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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992                   TAG: 9201240462
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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CHOICE OF WORD IN NEIGHBORS STORY WAS INAPPROPRIATE

I am concerned about some of the exclusive and inappropriate language used in the Neighbors section.

In a recent article about a poetry reading by Nikki Giovanni, the writer noted that the audience was "mixed." Mixed is an antiquated and condescending term for a racially diverse audience. Music and poetry are colorless. Ms. Giovanni is a black poet, indeed, but her audience is a diverse one.

Also, in a recent cover story on religious icons, a curious statement was made about both Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Christianity having roots in the teachings of Jesus. Is it not obvious that Eastern Orthodox Christianity would have Jesus Christ as its base?

William Jay Bender

Southwest Roanoke

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