One America

I am responding to a letter to the editor by Diana Slivinska that appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, dated March 23, 2008.
As a point of information, Blacks played a highly significant role in building the foundation of the American infrastructure. And what Blacks did not build, they significantly influenced the building of all aspects of the United States of America. As Lerone Bennett, Jr., one of the foremost scholars and historians on American history, said: “(Negroes) cleared the forests, drained the swamps and cultivated the grain. The wealth of this country was founded on what Abraham Lincoln called “the 250 years of unrequited toil” of Negro men and women. From the muted wail of slaves going in chains to American plantations came the gold that made capitalism possible; from black brawn came tobacco; from black blood, white sugar.” The American foundation was constructed over two and a half centuries before the greatest wave of European immigration which occurred between 1880 and 1922.
My Black ancestors and relatives fought gallantly and heroically in every major war from the American Revolution to the misguided wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so that all Americans may enjoy their fundamental freedoms and human rights. My grandfather, Thomas Marion, fought in World War I, and his grandfather fought on the side of the Confederacy in the Civil War. I have several uncles that distinguished themselves by fighting bravely in both the European theater and the Pacific in World War II. My brother and a cousin are highly decorated Vietnam veterans. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright loved this country enough to serve courageously in the United States Marine Corps and has been a renowned mainstream pastor for the last 35 years.
It is very unfortunate that Ms. Slivinska like many Americans including many in the media, have not taken the time to thoroughly study and examine all of Rev. Wright’s tapes, sermons and messages. By the tone of Ms. Slivinska’s letter, it appears that she has a basic lack of knowledge of the historic role of the Black Church and race relations in this country.
Inherent in this ever evolving experiment in democratic governance is the right of the people to dissent from our government as well as to have critical critiques of the government’s policies, accountability, actions and credibility. For the record, I have been a lifelong Democrat. But if Hillary Clinton is the presidential nominee, I will not vote for that woman.