re: Calling out Racism and Hate, July 9

Starting a dialogue on this topic is a great idea. Imagine getting a medical exam that indicated you had diabetes. What you wouldn’t do is ignore it and hope it goes away. Any issue of importance should never be ignored. You need to study it, discuss it and understand it.

Racist graffiti in the Owen Sound area is no different.

I had heard of most the groups mentioned in this article but, as the writer notes, many other people may be oblivious to the logos, meanings and the groups that use them.

I was surprised that RaHoWa was still around; more so that their branding showed up in our community. I had never heard of Bound for Glory. I’m not sure what’s worse, their idiotic racist polemics or their musicianship. At least now I know who they are.

The best way to deal with dangerously radical ideologies is to know and understand them well enough to deconstruct the errors they contain. I remember watching American History X as a young adult. It’s an excellent piece of cinematography. More importantly, it’s a valuable teaching tool as well. For the benefit of anyone that missed it I’ll provide a teaser: The film tells the story of two brothers from Los Angeles who become involved in a white supremacist, neo-Nazi movement. The older brother serves three years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter of a black gang member. In prison, he changes his beliefs and tries to prevent his brother from going down the same path. The film is very realistic and, therefore, violent. In spite of its graphic nature – or perhaps because of it – I would include that film in every high school curriculum in the country.

George Santayana is credited with the aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We cannot remember that which we do not know. We cannot know that which we do not discuss. This article and the opportunity to respond is one way to start.

Bill Townsend, Durham

Bill Towensend is the Peoples Party of Canada candidate for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound