'Racism' claims used as political ploy

Webster defines "Racism" "as any program or practice of racial discrimination. A doctrine or teaching that asserts the superiority of one race over another or others, and that seeks to maintain the supposed purity of a race or the races."

Today. however, the concept of racism can be leveled at anyone, at any time if you simply disagree with another person's ideas or politics.

Two recent examples:

Democratic presidential hopeful, Kirsten Gillibrand, now compares being pro-life to being racist, saying "the other side is not acceptable." In other words the tens of million people who accept the fact that human life is precious and is to be protected and not destroyed in abortion is no longer acceptable to Kirsten Gillibrand who believes these people are racists.

Gibson's Bakery in Elyria, Ohio, was just awarded an $11 million settlement after a three-year battle against Oberlin College, a liberal arts college. The facts of the case were that three black Oberlin students were arrested after one tried to use a fake ID and shoplifted from Gibson's in 2016. Allyn Gibson, the white son of the bakery's owner, followed the students out of the store and got into a physical altercation with them. After the students were arrested, student protests erupted, claiming that the robbery charge and physical conflict were racially motivated. The courts disagreed and basically said these charges of racism were totally false and awarded Gibson's Bakery the judgment.

These two recent examples illustrate that some in our society will use racism to promote their agendas and that facts, data and the truth are no longer needed to make the charge of racism. The only thing that is needed is that someone make the charge and it is assumed they are guilty.

Larry O'Neill

Palatine