2008 Woodie Awards
Our reader's voices
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Voices
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'Quiet Outrage' Response
I would like to thank News Editor Mike Ellis for his article in Friday's paper entitled "Quiet Outrage". I am not an avid reader of CM Life, owing more to priorities than any aversion to the paper, but the last two or three of his articles I have enjoyed. I am appreciative of his most recent article because I feel it speaks truly to the "minor", often overlooked, issues in this community. I think it's a shame that the only incidences that make local or national news are the most egregious offenses, while a multitude of less "media-worthy" incidences occur daily. It is quite presumptuous, although quite common, for people who are seemingly unaffected by the trite offenses that occur all too often in this community, to believe that the messages conveyed to particular cultures through such actions, are any less hurtful, shameful and indelible than the more galvanizing occurrences. I agree with, and would perhaps advance his position from that of a quiet outrage to that of a boisterous outrage at the school's and the local communities' downplay of racially charged offenses. One good thing about the incident at Columbia, much like the recent incident in Jena, La., is that now the spotlight will shine on their community, and the pest-like infestation of racism, bigotry and hatred will be brought to light, and hopefully forced to flee. That's what happens, or should happen, when attention is brought to a situation, people begin to ruminate, discuss and plan for action. That's what we need in our community here, we need a spotlight on the racial tension that hovers over this and many other communities in this state; we need to illuminate all of the "subtle" issues that he alluded to in his article. Hopefully then we can begin to truthfully and openly discuss the climate here in Mount Pleasant, and make plans for action to increase the awareness and peaceful acceptance of our multicultural environment.
Phillip D. Miller II
Graduate Assistant
Minority Student Services
I would like to thank News Editor Mike Ellis for his article in Friday's paper entitled "Quiet Outrage". I am not an avid reader of CM Life, owing more to priorities than any aversion to the paper, but the last two or three of his articles I have enjoyed. I am appreciative of his most recent article because I feel it speaks truly to the "minor", often overlooked, issues in this community. I think it's a shame that the only incidences that make local or national news are the most egregious offenses, while a multitude of less "media-worthy" incidences occur daily. It is quite presumptuous, although quite common, for people who are seemingly unaffected by the trite offenses that occur all too often in this community, to believe that the messages conveyed to particular cultures through such actions, are any less hurtful, shameful and indelible than the more galvanizing occurrences. I agree with, and would perhaps advance his position from that of a quiet outrage to that of a boisterous outrage at the school's and the local communities' downplay of racially charged offenses. One good thing about the incident at Columbia, much like the recent incident in Jena, La., is that now the spotlight will shine on their community, and the pest-like infestation of racism, bigotry and hatred will be brought to light, and hopefully forced to flee. That's what happens, or should happen, when attention is brought to a situation, people begin to ruminate, discuss and plan for action. That's what we need in our community here, we need a spotlight on the racial tension that hovers over this and many other communities in this state; we need to illuminate all of the "subtle" issues that he alluded to in his article. Hopefully then we can begin to truthfully and openly discuss the climate here in Mount Pleasant, and make plans for action to increase the awareness and peaceful acceptance of our multicultural environment.
Phillip D. Miller II
Graduate Assistant
Minority Student Services
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