Howard Shotts
Stover
Dear Editor:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Anyone who does not agree with that certainly would fit the old definition of a racist, choosing to base one's worth on race rather than character.
Fast forward 50 years when it would be thought his dream would be a reality and what do you see from our president, the mainstream media, and far too many in the community. They are all promoting judging others not by character but by skin color. One significant difference, however, they have concocted an equally absurd theory to the one used by the racist of old, and that is that an entire group is guilty by, wait for itcolor of their skin. They even have a name for it, "systemic racism," meaning if you are white you cannot help but be a racist; it is part and parcel to your DNA. King even said something about this type of thinking, "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." While there is not an ounce of evidence to this theory, even anecdotally, many still say it as though it is fact, and yes, their ignorance is indeed dangerous. You fuel irresponsible behavior of all who make decisions based on race rather than character using, "Conscientious stupidity" such as this.
There has not been a time in recorded history when societies have not taken advantage of other societies, always physically, and turned them into their slaves. Sometimes the same race, sometimes different, but race was not the primary reason, opportunity was. If we are truly serious about all living together in as much harmony as we are willing to support, then we need less about historical facts that cannot be changed and theories that have no factual support and live, not dream of,"a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character."