County but i think you should throw your computer away. The way you racially categorize crimes in the area is not a good way to update people of the city. How would you feel if every week a predominately black media group got on their computers and started talking about how white crackers go to bars get drunk smoke crack tear the bar up then drive away enraged only to catch a DUI, CDS, paraphernalia charges its not acceptable. What I'm saying is for you to bring race into a problem that has nothing to do with race but has something to do with the underage and uncontrollable drinking in the county is irresponsible. I would like for you to think past your little moment to shine on the Internet with incorrect articles and bad detail and think about the people who are looking at the website hoping to find in formation and not racial remarks.

                                                                                         Mike Jones  

 

(Editor's Note: You are so completely wrong it is incredible to think that anyone can be so stupid. It is a fact that a large group of blacks showed up at the Wawa, many were drunk, most had been at Happyland Club and this is not the first time such unruly crowds have engaged in fights, ripped off stores, knocked over displays, threatened clerks, used bats and bottles as weapons, fired guns and killed people....what great fun they had.   When the white crackers engage in the same behavior,  and they do, it is reported at ST. MARY'S TODAY. )

     

    Blacks Only Important at Election Time

To the Editor:

NOT ONLY BLACKS GO TO HAPPYLAND.  WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE WHITE THAT RUN TO BLACK BARS FOR BLACK MEN?  YOU PEOPLE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR BLACKS DOING ELECTION TIME. 
Constance Brooks

(Editor's Note: You only know how to excuse bad behavior instead of holding thugs responsible for violence.   Happyland is a black bar and has a long history of violence, as do the redneck bars, which have regularly been reported on as the same level of violence takes place, such as Monks Inn, Mouse Trap, Toots Bar and Brass Rail.  Blacks have become unimportant in St. Mary's County at election time because they do not vote as a cohesive group and many do not vote at all. )