I wanted to respond to Roy Miller’s recent letter (“Miller: I was born white; for that I am sorry” Daily Independent, Jan. 25, 2022).

I’ll start by saying his letter sounds (to me) simultaneously sarcastic and sincere. The letters you guys choose to print are quite revealing. Maybe you print them all, I have no clue. I am Caucasian, late 50s, gay and an atheist.

I think he is “preaching to the choir” here in Sun City, so to speak. But I have a much different opinion than him. I do agree that “cancel culture” is extreme, stupid and unproductive; but I also feel there should be repercussions when someone lets their racism affect others.

Some things are actually absolute to me. Hatred (and hatred is often very subtle) of others for absolutely no reason other than their skin color, sexual orientation or religion is absolutely wrong. That’s my opinion.

I’ll share a bit of life experience. I was born in Selma, Alabama, in the mid ‘60s one mile from the Edmund Pettus Bridge. At that time, Selma was extremely racist. My family lived there until I was 6, and in 1971 we relocated to the Atlanta ‘burbs, which was also racist.

I don’t know why, but I never bought into racism. I’m glad I haven’t. And that has been a choice I’ve made. Caucasians are prone to think they are superior. It’s a fact. Why is that? Is Mr. Miller curious about that at all? Trust me, it’s not our skin tone that the oppressed have an issue with.

African Americans were and are oppressed in this country. It’s a fact. To deny facts is called “willful ignorance.” Choosing to hang on to one’s false beliefs that are based on their own opinions and not fact is illogical and has a name: cognitive dissonance.

For 60 years people have asked, “Why can’t we all just get along?” The answer is obvious. Some people are just racist and nothing is going to change them. Also, there seem to be different levels of racism.

Some use this white privilege for its daily perks, and some actually think they are more worthy human beings than others. In my own personal opinion, it’s not sad, it is disturbing. If we don’t live in “some third world country” like he says, why do we see innocent Black people murdered in the street by cops?

We need laws to help address it but that will probably never happen. The current racial tension, in my opinion, is mostly because of the former president and police violence. They knew they could get away with it during Trump’s reign of hatred.

Educating yourself about those who have suffered major oppression can change how you feel about it and help you understand why they feel the way they do.

It baffles me in a way, because it really is as simple as, “How would you feel if it happened to you?”

Sincerely.