Letters to the Editor

I was completely appalled by Claudio E. Cabrera’s article “Do Unto to Thy Neighbor” [October/November 2006] regarding the bloodshed on the borders of the Dominican Republic. I had no idea. Much like your “Negroes For Sale” [February/March 2006] cover, the graphic really caught my attention. My best friend is Dominican and she always told me about the racial problems there but to know more is a complete shock to me. How can we latinos who pride ourselves on diversity—and thrive here in the u.s. as a result of that diversity—completely cast aside our African ancestry? The irony of it all is that once you come to the good ol’ u.s.a. you’re tossed into the belly of the beast. Once there, you realize that if this country were legally able to follow in the footsteps of those countries practicing genocide, we would be wiped out as a complete group—black, white or olive. Most importantly, we’d cease to exist as Hispanics. We cannot even love and accept ourselves, so how can we expect White America to love and accept us? Though the Dominican Republic may be the only Latin nation that does not celebrate its independence from Spain, it may also be the only one to have committed such atrocities without European assistance. All Latin countries have experienced hostilities, abuses and bloodshed to some degree. How does a person elevate their own social status by poking out their own eyes?

Denise Ruiz

Wayne, NJ