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We lack common sense

2 min read

Your Friday editorial concerning Texas student Ahmed Mohamed being kicked out of school for bringing a homemade clock to class is interesting in its focus on ethnic targeting.

Common sense is lacking in zero-tolerance policies at schools, as well as other venues where large groups of people gather. A music teacher should be clear about what students can bring to school to trim the strings off their bows. In Mohamed’s situation, the teacher should have alerted the school’s security and administrative staffs, and Mohamed should have had a note saying he had a clock.

School and law enforcement officials overreacted.

It may be 2015, but we lack common sense. Fortunately, Mohamed was not observed by a “right to carry” citizen bent of saving his community.

As far as stereotyping, many ethnic groups have been stereotyped due to the actions of a few. Think of American Indians, the Irish, Catholics, Jews, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Mormons, people who live in Appalachia and on and on. It is the real American way. We are a country of countless prejudices in a population that is no longer a melting pot, but a diverse salad of so many cultures.

Remember Roberto Clemente being called “Bobby” so as not to offend Pirates fans? I do.

Jim Hassett

Jefferson

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