Make Fight Against Racism Personal
Tuesday night, Dec. 10, was unremarkable on most counts.
A small Christian Identity church in Sandpoint drew 350 people to a lecture on gulf war syndrome. Many of the rising stars in the militia movement were in attendance.
In Spokane, a slightly smaller group of men and women gathered at City Hall to celebrate Human Rights Day and reaffirm their commitment to racial equality.
Is it just simple irony that these polar opposites held gatherings on the same ordinary evening in December? Or is there something more meaningful to consider as we start a new year?
Violent anti-government groups allied with white supremacists are reason for real concern. But fringe groups have tried for years to mainstream themselves by cloaking their hatred in legitimate causes, such as gulf war syndrome. That they still are working the same tired trick is worth a moment of reflection. But most of this is business as usual in the hate game.
And, as always, there are some good-hearted people with the time and energy to organize efforts to drive bigotry from town. They gather and rally on important dates or after there has been an incident that sparks tempers. But most of this is business as usual in the anti-hate game.
Because there is no middle ground for these opposites to negotiate toward - racism is and always has been wrong - it is important to ask: In the coming year, what can we do to work for racial equality? What can people do who believe that racism is wrong, if not evil, but who don’t feel comfortable with the “rally” mentality of human rights groups? We suggest the simple thought that the most effective way to combat racism is on a personal level. Bigotry must be conquered one person, one heart, at a time.
As Flip Schulke, a photojournalist and close personal friend of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., says, “Dr. King showed us that people of good will can prevail against the odds, if only we try in our own circle of influence, whether it be small or large.”
Schulke’s words make the fight seem manageable. No individual or group bears the full responsibility of solving the problem. But in the new year, if we each work on a small piece, our collective efforts can make a difference. As the Rev. James Keller, writer and priest, once said, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Scott Sines/For the editorial board