2008 Woodie Awards
Reduce Racism? Abort Ignorance
William "Book of Virtues" Bennett's controversial comments spark anger.
Will Reyes
Issue date: 10/19/05 Section: Opinion
Should racism be seen as acceptable just because we have free speech?
Do we really need to condone statements like those of former U.S Education Secretary William Bennett who presented the idea that the act of aborting all black babies would lower crime in today's America?
The answer is no.
Bennett, an authority on moral issues for millions of Americans and the author of "The Book of Virtues," set the wrong example of morally acceptable speech during his "Morning in America" radio show.
As Americans we have the right to say what we feel, but when one is seen as a role model for millions, setting standards to live by, one shouldn't promote racist views.
Bennett made the comments in response to a caller's question about a recent book - "Freakonomics" By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner - in which the authors proposed the idea that an increase in the rate of abortions would lower the crime rate.
"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down," Bennett said.
He then said that would be "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."
For Bennett to single out a particular race and imply that black babies are inherently inclined to commit crimes is ignorant and puts the blame on color, ignoring the poverty factor in high crime rates. Many black people and other minority groups live in poor conditions.
Poverty is much more relevant to the rate of crime than skin color or race. The real issue at hand isn't abortion or crime, it's the uneducated racist assumptions of people like Bennett that are wrong.
Bennett, who hasn't accepted responsibility for the racist tones of his remarks, addressed the growing controversy during a public speech in Bakersfield on Oct. 9, his first since the comments, but directed the blame at the media and refused to apologize.
Do we really need to condone statements like those of former U.S Education Secretary William Bennett who presented the idea that the act of aborting all black babies would lower crime in today's America?
The answer is no.
Bennett, an authority on moral issues for millions of Americans and the author of "The Book of Virtues," set the wrong example of morally acceptable speech during his "Morning in America" radio show.
As Americans we have the right to say what we feel, but when one is seen as a role model for millions, setting standards to live by, one shouldn't promote racist views.
Bennett made the comments in response to a caller's question about a recent book - "Freakonomics" By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner - in which the authors proposed the idea that an increase in the rate of abortions would lower the crime rate.
"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down," Bennett said.
He then said that would be "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."
For Bennett to single out a particular race and imply that black babies are inherently inclined to commit crimes is ignorant and puts the blame on color, ignoring the poverty factor in high crime rates. Many black people and other minority groups live in poor conditions.
Poverty is much more relevant to the rate of crime than skin color or race. The real issue at hand isn't abortion or crime, it's the uneducated racist assumptions of people like Bennett that are wrong.
Bennett, who hasn't accepted responsibility for the racist tones of his remarks, addressed the growing controversy during a public speech in Bakersfield on Oct. 9, his first since the comments, but directed the blame at the media and refused to apologize.
