A Touchy Topic

Here's the thing about communication: for it to work - or even come close to working - parties involved have to actually try communicating. If that does not happen, then forget about any chance of effective communication taking place. I understand that some subjects are not always easy to address. People are sensitive. They do not always see eye-to-eye. Touchy topics are raised and sometimes feelings may get hurt or people may get upset. It happens and it is no fun when that occurs. But that is no reason not to raise sensitive issues. The challenge comes in raising them in a way that is respectful so as to minimize any negative reactions that may result.

There is a difficult issue facing the United States that relatively few seem to want to address honestly. It pertains to race. More specifically, it pertains to the fact that 165 years after the start of America's Civil War, there are still white folks who cling to hateful and harmful perspectives when it comes to African Americans. The most recent example of this is the terrible act of multiple killings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. A white gunman, Dylann Roof, murdered nine people in the church for the simple reason he hates blacks: a racist crime motivated by racism.

This occurred in a state that still displays the Confederate flag over its capital building. This occurred in a country where other states continue honoring generals who fought against the US to defend slavery. This occurred in a country where its first African American President receives more death threats each year than any other previous in US history. We as a people, including men and women we elect to represent us, need to confront the reality that racism remains alive and well in our country. By continuing not to discuss this touchy topic or as some do, deny its existence, then we are doing far more harm to ourselves then any of our nation's so-called enemies.