The uproar in Hartford over the Hartford Committee on Racial Inequality (HCORI,) with subsequent resignation of several members, including chair Olivia LaPierre, is very sad to see. It is hardly surprising, however. The comments of Selectboard members and even members of the committee, who have been learning about and discussing systemic racism for over six months, show distressing ignorance of the definitions of systemic racism and implicit bias, and the way these systems work.
Implicit bias (a psychological concept that has been validated in multiple studies) results in unconscious racism. It operates entirely below the level of awareness in most cases. I was horrified when I first took the Implicit Bias test online (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/user/agg/blindspot/indexrk.htm) and discovered I have a moderate preference for white people. Having an unconscious bias does not make anyone a bad person, and does not mean anyone should feel guilty. It does mean that they should make an effort to educate themselves about the history of racism in our country; how laws were intentionally crafted to disenfranchise, segregate and disempower people of color; and the systems that remain in play to perpetuate inequality.
To the people who feel affronted by the slogan “Black Lives Matter,” let me ask a question. When you hear, “Save the Whales,” do you think it means, “Kill All the Dolphins”? Of course not! When I say Black Lives Matter, I mean, “When Black Lives Matter, Then All Lives Will Matter.”
Frances Brokaw
Hanover
Can white people, just for once, get out of the way? This is not about feelings being hurt and ensuring there is an equal playing field. There has never been equality, and there never will be, until we accept the truth that we inherently have the advantage.
Racism runs rampant in our culture, and we need people like Olivia LaPierre to hold the mirror to us in which we reflect our most hidden or blatant biases. The fact that this has become headline material and that Ms. LaPierre has been bullied out of her position is proof that we have sunk to keeping score per the national standard defined by the current president. Shame on those who use white privilege to silence and blame.
Jessica Kinzie
White River Junction
Christmas Project in Mascoma
The 6th annual Mascoma District Firefighters and Fast Squad members’ Holiday Toy & Food Drive is coming up on the first weekend of December.
We want to be sure any child in Enfield, Canaan, Dorchester, Orange or Grafton doesn’t go without a Christmas this year for any reason. If you know of a family, or are a family, that would benefit from the generosity of these volunteers and the community, please contact Beth Felix, project coordinator/leader, at 603-306-6058.
Parents will receive a voucher that will allow them to select gifts for their children, newborn through high school senior, at the Enfield Community Building on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone needing a ride or to make other arrangements, please contact Beth Felix.
Cindy Kudlik
Grafton
Shoeshine Fundraiser Takes a Break
Hanover Shines, the shoe shining venture to benefit the Haven, will begin its annual winter shutdown after Thanksgiving. The last day of service will be Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hanover Park, 3 Lebanon St., Hanover.
So far, Hanover Shines has raised $1,177 for the Haven, two shoes at a time. All proceeds are given to support the Haven’s many important community services.
I’d like to thank all of my customers for their conviviality and generosity. The conversations have been interesting and often provocative. A special thank you goes to Jim and Sue Rubens, owners of Hanover Park, for their support and encouragement.
See you in the spring, probably around April 1!
Neil Castaldo
Hanover
Thank you for publishing a beautiful photograph on the Nov. 16 front page of the age-old tradition of selecting a Christmas tree. One of life’s great joys is going to visit a local tree farm and select a tree to adorn for Christmas.
Some of your readers may be curious to learn that Christmas was originally a pagan festival. St. Boniface had the wonderful idea of adopting the pagan custom of decorating trees. Christmas refers to the Mass (or service of celebration) that marks the birth of Christ on Dec. 25.
Not an arborist, I was delighted to discover that there are trees in the Upper Valley that can survive cutting for 40 days. This sounds like the very definition of a miracle. I congratulate the tree farms.
In many cultures, Christmas trees were (and still are) dressed on Christmas Eve and had to survive only for the full 12 days of Christmastide until the feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6).
I had originally planned to wish your readers a very Happy Thanksgiving next week, but that now seems awfully passé. So while we’re at it, Happy Valentine’s day.
The Rev. Dr. Guy Collins
Hanover