Dear editor:
People have told me I should “fly under the radar” because too many people in our area hate those who are non-believers and/or Democrats. I used to hide my true self while teaching because I didn’t feel it was right to sway students one way or the other (and feared retribution); although Christian colleagues definitely pushed their beliefs openly onto everyone else. After retiring and surviving cancer I felt free to be me.
I believe it is important to have freedom of speech, religion, and politics; to realize and accept differences. Sadly, so many discriminate against those who are not the same. I know several good people who accept me as I am, just as I accept them as they are. We don’t agree on everything but there are many areas that we do. I continue to volunteer for and with a few bipartisan groups in our area (one partisan).
There are far too many haters that really need to reflect on their morals and ethics. I have been told that I “don’t fit in” when teaching in the area (so conservative “females could not bare shoulders”), and recently when I applied to volunteer with a group that stated they have a “cross-section” of the community (they don’t). Disappointingly, we need to beware of those giving a helping hand for there may be an ulterior motive or discrimination.
I have concerns as I enter my senior years; these groups are supposed to be there for all of us and are connected to two government entities that we passed millages to support with our taxes (volunteer groups are private, so they can discriminate and proselytize). I don’t feel that I can count on nondiscriminatory help from these local associations. Ignorance and discrimination lead to shortages of teachers, volunteers, and trust!
Donna Russell
Roscommon
