LW wrote an article regarding the looters in New Orleans and pointing out that the majority shown on news clips were, in fact, African American. Of course, the resultant backlash came about, accusing her of racism.

But the backlash, as usual, missed a point. You see, one of the adages that we have always heard since childhood is "Birds of a feather flock together".

When the black community accepts as its leaders such men as career extortionist Jesse Jackson and inflammatory racist Al Sharpton, they accept that these men speak for them. And the words of both of these men have indicated their consistent refusal to teach African Americans to take responsibility for the state of their community, the education of their children, and the work ethic of their community members. Their words have encouraged victim mentality and have lobbied Congress and private enterprise to lower standards to African Americans so they don't have to work as hard to achieve.

Well, I've got news for you, folks. Excellence ONLY comes from hard work and perseverance. I don't care WHAT race you are. A star NFL receiver does not get that way without LONG hours in the weight room and on the practice field, a fact that many wannabes quickly discovered (exhibit A: Maurice Clarett). And NO Nobel prizes or Pulitzer prizes have been won via quotas.

The beauty of capitalism is that it is inherently NON racist (as opposed to the assertion of a recent JU blogger). You see, capitalism is always ready to embrace any number of achievers who can "build a better mousetrap", and it doesn't give a flip about the color of their skin. It only cares what the individual can do for them.

If blacks want leaders they can admire and that can lead them to better themselves and their lots, they are there. And, I might point out, they are pretty much universally admired. Instead of Jesse Jackson, why not look at Bill Cosby? Instead of Al Sharpton, why not Colin Powell? Condoleeza Rice, (columnist) Walter Williams, and Denzel Washington are just a few more names off a long and distinguished list of African Americans who have contributed significantly in their chosen fields to the betterment of society, And they are FAR better role models than those who would cast an entire race of individuals into a state of perpetual victimhood.