Editor:
I am a Danish citizen and have African roots. This is my first time in the U.S. and it will probably not be the last. I've read about the O.J. Simpson verdict and the reactions people have shown, especially regarding the subject of African Americans' rights and justice in the American justice system.
Before I went to the U.S., I had serious thoughts about the way I would be treated. Would I be treated differently or would I experience any discriminating behavior? Denmark is a small country and people with African roots are not all that common, so I'm really not sure how to tackle any discriminating behavior. However, Tucson has been pleasant and without any confrontations. I have not experienced any incidents of discrimination except when it comes to the discussion of the O.J Simpson trial. My point is that I don't find that ethnic groups discriminate against each other, but I find that they discriminate against themselves.
I can, to a certain point, understand why some African Americans feel angry about the American justice system, especially when I think of the Rodney King case. However, I just don't like the way the African Americans react because O.J Simpson was found not guilty by the jury. The case of him as a murderer or not is not the issue here. Why is it that people seek revenge? Is it revenge when a jury of mostly African American find O.J. Simpson not guilty? Is that why the majority of African Americans seem overwhelmingly happy about the verdict? Well, I can't find any other reason. Personally I don't feel anything for O.J, and I certainly don't feel happy because O.J is a free man. But I wouldn't feel differently if he was sentenced to 30 years in jail.
To me, as a foreigner with African roots, I would advise African Americans to stop seeking revenge for centuries of discrimination and suppression. Revenge might be a good theme for an entertaining movie, but it is certainly not a good way to fight a battle between ethnic groups. Think about it, and don't give the TV and other media this opportunity to amplify the differences that should not be there.
Peter Ravn
Visiting Scholar
Mechanical Engineering