It was with a sense of sadness that we laid last week’s newspaper down.
Of course, we are referencing the page 3 article last week on members of the Centre Wellington community feeling the effects of racism. Thoughts of that old newspaper adage about comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable came to mind.
No one likes to believe such problems exist, but they do. The affected families deserve a thank-you for having the conviction to speak with our reporter and letting this story emerge. That couldn’t have been easy.
As school approaches, it’s a great time for a chat at home about the Golden Rule. For those unfamiliar with that term, it is an ethical concept whereby you treat others the way you would like to be treated. In essence, have respect for others.
Racism and stereotypes are as old as time. Efforts going back to the 1960s to improve race relations and adopt a better sense of community for all have been curtailed in recent years.
Social media, chat groups and so on have fostered sentiments many of us had hoped were over. Some might argue they never really went away, and those embers have ignited again.
People who are different than us – whether white, Black, brown or Jew, Muslim, Christian or differences in sexuality – are all people. It isn’t that hard of a concept to understand in that context.
This planet is full of people with hopes and aspirations regardless of obvious differences in appearance and beliefs.
The notion of fair play and respect for all is something we need to aspire to if our country is to prosper.
Insisting on the Golden Rule is a real challenge when combating the basest of instincts, but it can be done and should be a standard we all embrace.
There is great satisfaction in speaking up. More of us need to do just that.
