Steve Frey
A gunman attacked another synagogue with a combat-style assault weapon on Saturday. This atrocity happened precisely six months to the day from the attack on the synagogue in Pittsburgh. Anti-Semitism once again resulted in the deaths and wounding of Jewish Americans, producing yet another dark day in America.
Many reading this would agree that we all must condemn racial, religious, or other kinds of bigoted hatred. Of course, some won’t, and that is unfortunate for all of us.
Even after the Civil Rights Movement, years of leaders speaking out against discrimination, and the passage of laws to protect minorities, there are still those who hold prejudiced views.
And so, near San Diego on Saturday, a madman once again took a weapon to a place of prayer and made it a place of death.
In Virginia, we don’t have to look far to see the impact of prejudice.
The governor should have resigned over the yearbook incident—he still should. When the issue first arose, he lost all credibility and forfeited his ability to lead when he stated that he was one of two students in a yearbook picture (one in blackface, the other in KKK regalia) and then, the next day, said he wasn’t. He then dug a deeper hole when he seemed to look around to determine whether there was enough space to perform a moonwalk at a press conference before being reminded by his wife that it would be inappropriate.
Then, there’s Charlottesville. Neo-Nazis and KKK members descended on the city and conducted a torchlight march through the UVA campus. The president stated that there were “very fine people” on both sides. On one side there were anti-KKK and anti-Nazi protestors. On the other side were KKK and neo-Nazi members (Unite the Right) chanting “Jews will not replace us” and an old Nazi theme “blood and soil.” Who were the very fine people, again?
Now, the NCAA championship basketball team from UVA has declined their congratulatory luncheon at the White House. The coach explained that several players would be participating in professional tryouts or not around, so the logistics were challenging. However, since many people felt the president’s remarks generated more harm than good after Charlottesville, is it difficult to imagine that players from a university in Charlottesville might think twice about traveling to the White House?
The Roanoke Times recently shared a study of past Virginia public school textbooks that showed a slanted presentation of the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras in the state and promoted “Lost Cause” heroes while downplaying the inhumaneness of slavery and Jim Crow. Unfortunately, many adults in the state still cling to those distorted images as opposed to the actual records.
Our state has a history of slavery, lynching, racial segregation and discrimination. We are the state that coined the phrase “Massive Resistance” to oppose having black and white children attend school together. Remember the uproar about churches in the area supporting a few refugees from Syria? What about the school divisions that had to implement policies about driving around campus with Confederate battle flags, issues with wearing Confederate symbols at school or pictures of students during a Country Club vs. Country day creating Confederate displays? Then there was Corey Stewart running for the Senate having praised Paul Nehlen — a white supremacist. There is too much to list.
What to do?
First, recognize that prejudice is also a local issue and should be repudiated. We must oppose those who feel that bigotry is acceptable and anyone different from us is a threat to “our heritage.” This discrimination comes in many forms: threatening the civil rights of LGBTQ people; opposing immigrants in our communities; shunning Muslims or Jews; bigotry toward blacks, Latinos, or any other people of color. These are just a few examples.
Next, oppose state candidates or representatives who promote discriminatory division through their words or actions. For example, Stewart was a candidate who many conscientious Republicans condemned. Northam was encouraged to resign by most every Democratic representative in the state (they have not rescinded their requests). Support state initiatives that oppose prejudice and promote inclusion.
On the federal level, support candidates, laws, and decisions that fight discrimination. Don’t accept veiled attempts to justify prejudice or promote hatred. America needs strong leaders who have solid ethics and morals to oppose prejudice wherever it may raise its ugly head.
Yes, it is frustrating and depressing to see yet another example of discrimination or another racially or religiously-motivated domestic terrorist murder innocent people, but unless Americans in the NRV and across the country stand up and say “No more,” this will continue.
English theologian and historian Thomas Fuller wrote in 1650: “‘The darkest hour is just before the dawn.” We have made much progress, but an even brighter day is coming—if all Americans reject prejudice in all its forms.
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.
