02/09/12 Online Letters to the Editor

Celebrate different cultures in Black History Month

Black History Month reminds us that we are a nation of diversity, where people of all races and cultures can live together. In the past, we have seen hate crimes. These actions hurt and only undermined our attempts to bring unity. Many things can be done to educate people about tolerance and acceptance. One important way is by taking the time to showcase to people the value of culture, diversity and tolerance. Each of us comes from a very distinct background and has our own cultural traditions. Spread your traditions by volunteering at a school, senior center or any place that might be interested in what you have to offer. Many times, opportunities break down stereotypes and mindsets created through misunderstanding. Not only can you teach people about your own culture, but you can learn about other cultures.

Try a cultural experience.

Attend and visit a Jewish service or listen to the rabbi or cantor at a Jewish temple. Celebrate a holiday that you would not otherwise celebrate with a friend or attend an arts or cultural show that is completely different from something you might normally attend. Such diversity will enrich your life and be a valuable learning experience. Bring along your young children and grandchildren, so the seeds of tolerance and understanding can be planted for the next generation. Attend a dance festival or take in an arts show that promotes diversity and individuality.

Louis Dembitz Brandeis said, "Nine-tenths of serious controversies that arise in life result from misunderstanding." And Anna Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, "Understanding is a two-way street."

Martin Luther King was a great leader and champion of equal rights. He helped change the rules in a peaceful way that made this country a better place for all people, regardless of the color of their skin. Even though people still struggle for equal rights, there is more tolerance, understanding and respect for all people because of Martin Luther King.

King's dream transformed a nation. It is up to each of us as individuals to spread the feelings, of diversity, goodwill, acceptance and tolerance by not only spreading your culture, but also by teaching yourself about another person's background. The challenges during Black History Month is to reinforce Dr. King's message of tolerance, compassion and understanding. Let everyone see that we honor Dr. King's legacy and still believe in the Dream. For if we are vigilant and demonstrate at every opportunity our belief in equality with words and deeds so too will the children.

As Dr. King said on July 19, 1963, in Washington, D.C., "When it is realized, the jangling discords of our nation will be transformed into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood and men everywhere will know that America is truly the land of the free and home of the brave."

ROBERT ALAN WRIGHT

Yakima

Poverty's a constant of real world

To the editor -- Poverty. Way too much time and energy expended just to make it through today... and on to the next.

I have had the great good fortune in my life to have been poor only briefly, and I would wish just such good luck on all my fellow humans.

It will not be so.

Poverty -- the daily struggle for physical and economic survival -- is actually the normal status of homo sapiens. Study the sad history of our race and you will find mostly poor people, struggling for food, shelter, life itself. And some few, sometimes many of us, discovering it is so much easier to steal it from others than make it ourselves. And it is ... at least until you've wiped out most of the productive and creative people all around you ... and your civilization dies, too. See Rome, 4th Century. See Cuba, 1961 to present. See what's left of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

So go ahead and envy the vast wealth of that magical "1 percent," lust after what they have, labor to take it from them and make it yours. Don't bother with the honest math that would tell you the entire personal wealth of Bill Gates would run the state of Washington for just one year. Then he's broke, and now you get next year's money from .... where?

Why, from all of us, of course. Just like in the decades past.

The state can sure make you poor, but it cannot make us rich. Only we can do that, each one of us. We alone are responsible for us.

Welcome to the real world ... the one that actually will survive us.

Dr. JEFFREY M. REYNOLDS

Yakima