Work positively with inevitable change
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Editor,
We must admit that America is undergoing huge changes such as: Climate, manufacturing base, shrinking middle class, family structures, church attendance, and big money influence on politics. But probably one of the most challenging and divisive changes is our changing demographics.
Demographic changes are bringing up such fear among some people and prompting angry actions from these fearful folks. These demographic changes have to do with race. While America’s population has been the melting pot of many nationalities from around the world, the majority have been “regular white folks,” some Asians and African Americans. But generally things have been held under the control of the “regular white folks.”
Then all of a sudden, just five years ago, America elects a black president. Wow. And with it comes even more emphasis upon America’s immigration problems having to do with our Mexican population. And with the 9/11 tragedy, fear and hatred has been injected toward the growing Muslim population in America. And the African American population is humming right along, too. And locally, living on this beautiful Flathead Indian Reservation, we cannot ignore prejudices that exist right here at home.
Some of these “fearful folks” suddenly wake up, look around, and say, “Hey, we have always been the majority in America. We will soon be the minority. We must do something.” Radical and extremist type organizations get formed, radio and TV get involved, huge-monied interests are stimulated, and movements to save the “fearful folks empire” are launched.
Now, while many may not agree with this assessment, it is simply offered as something to consider and look at. None of us is immune to fear from something. And I, like many others probably have to admit that just a bit of the “fearful folks” attitude creeps into my thinking and speaking, too.
Change can be fearful. Change can be a challenge. But change is inevitable. So work positively with change, America, or shrink.
Bob McClellan
Polson
