Letters to the Editor, June 11-18

Posted

The Editor:

Blaine police chief Donnell Tanksley’s personal story, “It’s long past time the two Americas come together,” that he shared in the June 4 issue of The Northern Light was inspirational and needs to be imbibed by every group who claims unfair victimization and suffers consequences of victimhood mindset. He overcame it and became what he is today. 

Being a widely traveled person to more than 50 countries of the world and having studied various cultures, I dare say that globally, every group who claims victimization and struggles to assert their identity but is not sensitive to others, is doomed to suffer. In other words, the dream of uniting two Americas would remain a pipe dream until society is steered to a systematic understanding of human psychology. 

To be selfish is elementary nature for survival and yet, to be sensitive and sharing is also an inherent but unmanifest demand of every living entity. Selfishness does not need to be taught, whereas sensitivity needs to be logically aroused from its yet unmanifest state. Pity for someone may arouse temporary sensitivity. It is not a permanent cure. But the understanding that the ‘other’ is not ‘other,’ but my brother can change things.

The million-dollar question is, how am I to consider the other as my brother? It is easier said than done. Religious teaching has not achieved this goal despite more than a thousand years of active preaching. People have not been able to love thy neighbor as thyself because the neighbor is still a neighbor and not a brother. 

Once it is logically understood that the “other” has the same life force and same creator, the feeling of brotherhood fosters at a deeper level. Unfortunately, some leaders misguide us. They devise identities that separate us. The first separation started millennia ago when our ancestors decided that there are two entities, God and Satan. And they developed philosophies and civilization around that clear-cut black and white. This was beginning of many groups and identities and separateness. On the other hand, some others, more thoughtful, on this planet thought that every human and every living being is part of one whole. They are not separate. 

Moreover, they understood that every living being is divine because its creator is supreme intelligence. This idea imparted a deeper understanding that everyone has the right to live, be it human or animal. This idea gave the now well-known concept of “World is one family.” It also imparted the deeper understanding that they are not the owners of the world, but merely its caretakers. They are not entitled but they are to serve. This is logical understanding unlike a sermon from any book. This is experienceable knowledge instead of acceptance of any dogma. 

With universal acceptance of every living, we would unite everyone on this planet including two Americas. By the way, ‘two’ would not remain two for long. With multicultural flourishing, they may become more. We need to logically build on “’Other’ is not ‘other’ but my divine brother.” (Slogan, courtesy of a divine activity based in India known as Swadhyay movement.)

Nilesh Shukla

Blaine

The Editor and Chief Tanksley:

Sir, I would like to thank you for sharing your story, and I am sorry you had to go through something that horrible. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for choosing to serve the citizens of Blaine. We are lucky to have someone so intelligent and compassionate as our chief of police. As a person who has lived here most of my life, I can truly say your presence here makes Blaine an even better place to live.

Thank you for your service, and I hope you stick around for a long time!

Stephanie Sandercock

Blaine

The Editor:

Last week’s letter from Sharon Robinson raises some remarkably interesting points and her solution was, without question, sensible and very overdue. When a confrontation occurs between the police and a citizen it should be expected that the confrontation is at high risk of overreaction by all parties. 

As we are all aware, the officer has an immense responsibility to “serve and protect” all. But the officer is also a person, a product of their environment with fear, misgivings and doubts we all suffer. The citizen, regardless of any actual guilt, can be expected to react to the situation, often inappropriately with their own fears, misgivings and doubts. If that citizen is a minority, it can be sadly expected that the fear, misgivings and doubts will be sharply intensified. 

Are we seeing examples of “profiling,” prejudice, stereotyping? Absolutely. Is it intentional? Not necessarily so. Is it real? Yes. Is there a solution? Also, yes. As Sharon wisely suggests, we need to open a clear and calm dialog between interested parties, and soon. Not until all of us have the knowledge to understand that the police are not bullies to persecute and cruelly harass the innocent and the citizen is not a dangerous criminal, even when they are a minority.

Amazingly, in this same edition of The Northern Light (a superb community newspaper!), I found an excellent article by our police chief, Donnell Tanksley. Reading it, I was taken with his clear understanding of the needs of the community, his duties and responsibility and vision for his department. I was equally saddened by the remembrance of his youth and hope he believes that each passing day incidents of that nature become more and more the exception and no longer the rule.

Finally, to get to my point, Sharon Robinson’s admirable suggestion that we must all find our spots at the table to address our mutual concerns and misgivings. Chief Tanksley, with his understanding of the community, sounds like the leader prepared to sit at that table. These dialogs need to commence at the community level. Why not here in Blaine? Why not now, in the shadow of the Peace Arch?

Lee C. Bravener

Blaine, WA

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here


OUR PUBLICATIONS