Ideas on Battling Bigotry, Racism

* Rusty Kennedy asks us to not simply condemn racism and bigotry but to take an introspective look at our own roles in either stopping or furthering hatred (“Is It a Fanatic Few Who Are ‘Anti,’ or Our Society at Large?” April 10).

He encourages us to form relationships with others different from ourselves and develop respect and appreciation for one another.

His words and actions will inevitably lead to an increased sense of community in Orange County that will benefit all who live here.

JONATHAN BERNSTEIN

Orange County Regional Director

Anti-Defamation League

Santa Ana

* I respect what Rusty Kennedy and the Orange County Human Relations Commission want to accomplish. I have attended a few of their meetings over the years, made a financial donation and have recently started to participate in “living room dialogues,” where people can discuss issues of race and bigotry in an informal setting.

Over the years, however, I have heard and seen lots of conversation but too little action. There are too few ways for Orange County citizens to participate in activities to get at this insidious thing called “bigotry.” It is too subtle and too ingrained to again list the terrible things that have happened and only spend one final paragraph on what should be done.

I challenge Mr. Kennedy to write Chapter 2 of his article and show our citizens the kind of things that can be done and ought to be attempted. Despite his statistics, my anecdotal experience teaches me this aspect of our world is getting worse, not better. Too many see others as biased but not themselves in that light. Somehow what they believe is “different” from those other terrible people.

Like that country and Western song says: “A little less talk and a lot more action” is what we need.

CRAIG G. MYERS

Anaheim