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Dear Editor:
I am alarmed and saddened by the statements made by NWC President Stefani Hicswa, as reported in your Aug. 25 article entitled, “State of the College, NWC Begins School …
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Dear Editor:
I am alarmed and saddened by the statements made by NWC President Stefani Hicswa, as reported in your Aug. 25 article entitled, “State of the College, NWC Begins School Year.” She is quoted as saying, “I’m appalled that in 2020 systemic racism is still alive and well in our society.” “She said some of her racial privileges came at the cost of the wellbeing of other people.”
Sounds like the new politically correct thinking is, if you’re a white person you can never again take pride in your own hard work and accomplishments. As a private citizen she has a right to her opinion, however, using her platform as president of Northwest College to promote this false narrative is irresponsible.
America is not home to a systemically racist society. Do troubling instances of racism still take place that need to be addressed? Yes. But people the world over are coming to the USA to escape systemic discrimination. Our history isn’t perfect, but we have come a long, long way, and we are far and away the best country in the world for those seeking the freedom and opportunity to realize their dreams, no matter their ethnicity, gender or skin color.
The problem is the term “racism” has been thrown around so much it has become meaningless. It is now being deceitfully misused to shout down political opponents. There is a distinction between opportunity and outcome. Equal opportunity under the law is available to all Americans, but no person can be guaranteed equality of results. All too often the phrase, “systemic racism,” is being used to advance an agenda that has nothing to do with eliminating racism — it is being used instead to divide and shame.
She also says, “The policies and curricula of colleges and universities need to be crafted in such a way as to not ‘exclude or diminish the histories and futures of people of color.’”
I believe they have already spent enough time attempting to re-write our history, and the policies and curricula have already been crafted to be exceedingly inclusive.
The president of NWC should be more careful with what kind of agenda she may be unintentionally inviting into our community.
Respectfully,
Becky French
Powell
