Letter to the Editor - Take Responsibility for the Face of the World

Be the reason future generations know what mattered in Decorah. Fund Decorah News today. Dear Editor, Take responsibility for the face of the world. The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so. Excerpt from "ON TYRANNY; Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" by Timothy Snyder, 2017, published by Tim Duggan Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. I do not condone county tax dollars supporting any group or organization that uses a symbol of hate as part of their marketing, logo, or band name such as Confederate Railroad. They have, of course, first amendment rights of free speech to use the images, but Winneshiek County should not support them with funds from the community, with taxpayer dollars. This does not set a good example for our youth. We must and can do better for the youth of this community. Leaders of this community, whether on the fair board, the city council, the county supervisors, or our state legislators, must work to set good examples for the next generation. Do not get "used to" the Confederate flag as a normal image or an image of 'southern heritage.' That flag represents racism and white supremacy - and we all know it. Some young teens and adults and ill-informed folks would have you believe the Confederate flag is a sign of rebellion or pride in Southern culture; it is not. Just as the swastika is a sign of hatred for anything other than white Christian supremacy and Nazis, and both these images have been shunned for the same reasons. Over 13,100 Iowa soldiers died fighting for the Union in the Civil War against the slave states of the Confederacy. Iowa sent the most men per capita to fight for the Union than ANY state in the country during the Civil War. Iowa and Winneshiek County were an important part of the underground railroad to help get slaves to safety and freedom. We should be proud of that Iowa history and work to preserve it together. Are we free of racism and hatred yet? No, but we've come a long way and we can continue to work to get there, together. Images of hate, racism, and exclusion must not be supported by this community. I suggest everyone buy a copy of Timothy Snyder's book "ON TYRANNY; Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" and read it again and again, then practice those lessons everyday. Consider purchasing several copies and sharing them with friends, they run about $7.00 per book. (ISBN 978-0-8041-9011-4) available at your local bookstore. Let's work as a community to build a 'beloved community,' one that is free of hatred, bigotry, and racism; instead one that celebrates and includes everyone, equally. Shirley VermaceDecorah, Iowa Your voice matters—share your perspective with us and keep the conversation going!