John Lemon writes that the use of 'Hispanic' requires several qualifiers not present in this floating-body case.
To the Editor:
I read the tragic article about a body found near the Cohansey River dock in Bridgeton on Nov. 21. Police, seeking the identity, described the man as "Hispanic, possibly of Mexican descent," along with his height and estimated weight.
Perplexed about this description, I reached out to the reporter, Bill Gallo, who told me the that all the information came from the Bridgeton Police Department. Although Bridgeton does have a significant Hispanic/Latino population, I was disturbed at the unsubstantiated leap authorities made in releasing details of this death to the public.
The body had been in the water several days with no identification, tattoos or other distinguishing characteristics. If so, how could the person have been assumed to be "Hispanic"?
When will our news media learn "Hispanics" are not a race of people; they are a people who share a Spanish culture and language as a common bond? Believe it or not, there are white, brown and black Hispanics or Latinos? "Hispanic" often refers to people whose ancestors are from Spain. "Latino" often refers to people whose ancestors were born in the Americas.
Next, why assume that the Bridgeton body was "Mexican"? Why not Guatemalan, Honduran, Chilean, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Costa Rican, Brazilian, etc.?
How can a decomposed and waterlogged body look like anything beyond male or female? As a multicultural society, we owe it to our multicultural neighbors to educate or re-educate ourselves to use accurate, factual descriptions of people, and not to allow personal biases to take the place of facts.
John Lemon
Glassboro
Obama in Paris painful to see
To the Editor:
It pained me to watch President Barack Obama land for a climate summit in Paris, one of my favorite cities -- and attempt to dim the City of Lights.
With a blank checkbook, he tries to buy lesser and Third World nations. Russia laughs at his weakness. China will consider greenhouse gas reductions on its own schedule. India asks how many nuclear plants the United States will build for it.
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Our weak-kneed Congress will allow Obama to fleece taxpayers so that he can leave a legacy, along with Obamacare.
His trip to Paris required military cargo planes loaded with support vehicles, including limousines, as well as the use of Air Force One and other presidential aircraft. Of course, there was White House staff, and the Secret Service, which also needed to be flown to Paris, and related expenses for accommodations, meals and rental cars.
Wow! And I can't afford a week in Wildwood!
Ott Berry
West Deptford Township
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