"AMERICAN DREAMS" RACIST?

The irony is that a few months ago I had attended a reception at Portland City Hall celebrating Black History Month. A reception in which artist Robert Shetterly was being honored for his "Americans Who Tell The Truth" series. Minutes ago, I finished reading an article written by his daughter with serious racist undertones. A father who has spent his whole adult life speaking up against racism and a daughter whom blames the light-skinned black man for her bad day.

The article that I am referring to is this week’s "Bramhall Square," "American Dreams" (July 8). Just a quick question for Ms. Shetterly: If this was not about race and you’re just looking for people to be kind toward one another, then why did you mention several times the color of the two young men’s skin? Your article would have been so much more effective if you had kept race out of it, focused more on humanity. Your father would be ashamed of you. Look at all the amazing work he is doing and in a public forum you inadvertently make yourself look racist.

I’m sure you’re not because there is no way someone like your dad would raise a racist child. You need to think before you speak and realize the "can of worms" your comments may have opened up.

People are very rude and only think about themselves in many cases. The way to make people more compassionate is to inspire them with acts of kindness and gratitude. It may be time for you to take a good hard look in the mirror. Even good people that work with (how did you put it?) "incarcerated youth" can be oblivious to how they treat others. Become a little more self aware before you project your feelings on to others. Perhaps, you have a chip on your shoulder. In your article, not only were you racist, you also took no responsibility for your own behavior. How do we know that you weren’t rude to him first? You did point out later on in the article that you are very self-involved and tend to demand things without saying "please" and "thank you." If you change your behavior, the people you interact with will likely change theirs!

The bottom line is, if humans spent less time blaming everyone else for their problems and were truly nice and respectful to one another, our world won’t be a war, our children wouldn’t be abused and neglected, and half the country wouldn’t be filling their lives up with material things in order to feel loved and whole. Be good to yourself and to the people around you — you’d be amazed what a difference it will make.

Dani Laliberte, Westbrook

Letter via email

"AMERICAN DREAMS" TACKY?

I urge the Phoenix’s editor to consider more restraint and guidance with the publication of the "Bramhall Square" writings of Caitlin Shetterly.

The recent column focused on an employee at the YMCA is just plain irresponsible (see "American Dreams," July 8). The author’s trouble seems to be that she did not know the YMCA policy to show one’s membership card (given to her in the form of a scholarship). The staff member helping her was legitimately upholding the policy of the organization for which he works. To connect his responsible, professional behavior with issues surrounding class and race is simply tacky.

The Phoenix should be more responsible for the inappropriate suggestions made by its columnists. In a small town, it’s quite easy to connect Ms. Shetterly’s thinly veiled description with an actual person. There are more appropriate avenues by which she could suggest that a specific person mistreated her because of her race, and I, for one, would rather not read bad town gossip that could needlessly damage someone’s professional and personal relationships.

Lori Agan, Portland

Letter via email

Editor’s note: Please see the newest edition of Caitlin Shetterly’s column, "Bramhall Square," elsewhere on this News & Features page, for continuing dialogue on this matter.