Bigotry

James Pinkerton’s “schlock” (and yes I do say schlock in self-restraint though it is deserving of a more obscene word) entitled “Multiculturalism can kill a nation” (P. 11, Feb. 9, 2006) is just the sort of bigotry that prevails in political powers the world over. It is that brand of candy-coated racism that attempts to justify itself by the timeliness of worldly conflicts in other countries—among other people. People like Mr. Pinkerton lie waiting in anticipation of the extreme lengths that certain ethnic groups will go to just to send a message. Like tabloid specialists posing as professional journalists, people like Mr. Pinkerton will use haughty intellect and generalization to depict these extremist groups as the poster-children for what is wrong with ethnic diversity and cultural pride. People like Mr. Pinkerton use the crimes committed by these extremist groups as an excuse to be racist on paper and toot a horn that says, “See? I told you so!” People like Mr. Pinkerton seize opportunities such as these to promote the age-old idea of ethnic assimilation so as to control a people and erase their cultural identity. People like Mr. Pinkerton are fueled by jealously—jealously of those who have the cultural identity that he lacks.

My friends, we as Americans and people of the CNMI are NOT like Mr. Pinkerton. Although sometimes our grasp of cultural values and heritage seems like it is waning, especially with the youth, we should embrace multiculturalism for what it is. It is a blessing like no other and is constantly exemplified in everything from the incomparable beauty of biracial children to the delicious foods that we eat. We as a multicultural society, the proverbial melting pot if you will, would never fit into Mr. Pinkerton’s ideal little world of cultural assimilation because most of us love our cultures.

So you see my friends, Mr. Pinkerton and the Islamic extremists he seeks to condemn are one and the same. The only difference is one uses writing as a weapon of choice while the other prefers extreme force. I urge you not to give Mr. Pinkerton’s brand of bigotry any more approval than you would the hate crimes committed by any extremist group in any country. Because if you do this, you will only prove that the pen truly is mightier than the sword—in a bad way.

Ben Salas
Saipan