Antone's Nightclub
Appalled at the 'Chronicle'
RECEIVED Tue., March 13, 2007
Dear Editor,
Here's hoping that Sammy Allred and the entire Austin Chronicle News editorial staff will get a clue and understand that what they did was wrong [“Quote of the Week,” News, March 9].
It’s not a surprise that Allred is stupid enough to try and make a racial joke on live radio, but I am appalled that The Austin Chronicle News editors defended his stupidity by calling KVET's management spineless for suspending Allred. KVET did the right thing, and if you can't see it that way, then you are living in the dark ages and need to review American history to see that this kind of behavior only hurts us as a people. Let’s all review our employee handbook; if you make a derogatory racial remark to another employee, you’re fired.
Allred, with his antiquated and limited mentality, thought it was OK in this day and age to broadcast a racial slam to an impressionable audience, who will no doubt, and unfortunately, be affected in a negative way. There is no proper context or setting in which one would mock a "foolish sounding remark" and think that it’s OK when it comes to race. Allred’s true colors as a right-wing bigot became evident when he embellished Sen. Joe Biden’s remark with the word “darky.”
There's nothing funny or amusing about Allred’s comment. Its use only serves to impede our progress in mending America's, and the world's, historical social issues. The Chronicle likes to ruffle feathers by stirring up controversy and defending the underdog, but this is unacceptable and just plain wrong. You chose unwisely. What were you thinking? How is this OK?
Here’s hoping that dumb and dumber will embrace the love and compassion that come with understanding human spirit by altering their mindset and actions for positive change in their future endeavors.
Here's hoping that Sammy Allred and the entire Austin Chronicle News editorial staff will get a clue and understand that what they did was wrong [“Quote of the Week,” News, March 9].
It’s not a surprise that Allred is stupid enough to try and make a racial joke on live radio, but I am appalled that The Austin Chronicle News editors defended his stupidity by calling KVET's management spineless for suspending Allred. KVET did the right thing, and if you can't see it that way, then you are living in the dark ages and need to review American history to see that this kind of behavior only hurts us as a people. Let’s all review our employee handbook; if you make a derogatory racial remark to another employee, you’re fired.
Allred, with his antiquated and limited mentality, thought it was OK in this day and age to broadcast a racial slam to an impressionable audience, who will no doubt, and unfortunately, be affected in a negative way. There is no proper context or setting in which one would mock a "foolish sounding remark" and think that it’s OK when it comes to race. Allred’s true colors as a right-wing bigot became evident when he embellished Sen. Joe Biden’s remark with the word “darky.”
There's nothing funny or amusing about Allred’s comment. Its use only serves to impede our progress in mending America's, and the world's, historical social issues. The Chronicle likes to ruffle feathers by stirring up controversy and defending the underdog, but this is unacceptable and just plain wrong. You chose unwisely. What were you thinking? How is this OK?
Here’s hoping that dumb and dumber will embrace the love and compassion that come with understanding human spirit by altering their mindset and actions for positive change in their future endeavors.
Brett Alexander
[Associate News Editor Lee Nichols responds: It was pretty clear to us that Allred was not calling Sen. Barack Obama a "darky," but was using the word to point out what a dumbass Sen. Joe Biden is. We're not quite certain how that makes Allred a "right-wing bigot."]