L&T Publisher Earl Watt
Can someone help me with what it means to be a “caucasian” community or “Hispanic” community?
I was at a recent meeting where it was stated that Liberal is a “Hispanic” community.
It’s true that Hispanics make up a majority of Liberal’s population. But what exactly is a “Hispanic” community, and how does that differ from any other community?
Liberal is still a Kansas community in the United States. We still fall under the jurisdiction of the Kansas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.
Hispanics, or for that matter anyone of any ethnicity, are part of our collective community. It doesn’t belong to any one group over another.
When I grew up, Liberal was a majority caucasian community, but that did not make Liberal a “caucasian” community. Liberal was then and is now the same community it has always been — a blue collar town made up of people who are trying to make life better for themselves and their families.
Take a look around Liberal, and it is very clear that Hispanics have been welcomed. We have a large part of our commercial property owned and operated by Hispanic business owners. Liberal has baseball, football and soccer fields in about an even number of venues.
Public building rental is not prevented to anyone of any specific ethnic group, and most rentals of the public venues most likely are done to Hispanics.
So why assign any ethnicity to Liberal beyond the fact that Liberal is an All American town?
The system that has allowed all of us to prosper here has nothing to do with anyone’s ethnicity and everything to do with the dedication and perseverance of those who have called this place home.
From the original homesteaders to those who came since have all found the one thing we have all had in common — opportunity.
That is the foundation of the American Dream. Liberal provides that to anyone and everyone who comes.
Whether born here or just moving in this week, Liberal has opened its arms.
The new slogan, “From Generosity to Prosperity” says it all, from the moment Seymour Rogers reached 88 feet down through the stubborn prairie soil to establish a well, and then gave the water away, the tradition of generosity was established.
Much like the rest of the world, there were days gone by where not every person got a fair shake, but those are in the rear view mirror, not in the future.
A disturbing statement also said that we need people who “look like us” in order to relate with them.
That is the exact opposite of tolerance and acceptance. It literally says in its premise that we cannot fairly relate to those who look differently.
I had Hispanic educators and black educators along with caucasians. I could not imagine not relating to Coach Jonathan Ervin because he was a black man. Or Mr. Witherspoon. Or anyone.
We had a black woman who lived next door on Pershing Avenue, and my grandmother’s instructions were clear — do what the neighbor said or there would be hell to pay. And my grandmother didn’t bluff.
When I go shopping or dining, chances are almost guaranteed that I will be doing commerce with a Hispanic. And yet the transaction takes place as it always has whether I was dealing with a person of any other ethnicity.
If we “are” (which means currently) a Hispanic community, what exactly does that mean? We are a majority Hispanic, for sure. But even in Mexico or other Hispanic majority nations, what makes those towns and cities different?
Do the people who live there work to make life better for themselves and their families? Of course they do. Do they have building codes and laws? Sure. Do they drive on the right side of the road? Yep.
So what exactly does it mean to be a community of any ethnicity? How does it make Liberal any different than it is today?
If Liberal had five Hispanic commissioners, what would be different? Would the water still flow to our homes? Would we still collect the trash? Would we still celebrate Pancake Day? The answer is yes to all of that. The single change I’ve been given is that it is possible that alcohol would be allowed in the parks.
If that is the big difference, that’s really not much at all. I’m sure that many have consumed alcohol in the parks whether sanctioned or not.
What if the commission was all black? Maybe Can Creek being buried would be a higher priority, but other than that, not a lot would be different.
Why?
Because the pot holes need filled, the streets need to be maintained and businesses need to be welcomed no matter who sits in those five chairs.
The differences I have had with elected officials have had nothing to do with their ethnicity. The fact remains I have been most critical over the years about caucasian leaders. The differences had nothing to do with their skin color but with the decisions made.
The problem is believing we can’t trust each other if we don’t look the same.
That is the most disappointing statement I have heard when trying to become a community of one.
We will all never look the same. We will all never earn the same. We will all never live next door to each other and know each other personally.
But we can respect each other regardless of our differences. We can listen to each other and work together to create a better future for everyone.
Liberal is not an ethnicity. It’s a reflection of the hopes and dreams of all who love it.
