Charleston: Processing Life/Death/Tragedy/Racism

Part of the process in making a difference when a tragic incident such as the Charleston church shootings occurs is to speak out and start acting on positive solutions. While there will always be opportunities for people to behave with racism in their hearts, it is up to us, those who love people for who they are with no focus on skin color, to have our voices heard louder.

I was raised by two parents who did not focus on race. My friends were from diverse backgrounds and I felt privileged to be a part of their life. My teachers in school were diverse and I was blessed to have learned from them. My employment background was much of the same. I see this as normal.

I raised two sons the same way I was raised and was honored to have their friends from diverse backgrounds into my home. Their parents/guardians felt the same way. Again, this was normal in my life experiences.

While, I realize there is racism still in this world, I also know that there are more examples of people loving and respecting each other without regard to the shade of our outward appearance.

People who are trying to capitalize on this tragedy for political or ideological gain should be ignored.
People who raise children to hate someone or judge someone because of the color of their skin should be pitied.

We should always speak out against those who want to show hatred just because they don’t like a person’s outward appearance. Squash the behavior in it’s track!

Those majestic loving souls who welcomed this sick evil young man into their church should be remembered for how they showed love to a stranger not knowing his intentions and without regard to his skin color. This young man should be remembered as an act of evil we must never allow to win his agenda, a race war.