Opinion

An opportunity to consider racism and our community

| To the editor from Shannon Ehrich Warren |

I want to say “thank you” to those who wrote about the December 3rd select board meeting and the words that were spoken following the Pledge of Allegiance. Although it was uncomfortable to hear the comment made by the Selectman, I appreciate that the video was made available to those of us who missed the meeting.

Our society has a tendency to “erase” incidents that make us feel uncomfortable, or offended, or afraid, etc., to the detriment of us all. Therefore, I would suggest that rather than start a process (firing the Selectman) that has the potential to divide and alienate us from one another, we take this opportunity to start (or rather continue) a conversation about racism and the effects it has on us all as individuals and as a community.

I do agree that there should be some sort of acknowledgement from our Selectman. Maybe that could come in the form of a workshop on racism, maybe an apology and/or maybe the implementation of a “two strikes you’re out” rule, but whatever it may be, I hope it happens and in a way that is beneficial to us all.