Westreich on Jesse Jackson
Thank you to Mr. Westreich for his necessary and lucid article.
Even the second time around, the candidacy of Jackson stands for a principle which any minority should endorse. Simply if inadequately put, equal access to the political process.
True, Jackson did refer to Jews as Hymies making it easy to lose sight of the larger issues which, if unrecognized, restrict our exercise of democracy. Didn’t President Reagan in his 1980 campaign refer to minorities in a derogatory fashion? A flap quickly explained by staffers and forgotten. Why do we forgive--or is it forget--a Ronald Reagan and not a Jesse Jackson?
The exercise of principle in an imperfect society often comes with inevitable thorns. That Jackson should push onward to the presidency despite odds or still existing prejudices benefits all minorities, regardless of how awkward his efforts may at times be.
DANIELLE LEVY
Los Angeles
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