Take off your blinders

I want to thank the author of the excellent article “DEI efforts in higher education deserve your support” and also the Salisbury Post editor for publishing it. It is very timely as we approach the birthday and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As noted, there has often been pushback against the idea of applying affirmative actions to make equitable opportunities for all people. This comes from misunderstandings about both the goals and the consequences of these actions. Looking back 50 years to 1963 when Dr. King’s most famous speech was made, we can see there have landmark actions that have improved the lives of all Americans. The Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act have made it easier for all of us to get fairer treatment in numerous situations. The goal of these and other actions were not to take something from one segment of the population and give it to another segment; it has always been to give everyone an equal chance. We have made progress, but we are still a long way from that ideal. Statistics on poverty, early death, poor schools, homelessness and most other measures of social values demonstrate year after year that there are huge gaps between different segments of the population. I don’t see how anyone can feel that that is OK. If there is any chance to turn this around, it will be through individuals — not laws- who are willing to take off their blinders and see that some people are still confronting barriers, being ignored, being demeaned and then work to encourage equity in our multiple complexity of systems. It’s not only be the right thing to do; it also will benefit us all.

— Nan Lund
Salisbury

Not all opinions are created equal

I’m tired. I’m tired of the divisiveness and continuing politicizing of important issues perpetuated in columns like 1/11/24’s My Turn column, “Dr. King and DEI.” That a white woman of my generation (the ’50s) would cherry pick a quote from the internet and assume it gives her a right to presume that Dr. Martin Luther King would be marching by her side as she protests Critical Race Theory, (CRT) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) brings an old Southern saying to mind.

“Bless her heart.”

I can’t complete the rest of that common Southern sentiment. The next line out of my mouth as a woman born and raised locally would normally be something like, “hmmm…. she probably means well” as if it’s OK to excuse and accept that all opinions deserve to be taken seriously.

Rather than try to rebuttal the above mentioned “My Turn,” with my personal opinion, I bow to the accompanying opinion column, “DEI efforts in higher education deserve your support,’’ an opinion piece with an author who backs their opinion with factual information and expertise.

Not all opinions are created equal, even my own. Ignoring the difference becomes a complicit form of accepting the unacceptable. After all, it’s not the 1950s and if you weren’t white, they weren’t that great.

— Pam Bloom
Salisbury

Musician appreciates Post coverage

I want to sincerely and publicly thank Chandler (editor) and especially writer Karen Kistler for the wonderful feature article in Sunday’s Post. It’s great to have people like Chandler and Ms. Kistler that have given their support and encouragement through sharing their gifts of writing and publishing.

It’s a tough road sometimes for an independent artist/songwriter and releasing this album certainly required more effort and commitment than anyone reading this realizes, unless you’ve done the same. The actual recording took place in February/March, and I spent most of the next nine months in a long process of getting everything organized and released. I made mistakes and it is definitely a learning curve.

I want to share that a neighbor of mine who read the article wrote me and asked me to come over for she and her husband to buy my CD.

Thanks so much for your article helping to get the word out. I plan to take a copy of my article and frame it with one of my CDs and covers.

Wingate’s content can be downloaded at bobwingate.bandcamp.com

— Bob Wingate
Salisbury