Letter: Lead us into the light of day
(AP Photo | Steve Helber) White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter protestors.
What happened in Charlottesville finally tore the scab off America and revealed the ugly sores beneath. If we continue pretending that the USA was not built by anti-Semites, colonizers and white supremacists on the backs or slaves, American Indians, immigrants and indentured servants and that we need to own up to our institutionalized white elitism, then moving out of this abyss is unlikely.
Marching against these sores is fine, but will not be enough. We must elect leaders for all, take responsibility for the well-being of our fellow citizens and not only talk the talk, but take the difficult walk of participation in the democratic process. There is no engaging in dialogue with extremists.
I believe that middle, right and left must work and engage constructively together in order to move this country into the light. Right now it is so dark no matter what time of day.
Andrea Globokar
Salt Lake City
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