I’ve been doing this commentary for over thirty years. Often I am challenged about what to talk about. Today the “what” to discuss is very obvious. My challenge is” how” to say it.
For several days I’ve kept notes about thoughts I’ve heard about diversity. They come from friends, Facebook, preachers, TV personalities, and guests on our Monday Morning Quarterback show.
Most important in anything I say is to – be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
My mom’s favorite advice looms large, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
The Golden rule comes to mind, also.
A minister suggested we all have biases and most biases were inaccurate or at least exaggerated. He suggested we need to address our biases, try to talk to them, debunk them.
Chiefs Patrick Mahomes explained how he was lucky to grow up in locker rooms where every race, every background, and community come together and are accepted. He hoped our country could become more like a locker room accepting one another. Interestingly we came to the same conclusion on the Monday Morning Quarterback agreeing on sports is a good petri dish.
Ali and Brandon Schneider, the former ESU Lady Hornet basketball coach, posted an open letter about racism which they concluded this way:
“We pray through more education, better communication, and the desire to celebrate the blessing of ethnic diversity, progress can be made.
Ali and I want our young sons to know they have a responsibility to be part of the solution. As a family, we want to be part of the solution. We stand together in promoting peace, justice, equality, and unity in the fight against racism.”
The letter is signed by Ali, Brandon, Cash, and Cole
An important part of this letter is Brandon and Ali’s desire to communicate with, educate, and include their boys in this effort. Kids do listen to their parents.
What parents say, does matter!
Let me finish today with a neat story.
A friend told me his 10-year-old son came home one night telling his parents a story about Andy at school. When the parents asked about Andy who they did not know their son said, “Well, Andy has really big feet and he wears a Cubs hat all the time.” Pushed for more of a description the son added, “He eats a lot.”
Later my friend told me he and his wife discovered Andy is
African American. Pretty amazing a 10-year-old school kid has a friend but doesn’t think to describe him as being black. A lesson for us all!
The George Floyd story is just the most recent example of racial inequality in our country. Being white I have no idea of the burden my minority friends carry. My nightly prayer now includes a request for help in being a part of the solution to the racial injustice problem in our country.
I hope you will join me. I’m Steve Sauder and There’s something to think about.
