DADvocate

Listening to the Bob and Tom Show on the drive to work this morning, I heard Mark Schiff discussing the book "I Killed" which he co-authored with Ritch Shydner. On the drive home from work this evening, I listened to J.C. Watts on the Sean Hannity Show. They both touched on a point which I believer very deeply.

Schiff, talking about his interview with Joan Rivers for a portion of the book, told how, when he told her she was a very funny woman, objected. She said don't call me a woman. You're either funny or your not, whether you're a woman or not has nothing to do with it.

J.C. Watts discussed how the ultimate goal for racial equality is for everyone to be blind to each other's race, i.e. race makes no difference in our interactions with others. He made the point that you don't choose to be born on race of the other but you do make the choice of whether you will treat others equally or not.

Every time we emphasis a unique characteristic of a group, be it their gender, skin color, accent, etc., we often drive a small wedge between that group and others. Over time, small wedges make large cracks. Not a very good way to achieve an egalitarian society with equal opportunity for all. Special social and government programs for particular groups fall victim to the law of unintended consequences.

These groups may develop an unhealthy sense of entitlement. They may become more resented and disliked by others because they perceive that group as having an unfair advantage or special "rights." We saw how the politics of racial division harmed the Duke lacrosse team and will, probably, harm genuine victims of crime in the future because they may well be met with greater skepticism.

Bringing us together as one is not accomplished by dividing us into different camps. You would think all this would be self-evident, but it, obviously, is not