As a person who got his undergraduate degree less than three blocks from the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., I have been wrestling with the recent events in that city. Having lived on both coasts and the Rocky Mountain West, I have thought about racism there versus racism elsewhere.
Could this have happened somewhere else? Absolutely! However, because it occurred where it did, we are able to blame it on a region, culture, or some other characteristic that leaves us without blame.
Our national history is checkered with violence. Think about the number of political and racially motivated murders that have taken place in the U.S. during our very short history as a nation. This or any act of terrorism is no less shocking to our psyche than the assassination of a president, the lynching of Emmett Till, the “Mississippi Burning” murders, the murder of Vincent Chin, the beating of Rodney King, or the murder of a young man by police in Baltimore. All were attempts to intimidate a larger group. All were acts of terrorism.
Racism exists in every corner of the U.S. to some degree. It is based on ignorance and fear. The best way to eliminate ignorance is to teach and the best way to eliminate fear is to lead.
The fundamental justification for freedom of speech is to expose what is wrong and enlighten as to what is right. Constructive discussion is our only defense.
Do not let this opportunity go by. Find out why people feel the way they do and explain why you feel differently. Stop speaking only with people that you agree with. Stop speaking with those who disparage and refuse to engage in meaningful discourse. That is a waste of time. Speak with everyone else.
Bryan Jameson is a former Colorado state representative from Fort Collins.
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