Letter: Racism revealed in different ways, degrees
When addressing racism, politicians and accountability, shouldn't we consider each person's behavior individually and within context. America's racism originated when European immigrants stole this country from Native Americans, slaughtered millions, and forced the survivors onto reservations.
Today we continue to disrespect their culture, painting redface to support teams whose mascots are Redskins or Indians. Our history is replete with discrimination against the Irish, Mexicans, Italians, Jews, Muslims, Africans, Chinese, Catholics, women and LGBTQ.
It is indefensible that our government, churches, businesses and citizenry have conducted themselves in such reprehensible ways. Fortunately, over time, relationships have been built between those who acknowledge and accept our differences, and refuse to allow fear to continue to divide us.
Attitudes towards race and ethnicity evolve over time. When we reject fear of others, we progress morally, spiritually, culturally, intellectually, and economically. Racism is expressed in many ways and to different degrees from disrespectful mockery and racial slurs to discrimination in housing, banking, and education to the horrifying murder of innocents.
When addressing racism and politicians, shouldn't we first ask a few questions? For example, have their political careers perpetuated or rejected racist policies? Have they failed as our representatives to conduct themselves according to codes of moral and ethical conduct and the law? Shouldn't we consider that there is a difference between mockery and criminality and respond with the appropriate condemnation; censure, impeachment, prison? This is why we cannot conflate blackface mockery with an alleged sexual assault. While both are reprehensible, there is a difference.
Additionally, no politician should be let off the hook just because another party's politicians seem to be getting away with both immoral and criminal behaviors. We should not act like the child that points their finger and cries, “but he's getting away with it!” Their day of reckoning will come. In the meantime, we should all take responsibility for our individual negative behaviors and accept the consequences.
This is how a country collectively recalibrates its moral compass; admission of individual wrong-doing, acceptance of consequences, reformation, forgiveness and an opportunity to move forward in truth and with integrity.
-- Cynthia Archibald, Wichita Falls