Black Men’s March

Re “Black Men, in Show of Unity, Join in 400,000-Strong March,” Oct. 17:

How pitiful that a hopeful message of black independence and self-respect, of responsibility to one’s family and neighbors, should be proclaimed by such a bigot to legitimize his underlying message of anti-white hatred and anti-Semitism. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a spokesman for godly love and justice. “Minister” Louis Farrakhan is no man of God, but rather a shallow imitation of a vessel for God’s message of brotherly love.

This “minister” quotes--and misquotes--Scripture and history to twist and pervert men’s hearts to anger and bitterness. Farrakhan speaks of “atonement,” and considering his message, he has much to atone for.

PATRICIA PARKER

Los Angeles

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* Watching the “Million Man March” proved what a wonderful country we have. I hope Chinese government officials were watching the opportunities that peaceful dissidents have in our great squares.

BETTY RUTH BAUM

Brea

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* The First Amendment says in part that the people have the right “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Without the government knowing the exact number of those sharing these grievances, it cannot respond with the full force the grievances demand. Failure of the U.S. Park Police to correctly report the number of people attending the march results not only in thwarting the spirit of the First Amendment but other wrongs as well. Since the Park Police ran out of fingers and toes, or pencils and paper, or whatever caused them to be unable to count past 400,000, maybe the job should be given to some non-governmental agency with better mathematical skills.

I went to the march, at great sacrifice of time and money. I feel very outraged that in spite of efforts my presence was ignored. The Park Police said I was not there.

WILLIAM REAGAN

Los Angeles

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* Recent events, particularly in Los Angeles and Washington, confront caring people with difficult problems. The answer is difficult to live with, too, but building a more democratic society has never been easy. Giving in to fear and hatred would only paralyze us.

Each of us must regard each person as a separate, unique individual. Hard as it will be, we cannot allow ourselves the cop-out of stereotyping. What does that person stand for? We must welcome our neighbor in the hope and expectation that she or he is as willing to build for all as we are. We must present the same opportunities for all. Only with this willingness can we advance together.

JULIAN MYERS

Century City

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* One black American hero? Here he is at the march! What can one black man do to make a difference in his community? Here it is!

John Hamilton (photo, Oct. 17)--teacher, Los Angeles. This man is a real hero. God bless him!

LINDA STEPP

Mission Viejo

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* Farrakhan has the same moral authority and credibility of Mark Fuhrman. Black racism and anti-Semitism are as equally unacceptable and intolerable as white racism and anti-Semitism.

GEOFFREY C. CHURCH

Los Angeles

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* Farrakhan is articulate when he speaks but he is dead wrong when he refers to the Jews, Koreans, Arabs and other ethnic groups as “bloodsuckers” because they provide goods and rental homes to the black community (Oct. 14). He attempts to justify such remarks by saying that these merchants take from the community without giving anything back. What they give are the goods and rental homes that clothe, feed and shelter the black community. What more can a person give to a community?

The only bloodsuckers in the black community are the drug dealers and gun sellers that are killing the black youths.

HOWARD J. KERN

Studio City

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* The good Germans who endorsed and worked for only one or two of the more reasonable points in Adolf Hitler’s platform thereby helped Hitler institute his entire program of Nazism, of fascist dictatorship. We must scrutinize a leader’s complete platform, the whole package, before we cooperate with any portion of it; it’s all or nothing, baby!

ALAN EGUSA

Manhattan Beach

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* Kevin Ross is right on the money (Commentary, Oct. 13). Marching in Washington is very photogenic and might be temporarily uplifting. However, taking responsibility for your life each day and every day is what counts and is the only sure means to a more lasting solution. By the way, next time, let the ladies join in as equal partners.

DENNIS GIMIAN

Irvine

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* I wonder how those who are following Farrakhan and his racist beliefs would feel about a million white men following David Duke, even if it was for the “right reason” and at the “right time.”

RON MOSSLER

Northridge

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* As a white male registered Republican I can only assume Ruth Rosen was referring to my “type” in her Column Left (Oct. 12) about the march on Washington when she stated, “For some whites, it will be their worst nightmare come true.” It is sweeping generalizations like this that exacerbate racial divisions.

I can only speak for myself, but I applaud Farrakhan for doing something that is long overdue. Though I feel the Nation of Islam is sometimes cultish in their non-dissenting devotion to their leader and his often narrow-minded views, he is absolutely right this time. I wish a need for such a demonstration was not necessary, but it is. It’s heartening to see black male unity aimed in an affirmative direction and, as a brother American, I wish them success.

J. DAVID MILES

Playa del Rey