Letter: What was purpose of Trib editorial supporting black culture?

Derrick Favors commends the calm and quiet of Salt Lake City ("Utah Jazz, Derrick Favors agree to 4-year, $49M extension," Tribune, Oct. 18). The Tribune observes that blacks comprise but 2 percent of the population ("All Utahns should encourage more black culture," Our View, Oct. 26).

At the risk of being drugged and sent off to therapy, I submit that these phenomena are not without correlation. The FBI would seem to have my back.

This is on all of us, concludes the lecture, where "this" denotes the moral imperative to increase Salt Lake's black population. Little argument beyond barber shops is given in support, but when the topic turns to religious dogma, be it six-day creationism or egalitarianism, little is forthcoming.

Nor are dissenting voices heard. Like dinosaur bones, violent crime stats and property value trends are clearly the devil's work.

Was this editorial a temper tantrum? Or, more invidiously and in light of what sociologists have termed white flight, was Utah's Independent Voice wishing harm upon its enemies? Given the most recent round of layoffs at the Trib, one could suspect the editors of lashing out at those who, weary of the daily censure and ridicule and photographs of unattractive people running through downtown in their underwear proffered by the local rag, have stopped buying.

Greg Miller

Salt Lake City