Late last July I wrote about having had the opportunity to sit down with a remarkable young person from Weiser to discuss racism and discrimination both on a local level and on a broader scale. The conversation started with an e-mail from this individual titled “Eradicate Racism” regarding actions by a small group in Weiser that I think were intended to support our police, but was also perceived as tone deaf by people of color and minorities. This was all in the wake of the outrage sparked by George Floyd’s death just over a year ago.
I went on in the article to talk about the fact that racism and prejudice in-fact does exist both locally and on a broader scale. Those of us who are “white” might not think so, but that doesn’t stop it from existing.
The reason I am following up on this topic is two-fold. The first is a reminder that just as racism didn’t go away after the 1960’s Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Acts were signed and the civil rights movement settled down – racism and prejudice has not disappeared now just because the protests of last summer have stopped. Also, it isn’t something that just exists elsewhere. Prejudice is here as well. It exists anytime we make assumptions about other people.
The second reason is because I had the honor and privilege to attend the family party celebrating the Master’s Program graduation for the young individual I met with and this person’s younger sibling’s Bachelor’s graduation. Earlier this spring I had reached out to this person to say that, now that vaccines had made it possible to be around people again, I would like to meet the parents to know them a little
better. Being invited to the graduation party was the response.
I cannot fully express how Cathy and I were impressed with this family. All of the siblings have either graduated from college or are headed to college. The oldest will be pursuing a PhD. The manners, respect, and courtesy shown to each other and to us would be the envy of any parent. This family is a true credit to Weiser and Weiser is privileged to have them.
Which brings us back to the title to this young person’s e-mail “Eradicate Racism.” The only way I can see to truly achieve the goal of eliminating racism or any other type of prejudice, is to reach out and get to know people who may not think like the same way or have a similar background. Doing so takes us out of our comfort zones, but it also broadens our horizons, increases our perspective, and just plain makes us better people. So, just as getting your news from several different sources is worth the effort, getting to know a broad range of people is well worth any temporary discomfort.
Moving on to other topics, the number of new covid-19 cases are starting to creep back up again. If you have not received your free vaccination, please do so and continue to wear a mask in public in the meantime.
In City news this week, the Electrical Dept. will be closing Hillcrest Avenue between State Street and E. 6th on Sunday between 7:00 a.m. and around 2:00 p.m. to re-conduit the power line along the road.
The Swimming pool will be open 7 days a week beginning now. Sunday openings may be subject to change depending on the number of people who take advantage of the pool on that day. For more information, please visit the Recreation Department’s webpage on the CityofWeiser.net website.
Well, that’s it for this week. May we all have new friends soon!
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