Letter to the Editor: We shall be free
I close my eyes to vivid memories of the race riots of the 1960s. As a new mother, my heart shattered watching grown men turn fire hoses on children, and people being beaten and killed, churches burned, and so much more.
Today is a replay of that horror.
While the scales of justice seem to be tilted unfavorably in one direction, taking justice from one group to give it to another does not balance the scale.
Destroying people’s lives and businesses, terrorizing and intimidating them, does not gain sympathy for a cause. In addition, attitudes and opinions cannot be changed through legislation.
The only way real positive change can occur is if each of us will:
Lead by example.
Take responsibility for the way we treat and speak to others.
Change our attitude and perceptions.
Respect others as fellow human beings.
Open our hearts.
I play this song every day and invite you to join the chorus: Excerpts from “We Shall Be Free”:
“…When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand.
When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within…
Stand straight, walk proud
‘Cause we shall be free.
When we’re free to love anyone we choose
When this world’s big enough for all different views
When we’re all free to worship
From our own kind of pew,
Then we shall be free…
When there’s only one race and that’s mankind
Then we shall be free.
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, holdout,
We shall be free.” – Garth Brooks
“…So many people is hating out there, and it’s not making a difference.” “Why can’t we all just get along?” – Rodney King
Lynn Desjardin
Portola