This is a response to Roxy Hammond’s article “South Dakota does not equal stupid.” I agree it is incorrect to judge a persons intelligence based on where they’re from. But to compare this to saying that all black people are “worthless piles of crap” who only commit crime just doesn’t make sense at all.

Then, to make matters worse, you say “Of course I don’t think that way, but I’m sure I could find you some examples to fit that description.” So, you’re trying to tell me that you personally know some “worthless piles of crap” who only commit crime, but you don’t believe that’s all they do?

Well when you come up with a good list, you let me know. What does insulting where a person grew up have to do with insulting an entire race? Nothing. It’s a false analogy!

In case you don’t know what that is, I’ll tell you. False analogies are comparisons between two situations that are not alike in most, or important, respects. I hope you see the point I’m trying to make.

I also want to point out that you said “I guess visiting Wall Drug automatically makes you an expert on the people from South Dakota.” I’ll admit I don’t have a clue as to what Wall Drug is, but my point is that you contradict yourself a little later in the article.

If you really wanted to use this example, you should have specified where you went, because it is possible that maybe you went to a bad part. I wouldn’t know. But don’t tell us that it’s wrong to judge a place after visiting one or two places when you do it yourself.

I can point out another place where you contradict yourself. You say that you feel safer in South Dakota because you can walk out to your car at night and not find your window smashed in with your CD player stolen. OK, there’s nothing wrong with that, that’s a good thing. But why would you try and convince us that you don’t assume that big city life is a horrendous crimefilled lifestyle?

That just doesn’t make sense to me. So, next time you want to make comparisons, practice some good writing skills, because it’s all about backing up what you’re saying, and not letting your audience know that you don’t believe what you’re talking about.

Vivian Obasi