In Open Letter: Star Jones Checks Bill O'Reilly's Racist Remark, Star Jones-Reynolds (for those of you who are not familiar with this issue) responds to the following:

"O'Reilly, ...was talking to a caller who was angry that [Michelle] Obama had said on C-Span that "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country." The 58-year-old television commentator..... responded to the caller by offering that of course they'd have to check the facts first. He said: "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels - that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever - then that's legit. We'll track it down."

I was intrigued that Ms. Jones picked up on the lynch party and tracking down comments as being racist. Actually, I missed that until she brought it up. I was taken aback by the obvious lack of support for free speech - something that O'Reilly depends on. I though how hypocritical this was as a journalist, he did not defend her or everyone's right to their opinions, and the right and freedom to express them.

I was glad, though, that he said he would look in to it instead of just reacting, however I was intrigued by the line, "we'll track it down". Track it down and do what?

Granted, she is right in the public eye, and she had the audacity to say what many people have felt for some time. Let's hone in on this attitude - that of we must support our government right or wrong or otherwise we are not patriots.

One of the things that made this country great was the courage many people exhibited when they stood up and spoke change into existence.

But speaking of speaking change into existence, why must we have a conversation like this about racism and the negative effects of words at this point in time? How can we speak change into existence? When will lynch party be a page in history, one that we can read about, look back on and marvel about how that and the issues related to it have been solved? When will someone be able to use that expression without drawing fire? And, by ignoring it, are we certainly opening the door for more, or for escalated racism? How can we solve this problem?