"BLICK"

I've a good friend in Pittsburgh who can tell an ethnic joke like no other.

My buddah-like friend is extremely bright and one look at him suggests he probably is not of Minnesota nordic descent.

One of his favorite jokes has to do with two Rabbis who are looking for a truly black suit. They shop several places in the pursuit of the "ultimate blick" suit befitting their vocation.

To try and retell the joke here would be an enormous mistake and insult as it requires my friends vocal inspiration.

Dick, who is not a practicing Jew but, who has ancestors not that far away in the Middle East, has never been criticised for his joketelling at the expense of the rabinical duo.

Why? The joke is funny and was never meant to have been- nor interpreted- as an assault on another ethnic group.

Now, if we can just convince USA writer/columnist DeWayne Wickham that everything involving a dispute between a black person and anyone from another race is not an attack on all Afro-Americans.

Of course, one assumes (with prejudice, of course) Mr. Wickham would be reluctant to do so.

Should he ever accept a more mannered and reasonable writing style, the editorial folks at USA Today would not receive the number of critical letters they do following the release of his latest self annointed defense of anything "black." (but, not blick).

Why is it so difficult for so many people apparently bereft of any sense of reason to seek a common ground that is palatable- yet not patronizing?

Look, I'm not going to go into the old white guy rationalization.

That's the one we "Whities" used to employ: "I'm not prejudiced against "people of color". (pick your favorite associative politically correct term here).

"And, if you doubt me, then come over to my house and see my huge collection of music by Nat King Cole, Ella, Sassy, & the Duke."

Perhaps, I could double my innocence defense by sharing that I was also a big fan of black (and gay) author James Baldwin.

Recently, I was pleased to read about more signs of assimilation of blacks -a shrinking minority group - into a society that was once dictated by whites.

Of course, my black media critics would probably accuse me of favoring any solution wherein blacks have to "become more white" and indicates my disrespect for the expression "black is beautiful."

I don't know if I'm allowed to speak of this while residing in a section of our country that still has more than our share of bigots.

That observation is based on their use of words like "colored" and much more demeaning terms to describe an entire race.

Wickham seems to conclude that the recent run-in between Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and President Obama on a tarmac in Arizona took place only because our President is black.

Anybody who is white, black or whatever, and who has taken the time to dispassionately follow some of Brewer's remarks and actions might reasonably conclude:"No, sorry DeWayne, Brewer will probably do the same with St. Peter on that last great day should he choose to disagree with her".

I'm sure Wickhams response to the last remark would be,"However, lacking any photos of St.Peter,admittedly we cannot be sure he is not black, as well."

So, we have a white Governor who is sure she has been dissed and a black President who allegedly felt similarly.

Per Wickham, Brewer may have been most angered by "Obama's calm demeanor", "his wry smile" as well as his decision to "walk away from her in mid-sentence".

So, let's see: "The Governor is a bigot - and the President is a male chauvanist?"

There is an old joke about a psychiatrist and her male patient who is alleged to be a sex addict.

The doctor proceeds to show her patient various innocent photos to which he is required to interpret their meaning.After each viewing, the patient describes the picture as having a sexual connection.

Finally, in frustration, the doctor says, "How can you possibly see nothing but sex in all of these photos?"

The patient replies, "Hey Doc, you're the one who keeps showing me all the dirty pictures!"

Apparently, it's all in the interpretation, folks.

We have made a serious amount of progress in the area of racial tensions - but, admittedly have a long way to go - and not just in the south.

But, having certain media personnel - both male and female -persist in reading anti-black prejudice into any and every disagreement between folks; it's going to take a long time to get to the next level.

Me? I'm going to stick to laughing at Dick's retelling of the "blick" joke.

And, I'm not prejudiced against rabbi's either.

You should see my collection of books by Rabbi Chaim Potok.