Race and Hate
By Lou Bernard
Racism is not okay.
There, I said it. I’m against racism, I’m taking that controversial stand. And I’ve basically summed up everything I want to say in that opening sentence, but since there are some people out there who don’t seem to get it, I’m going to elaborate on it for another few hundred words.
Recently, white supremacist flyers were found in Grugan Township, along Route 120. They were removed, and the Record broke the story on the front page. They were posted by a national group, and I’d like to think that it was just someone passing through. But, of course, it’s always possible it was a local, home-grown racist who put them up.
Either way, let me say it: White supremacists, you are not welcome here.
Not in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Your hate is not wanted here.
I’ve gone on record before as saying I’m not a big fan of racism; I’ve been fairly outspoken about that. It’s not really all that courageous a stand to take—I believe that we’re all equal. Skin color, nationality, gender, sexual identity—None of that means you’re any less of a person. I’m in favor of diversity, and I welcome all races into the county that I love.
These white supremacist flyers….I’m appalled, I’m disgusted, there aren’t enough descriptive words to say just how deeply I despise them. This is not Clinton County, the views on these posters do not represent my home.
Clinton County was the home of Maria Molson, who helped hide escaped slaves during the Civil War. At one point sheltering seventeen of them in her Water Street home at a time, she helped possibly hundreds of slaves find freedom.
Clinton County was the home of Merritt McCloskey, who refused to bend to the KKK. When they threatened him to force him to allow them to meet on his property, he stole their wooden cross and threw it over the bank and into the river.
We were the home of William Raymond, the first African-American soldier to fight with a white unit in World War I. And the home of Major George Green, who traveled to Washington and fought with his superior officers to give him that right.
That’s what we stand for here. At least, that’s the ideal. When I look at Clinton County, Pennsylvania, I see good people, working to make this county a good place. Like anywhere else, there are problems—I’m not denying that racists exist here. I’m saying that their hateful views are not welcome.
Throughout history, we’ve been making progress. We’ve been getting more and more diverse, and more accepting of other races and cultures. There’s still a long way to go, I admit that. But we’re getting better.
A century and a half ago, we thought it was okay to own people of different races. Eighty years ago, we made them use different water fountains. Today, our society understands how stupid and hateful these practices were, and the racists who were in favor of them are viewed as a pathetic footnote on the wrong side of history.
Take note, racists: You’re on the wrong side of history. Every day, more and more, racist hate is being revealed for the disgusting mistake it is. Those of us who favor diversity are going to grow in strength, and one day, I believe that hateful, racist views will be left in the past.
Hate won’t win.
