Life is a cause/effect phenomenon
It would be redundant to say we are experiencing some problems in our country, and one of the more serious issues involves prejudice/ racism/bigotry.
What makes this situation even worse is it is being exacerbated by a dishonest, corrupt government that is using those despicable dispositions as a political football.
Anything/anyone that uses color/ race/nationality, etc. to interfere with a person’s attempts/efforts to achieve whatever his/her talent and hard work will afford them is contemptible, and it’s even worse when politicians do it, pitting one group of our citizens against another, using them as “tools” to hustle votes.
Having said that, something that is seldom talked about is this: Why do we have this problem--what caused it? Setting aside government culpability for a minute, how did it become such a negative, destructive factor in our society? Children aren’t predisposed to bias--they aren’t born with it--so how come so many adults are afflicted with these disgusting attitudes?
For an answer, consider these possibilities: Parents, friends and life experiences, and the later being provoked by the first two, could be the biggest factor. For example, how many parents in low income families blame their plight on someone/something
other than themselves--”I can’t get a better paying job because I’m not white.” What do the kids in those families come away with?
On the other hand, how many parents sit at the dinner table, look their kids in the eye and say “I’m responsible for our income level. I don’t have the education or a skill set to get a higher paying job,” and emphasize the importance of school or apprenticeships? Which of the kids are most apt to grow up with an “attitude,” join with others who grew up under similar circumstances, get involved with gangs, drugs, etc. and participate in “protest” groups?
Life is, for the most part, a cause and effect phenomenon--we reap what we sow--and while there are exceptions (that’s life too) we can significantly reduce the effects of the cancer called racism by taking responsibility for our lives, taking away the ability of the government/ politicians to stir things up by using us as pawns.
GENE LEMON Yuma