RACISM: Let's move on

Ralph Ginirio’s wise observations published Oct. 1 in the “Readers Write” section sounded like my father had come back from the dead to drill into my head the fundamental realities of life. As a parent, I passed on the same fundamental truths to my children. When they became parents, they did the same for their offspring.

All enlightened citizens uphold the idea of how evil slavery is, and how terrible life was in the post Civil War Reconstruction period — leading well into the 20th century. Racism is as deadly as cancer but tragically, neither will be totally removed from the human predicament. Nonetheless, they must both be fought. But what is the most effective way to wage the war?

If I have lung cancer, it does no good to just rant at tobacco companies. I must go beyond that and take on drastic life changes, plus undergo painful therapies if I want a chance to survive.

If I find myself in poverty and in poor opportunity situations, to only point at racists as the cause may be a truth, but to really change things I must move on to making decisions that eliminate self-pity and embrace sacrifice, hard work and individual responsibility.

I anticipate Mr. Giniro will get feedback detailing why his passionate observations are racist. I believe that such a characterization has become hackneyed — so yesterday. Accusing someone of racism when they state fundamental truths is getting less and less pertinent. Time tends to make real the great song lyrics “…fundamental things apply, as time goes by.”

DICK SHELDON

Coeur d’Alene