Against silence

The response by our leadership to not fully blame, denounce and condemn these horrid humans for the violence that occurred in Charlottesville exhibits that our leadership has forgotten the history behind our nation’s success in the face of adversity and calamity. As a nation, we cannot deny and dispute that our rich history shaped our country. Nonetheless, we must understand the implications and consequences of past historical events to continue pressing forward. Additionally, it’s vital and necessary to understand the difference between truth and falsehoods.

One fundamental truth is that silence has never conjugated this nation. Silence did not claim our freedom during our fight for independence. Silence did not bloodily prevail as the Union defeated the Confederacy to abolish slavery. Silence did not triumph when America saved millions of human lives that were religiously persecuted by the Nazis in World War II.

Like those before us, we must speak up, thoughtfully, with the backing of truth and facts as our artillery. We must urge each other to listen with open minds to our neighbors and to those residing on the opposite side of the aisle. Otherwise, our narrow-mindedness will cause more profound hate.

When our leadership fails to display a correct response to unallowable hatred, we must take it upon ourselves to not fall silent, but overwhelm the sounds and actions of hatred with liberty and love.

William Gallagher, Yukon