[BretMan]

Has the newsletter been published yet? The only reason I'm asking is because, if it hasn't, I would like to make one suggestion before it sees print.

I'm not one to be overly-sensitive about these things, but I would consider removing your line about "playing the race card".

"Race" can be such a hot issue that the very hint of a racial overtone- deserved or not- is likely to take your message down a road other than the one you intend. Some are likely to read that phrase- in the first paragraph, no less- and, BAM!, the red flags are raised, the alarms go off and the rest of your message is lost, no matter how valid.

Using that phrase is bound to obscure your message: We deserve what we get based on our work and effort. If one of your points is that race plays absolutely no role in the decisions, the best way to get that point across is no make no mention of race whatsoever.

Rather than uniting your audience, you have now divided them. Rather than addressing real, observable, measurable issues (uniforms, training, mechanics) you have pushed a hot-key button that is likely to move the discussion away from your main point.

That is my comment from an editorial, "how to win friends and influence people" standpoint. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a word.