Letter: Races in America must work together

Choosing some leaders on the basis of what demographic they appear to represent is the strategy of identity politics. When the goal is power at any price, the use of division among the polity is a powerful means of obtaining the goal. Many minority groups feel they need to be separate, rather than part of the whole.

Unfortunately, in the past, this was encouraged, by the same party, under different leadership, for the same purpose. In the case of earlier 20th and 19th century politics, the goal was to rally the whites to the Democratic banner. With the unstoppable change in demographics, the Democrats sought to use the same tactics, just change the focus and the language to suit the new reality.

With the same mindless zeal the racist white community used to oppress the black and Latino community, the black and Latino community are now seeking to overcome a white community that has largely embraced and institutionalized equality under the law for all races.

While some pockets of racist culture remain, they are marginalized and most racists find themselves surrounded in communities that want nothing to do with the idea. Unfortunately, the worst aspects of separateness have been encouraged by both political rhetoric and institutional protection of certain behaviors.

We are divided. Until we unite to overcome the political corruption -- both real financial cronyism and the corrupt values of moral relativism -- we will continue to founder. This applies to all Americans. We either learn to work together or we will fail.

Steve Dickler

Hilton Head Island

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Letter: Races in America must work together."