Letter: Selectmen right to reject idea of racism as a public health crisis

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To the editor,

Kudos to the Board of Selectmen, and particularly First Selectman Gerard Smith, for their decision to reject the idea of racism as a public health crisis. (“Ordinance declaring racism a health crisis a no-go,” Citizen’s News, Sept. 24, 2020.)

In his comments, Mr. Smith implicitly hit the nail on the head in addressing racism for what it is: an individual issue. Are there racists in Beacon Falls? I have no doubt. Although I don’t personally know any.

Is it “systemic?” No. The term systemic racism paints us all with a very broad — and unfair — brush. In today’s culture it is being used for so much more than rectifying an immoral attitude; it is being used to besmirch the country, tear down our education system (see critical race theory), and distribute an unfair, and unearned, guilt to a lot of good people.

Gary Markman

Beacon Falls