From the assistant editor

A place to stand

Wed, 05/30/2018 - 9:30am

Our vastly white towns produce little news about racism. But prejudice on race, religion and more finds its way everywhere in the world. And it can be homegrown, just as kindness can.

One of our letters this week tells about a twin villages group that stands against racism. By happenstance, a day after we published it on our website, ABC canceled a hit show following its title star's remarks, widely termed racist.

Good call, ABC. We don't need more unkindness going around. Sometimes, the right decision costs, like a network dumping a money-maker that, depending on fans and sponsors, might have still been.

The move probably didn't make anyone decide to stop prejudging. But we do the right thing because it is, and because it’s who we want to be. 

We can and do all take stands, more often than we may realize, such as how our food is sourced or a donation to a cause. But it’s also good to gather and stand for the statement it makes, such as in Newcastle, against racism.

Maine has other groups that do the same. It is heartening to know people care to put their time into it, and to know we have the option to join them.