I’m not, by nature, a hateful person. That’s why it’s difficult for me to understand something like the Muslim massacre in New Zealand. It’s just hard to imagine putting that much time and effort into hating something or someone.
Sure, I’ve got some natural animosity toward USD. I’m not too fond of the Internal Revenue Service. The guy who invented the Internet certainly made it tougher to sell newspapers. But I’m not picking off Coyotes or IRS agents. Or stalking Al Gore.
Some scientists say that we’re a product of our environment. If that’s the case, I’m glad I’m from Brookings.
Like most South Dakota communities, our race relations here can get dicey. It’s not always warm handshakes and “Kum Ba Yah” around the campfire.
Maybe I’m naive, but it feels like there’s less likelihood of intense, deadly hatred here because of our diversity. It’s harder to hate someone if you see them every day, if you work with them, if you know them.
SDSU is a big reason why this is a diverse community. SDSU students come from all 50 states and more than 90 countries. That diversity is also reflected in the faculty. State is a melting pot and we’re all the better for it.
Most hatred is based in ignorance. It’s tough to be ignorant of another culture in this town. SDSU has many events designed to highlight the cultures of other countries.
At the community level, the city of Brookings has its own Human Rights Commission to guard against discrimination.
But learning to love and respect each other takes more than university programs and city-sponsored commissions.
That lesson is learned by people who work side-by-side every day and learn not to judge each other by their ethnic background or skin color.
It’s learned by their children who grow up together, similar in so many ways that they’re unaware that they’re different.
Hate has a solid hold on some people. As a community, Brookings is doing all it can to ensure that hate doesn’t get a grip here.
Billy McMacken is the publisher of The Brookings Register. Contact him at bmcmacken@brookingsregister.com.
