 |
|
EDITORIAL
Countering the Klan
Each villager will choose this weekend how she or
he will respond to the Ku Klux Klan when it comes to Yellow Springs.
Village leaders have strongly urged Yellow Springers
to simply ignore the Klan, and stay away from downtown from 1 to 3 p.m.
on Saturday. These leaders want first and foremost our safety, and they
make a persuasive point — that history tells us the Klan wants nothing
more than a fracas, a media event, to spread their message of hatred. We
would do well not to give it to them.
Some may find it difficult to follow such a request.
Counter words of hatred with nothing? Come together as a community by staying
home? Not engaging seems to go against this town’s activist spirit,
to not be, well, Yellow Springs.
But many wise and respected villagers have embraced
this response. They feel there is nothing to gain and much to lose from
a confrontation with those who seek to incite and divide. These villagers
feel they do not need to march or protest to hold high Yellow Springs’
values of tolerance and diversity. Activism comes in many forms, and restraint
in the face of divisiveness takes both wisdom and courage.
Some will feel they need to be present downtown
on Saturday. Those people need first to examine their motives, to rule out
curiosity or thrill-seeking or even the gratification of fighting the good
fight against such an obvious enemy. If their conscience tells them they
have to go, then they need to do so with tremendous self-discipline.
The irony of this weekend’s events, of course,
is that the Klan’s appearance was sparked by a hypothetical exercise
in consciousness-raising, an Antioch College student-led attempt to heighten
young people’s awareness about racism. The People of Color Take Over
Week seems an event well worth having, a gutsy attempt to make the world
a better place by helping people understand those different than themselves.
But while that event was hypothetical, Saturday’s
event is the real thing. And it’s an opportunity for Yellow Springs
to raise its own consciousness.
On Saturday when the Klan brings to Yellow Springs
its message of racial, religious and cultural divisiveness, villagers have
an opportunity to examine themselves and their town. Whether Yellow Springers
are staying home or standing in silent vigil downtown, they could reflect
on the value of diversity which, historically, this town has held dear.
They might ask themselves why, statistically, Yellow Springs has grown much
less diverse. They might ask what they can do to keep alive the richness
and tolerance that a mixture of races and cultures has brought to this town,
and then set about doing it.
Perhaps from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon villagers
can write a letter to the editor, or begin planning an event that celebrates
diversity. They could write a position paper on affordable housing or plan
a party that brings together people of different cultures.
The best way to counter the Klan? For villagers
to look deep in their hearts, find out if they truly value diversity and,
if they do, take steps to help this town live up to its heritage —
to even expand it— in ways large and small.
—Diane Chiddister
|
|
