Why do I say this?

Preferences.

I prefer to be safe at all times. I’ll admit it. When around people I don’t know I become uncomfortable. I don’t know a lot of people who are not Caucasian, so with a dark skin often make me uncomfortable. This is the truth. I admit it. That said is I don’t like how I feel. I have friends who are black. This is not meant to offend. It is meant to define who I am.

I will not apologize for these feelings, because they are my true feelings. I would however like it were different.

Is the same true for other races, creeds, religions, and groups?

I bet that the answer is Yes! In that way we all are racist. Some of us are more fortunate then others. For me it is inappropriate to act in a way which hurts others. This is part of my Christian upbringing. I also want our government to recognize that to discriminate in the work place is just plain wrong.

So what is the answer?

To choose fellow workers because of the color of their skin or based on their religion is not right. Our legal system should be set up to encourage diversity in the work place. Our work places should allow training which supports our differences and not our similarities. We become wiser and stronger not from our agreements, but by acknowledging our differences and learning from each other

People need to identify their racism and understand as individuals we are not immune to problem.

When someone points out that a comment is racist. To deny the feelings of others is wrong, PERIOD. Any flat denial by the originator of the statement is also wrong. people need to identify their racism and understand as individuals we are not immune to problem. They should try to model future behavior so as to not offend the minority in question. They should accept the truth and not just respond that they are not racist.

The brings us to Senator Ron Johnson’s comments.

According to CNN last month, “Johnson said in a radio interview on the “The Joe Pags Show” he would have felt more threatened if Black Lives Matter protesters had stormed the Capitol instead of supporters of former President Donald Trump.” I take this as a racist comment. Ron Johnson himself indicated he expected others to call it a racist comment. For Ron Johnson he is stating what he feels. Ron Johnson is stating his truth.

It is a shame that a United States Senator feels this way, but this is his truth. We can not deny Ron Johnson’s truth anymore than we can deny the truth that his statement is offensive to many individuals. He should be condemned not for his statement, but for his failure to acknowledge alternative viewpoints.

How do we bridge this gap?

To bridge the divisions in this country, we must first acknowledge our individual truths. As individuals we must be willing to understand our weaknesses as well as our strengths. It is a weakness to distrust those of different backgrounds just because they are not like us.

We need an honest discussion of these truths. Bridging differences takes work. We can not do this by yelling at each other and calling each other names. We must discuss our differences without complaint. Our goal should to be to understand the others viewpoint. Pontificating our viewpoint will not bridge the gap. Listening is more important than talking.