What we resolve often matters less than what we do afterward, and what we do afterward often requires action beyond what we initially resolved.
On May 26th, our public school district, in Whitewater, Wisconsin and nearby towns, passed a resolution against racism.
Here is the full text of their resolution:
Whitewater Unified School District Resolution Against Racism
Approved by School Board 5/26/09
WHEREAS, the Whitewater Unified School District strongly condemns racial discrimination;
WHEREAS, racism is a threat to child development because it violates a student’s basic right to security, education, and social development;
WHEREAS, the Whitewater Unified School District does not condone any type of racist threat or discrimination;
WHEREAS, the Whitewater Unified School District supports working with other governmental entities, including the City of Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, to raise awareness of the need to address racism in our local community by creating an active dialog which we believe will make our community an even more welcoming place;
WHEREAS, the Whitewater Unified School District will continue to denounce racism in all forms and will continue to seek proactive steps to prevent racist behavior by providing training and education for staff, students, and the community;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Whitewater Unified School District deeply regrets the recent incident at Whitewater High School and the sorrow and fear that this racist behavior has brought to the affected students and their families.
We are right, as a free and equal people, to denounce racism. The very foundation of this society, its Declaration of Independence, places this as canonical for America — the principles by which we are formed, and the reed by which we are therefore measured.
But it’s not merely bigotry that has brought this community low. It’s our ceaseless desire to pretend that our politicians are saints, our bureaucrats saviors, and our policies infallible.
Wrongs and wickedness will befall any community, and those responsible should be located, for the safety of others, and their own rehabilitation.
Every time officials in this community confront a problem with an initial period of silence and secrecy, until someone discovers the thruth of the matter, they exacerbate injury and adisgrace themselves.
Yet, for it all, they presist in this same path, again and again.
I have slight confidence these few will change easily; I am certain their way aggravates our situation.