Sensitive to Difference

Several days before an article titled “Suddenly County Wears a ‘Racist’ Brand”, was printed on May 3, I was interviewed and asked the question, “Do you believe that the citizens of Ventura County are insensitive to blacks?”

At no time in my interview did I ever use the phrase or infer that Ventura County residents are insensitive to blacks or black issues. I spent some time drawing a clear distinction between my interpretation of insensitive and less sensitive. “Insensitive” would mean a deliberate disregard for the needs, “less sensitive” would mean a reduced understanding of the needs.

I have no real quarrel with the quote I was attributed with in the article, “There is not the degree of sensitivity or experience with black issues that there might be in other counties like Los Angeles.” My objection is with the sentence that preceded my quote which stated, “Assistant Sheriff Richard Bryce, whose department was shaken last year by 11 black deputies’ claims of harassment and institutional bias, said this county may be racially insensitive to blacks in particular .”

Had I not explained my perceptions of the difference between insensitive and less sensitive, my complaint might be justifiably dismissed as “hair splitting.” However, I did explain my definition of both my terms in an attempt to avoid being misunderstood.

RICHARD S. BRYCE

Assistant Sheriff

Ventura