To the Editor,
In last week’s Star-Herald, Ms. Beverly Johnson opined that my simple logical solution to heal division and encourage unity of all homo sapiens was either satire or bunk, and then concluded that bunk it was.
It’s sad that the notion of eliminating focus on that thing which divides us, “black and white” is unimaginable.
Ironically, last week the Trump administration rolled back Obama’s institutional encouragement that institutions of higher learning use skin color as a qualifying factor for admissions. It seems that Asians are being discriminated against because they are smarter than everyone else. I can attest to this, as my daughter D’Ana is half Asian and she’s at least twice as smart as I am.
This will ensure that when we hire a doctor or other professional, we can be confident that they are qualified because of their skills rather than a physical characteristic.
My main takeaway from Ms. Johnson’s response is that although it is true that a history of “man’s inhumanity to man” is shared by people of all colors, “white blaming” is still an acceptable means of encouraging social change.
Ms. Johnson pondered that I eschewed use of the term “equality” to call for recognizing “Human Equivalence” as a means to pursue a path to unity by eliminating “race obsession.” “Equality” is more of a legal term and I feel that “equivalence” is a better expression for positive reinforcement to focus on our commonalities, rather division driven by negativity.
In a nod to my exposure to Japanese Buddhism and Kharmic law… if you do good, you will reap good.
If, as Ms. Johnson said, I “meandered” through the history of slavery and civil rights then, dare I say, she “rambled” thru marginally related topics such as the statue on the courthouse lawn, the MS flag, illegal immigration, and Native Americans, who, by the way, were allowed to keep their African slaves as they were tragically forced to tread the Trail of Tears.
Regarding the statue, as usual, the solution is simple for this monument and all others in the country. Install markers next to them that factually educate people about a dark time in our history and a positive message about how far we’ve come in only 150 years or so. To show more historical context, erect a statue of James Meredith on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn.
Ms. Johnson cited “societal blindness” as a reason that “some white folks” in Mississippi won’t accept responsibility for the “plight of African Americans today.” Because we have agreed that people of all hues share responsibility for our dark past, it follows that “societal blindness,” like racism, comes in all colors. Ms. Johnson added a racial implication when it would’ve been more accurate to say, “some folks in MS won’t accept responsibility.”
This is what I mean when I suggest removing racial context in our discourse. The truth is, none of us are responsible for what our ancestors did or for man’s inhumanity to man throughout history. We are responsible only for our actions in the “here and now” and in the future.
Although we have “Human Equivalence”, we are each unique and will adapt and thrive with varying degrees of success. (“We are all water, in different containers,” said Yoko Ono.) If we remove the racial context and say, “all racism is despicable, all supremacy is despicable, and all life matters,” then you have a righteous platform for change. The current divisive climate is deliberately driven by political forces.
My suggestions for a path to unity was more widely focused and directed towards changing the national discourse.
Ms. Johnson put much emphasis on local the local situation. I know little to nothing about the Presbyterian Day School so I hesitate to elaborate, as I have a pious regard for the truth and feel that I may prevaricate and have you form a ludicrous opinion of me. Heaven forbid!
It is obvious, however, that our area is way behind the curve on social evolution.
When I returned to McAdams High for my senior year, the entire system had turned upside-down and in a failed attempt at “racial balance,” I was one of about six beige people in a sea of mahogany. I never found out where eleven years of classmates and teachers went.
Fast forward almost fifty years and now McAdams has zero diversity and, like the “Great Society,” another well-intentioned government attempt to help goes down in flames.
Three years ago KHS had their first all-inclusive prom, so it’s clear that something weird is afoot in these here hills. That could’ve only occurred for such a long time in some bizarre “birds of a feather” form of self- segregation. Wasn’t it the students that eventually embraced “equivalence” and effected positive change?
Race-based private schools should be called out and shamed, and a highly-competitive public/charter school system developed that can offer a quality education. There is plenty of money to do it if Mississippi would collect tax revenue that people gladly pay via legally regulated cannabis for adults, state lottery and enacting statewide uniform liquor laws. Free Enterprise is always better than criminal enterprise.
Our local situation can only change by electing public servants that will represent all of their constituents…us. There is an underutilized “Republican” column on our local ballot that could be utilized to elect folks that have the goal of economic development and opportunities for all
Attala County residents to succeed in the local economy. Instead of dividing by color, let’s work together to find a cure for “poor,” which is the root of the real problem that plagues us all.
And, one last thing… I’ve had several interactions with Ms. Johnson via this “Letters to the Editor” section. In every instance I’ve addressed Ms. Johnson as “Ms.” In several instances, her letter in last week’s paper she referred to me as “Gwin”.
Now, I actually can’t be bothered, but I did perceive almost subliminal undertones of educational superiority and a tad bit of disrespect.
I may be wrong, but I may be trying to defend myself to a Master’s Degree or even a PhD with my puny little AA from Skagit Valley College where I majored in Business and minored in Magic Mushrooms (that part is satire).
Dana Gwin
Kosciusko, Mississippi
