PERSPECTIVES

By Lisa Robinson - Pickering City Councillor I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has shared with me their perspectives and concerns on a recent opinion editorial I penned February 6, 2024, titled “It is not black and white” While perhaps controversial, nowhere in this piece does it exhibit racism. After reading some comments, I understand that some may not have fully understood or accurately interpreted the column's true meaning, and for those individuals, I would like to offer my sincere apologies. Racism is a belief system or ideology that asserts the inherent superiority or inferiority of individuals or groups based on their race. It involves the belief that some races are inherently superior to others, leading to discriminatory attitudes, actions, and policies that treat individuals or groups differently based on their race. This is the very thing that I am fighting against and will continue to fight against. There is a grave need to put an end to the creation of an environment that fosters racism. That means we need to stop judging individuals solely based on their skin colour, religious beliefs, or sexual preferences. Dividing people into these political groups only perpetuates a harmful cycle of creating a breeding ground for racism to exist. We are all human, and to live in unity we need to stop with these divisive tactics. If we need to have a month dedicated to history, then let it truly be about history itself. It does not need to solely revolve around the colour of one's skin, as every culture has a rich and diverse history that deserves to be celebrated and shared. We only have twelve months in a year, and no race deserves to be inherently superior to another. It’s time to shift our focus from judging individuals based on their skin colour, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, and start evaluating and lifting one another up based on one’s character. This kind of transformation is crucial in our collective journey towards a more inclusive and equitable society. I have said numerous times that the truth can sometimes be uncomfortable for some individuals, and it may sometimes inadvertently cause hurt or offense to one's feelings, but it is important to recognize that no one can control how people emotionally are going to respond to the truth, but one can affect how it directly affects them on a day-to-day basis. It’s extremely important moving forward to prioritize open, honest dialogue and avoid name-calling or labeling something or someone as being racist without having a complete understanding of the subject at hand or participating in open conversations. Approaching discussions with active listening, and empathy, is the only way that true understanding can be achieved. Discussing race and ethnicity does not inherently equate to racism. The aforementioned article may challenge conventional views on race relations, but it does not exhibit hatred, prejudice, or discrimination toward any racial or ethnic group. Instead, I hope it prompts readers to reflect on how we perceive and address issues of equality and