2-04-2020 12:54pm

Letter: Statement on Racial Violence from the Rev. Keith Koebel

The most recently reported incident of racial violence & hatred in our school has given rise to questions that have been around for some time about Saline. Those questions, and others have been and hopefully will be cause for continued communal reflection on who we are, how we have been perceived, what we have done & not done, and what we strive to be.

I applaud the efforts of our city government for the unanimous passage of Saline's Non-Discrimination Ordinance in 2018. Likewise, the public statements from community and City Council members about how hurtful words can be and are, and how mean and uncaring we still are to each other tell me 2 things. The first is that there are many allies and people who want to become allies in the struggle to be more equitable and inclusive. The second is that we have a long way to go to rid our community of racist and hurtful speech and acts. As a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee with Saline Area Schools, I can tell you that the administration, teachers, and staff have been and will continue working with community members and students to make teaching and learning safe and accessible to an increasingly diverse student population. Scot Graden, Steve Laatsch, and the Saline Board of Education need to be supported and given credit for the strides that have been made so far. Superintendent Graden's statement to parents and students about the latest reported act of racism will show that he and the rest of the administration will not shove this, or other discriminatory acts, under the carpet. We, as conscientious community members, should take note and hold ourselves accountable for how or if we respond when we hear, see, experience acts that would hurt, demean, disparage, and/or dismiss others. These public statements and declarations are necessary to let others in the community and those outside the community know that we will not be defined only by our worst acts and policy omissions. But they are just part of the road ahead.

I am a white, heterosexual Christian male under the age of 60. The entire system has been established and reinforced to give me the benefit of a doubt and a "pass" on many things, whether I deserve it or not. I do not know many of the privileges that have been afforded to me mostly because of an accident of my birth. While I am trying to learn, I suspect that when my body is hauled off to the crematorium I still will not have uncovered and worked through many of the unearned privileges I still take for granted. But, I can continue to listen to others and learn and change. I can also act on behalf of and with those who are on the receiving end of racial, religious, and radical societal persecution. Jesus of Nazareth did, and as his wanna-be disciple, so should I.

As members of the dominant culture, we need to learn how to insert ourselves into the breach - to speak up, even when it costs us; even if we are the only one. Most of the acts of racism, violence against LGBTQIAP+ people, acts of spiritual terrorism, misogyny, and xenophobia go on out of the eyesight and earshot of teachers, administrators, security cameras, the internet, and police officers. No matter where we see hurtful and violent acts take place, we need to become better first responders. To not act/respond sends the wrong messages to those who are wronged and to those who have perpetrated the acts. It's not because we know the right way to respond, or that we, ourselves, have never been hurt. It is because we see another human being mistreated in ways we wouldn't want to have happen to us; and we, representing the Saline community, will not tolerate that.

Being proactive, as well as reactive is also essential to bringing our community closer together. But that will require intention and may require risk. If your gatherings are usually limited to people who look, think, and believe the same way as you - engage yourself in intentional acts/events/gatherings of diversity immersion. The only goal of those is to gain a better understanding of others in order to appreciate the life circumstances of people not like you. This involves face to face meetings. I am sure that many are working at this already. I understand students are - Mazel Tov! I do know of other informal groups of people who are trying to understand each other better.

One of the formal groups that has gathered monthly for the past two years goes on at St. Paul United Church of Christ. We are a gathering of church and community members, white & black, whose focus has been to learn about white privilege and its roots in racist systems. We are trying to understand how that white privilege adversely affects all of our lives, some more so than others, and in drastically different ways. We invite all those who wish to engage in self, communal, and systemic reflection to attend. Our next gathering is Saturday February 8 from 10:00 - 11:45am @ St. Paul UCC, Saline. Also, on Sunday afternoon, February 16 @ 4:00pm St. Paul UCC's building is the site the Youth Choir Concert, "Love Brings Us Together". The Interfaith Round Table will bring together youth from the United Church of Christ, Baha'i, Hindu, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints faith traditions in Washtenaw County. The youth will sing together and share separately out of their respective faiths songs and messages of love. There will be others in attendance representing more faith traditions than those listed. The concert is free and open to the public. Freewill donations will be received to expand the mission of the Interfaith Round Table.

Sincerely,

Rev. Keith Koebel, Co-Pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ 122 W. Michigan Ave.(US 12), Saline