Bill Cosby: Sparking Debate

Almost two weeks since his comments caused such a brouhaha, entertainer and education doctorate holder Bill Cosby continues to take heat.

I mean, when bitch witch Lucianne Goldberg (wingnut fanatic) practically calls Cosby brilliant for his comments, I find myself wanting to slink away. Lucianne's Web site - which I refuse to provide a link to, sorta like I would refuse to tell someone where to buy heroin or a loaded pistol - specializes in the most hate-filled people imaginable.

But I'm not going to slink away because I think the most valuable part of Bill Cosby's comments is the debate it has opened up, regardless of race. Sure, some of it is very uncomfortable. Some of it seems to draw from stereotypes we would like to deny. Yet some of it seems accurate in a way that can be stretched to apply to various racial backgrounds, whether Cosby intended it that way or not.

Debate is a good thing. Hopefully, it inspires people to think and to listen as well as to spout. I feel I've learned a few things in some of the debates on the subject of which I've been part, and I'd like to think I shared a bit of wisdom along the way myself.

I can't pretend to be happy with all of his remarks, but I do like some of the results of the discussions it has sparked. Cynthia Tucker, the savvy, eloquent Atlanta Journal Constitution editorial writer, addresses this in a recent piece.