They are saying that hate crimes in America have reached their highest
levels in decades. The numbers are headlines, but behind them are faces,
families, and faiths left trembling.
Here in Cedar Valley, I feel those numbers as more than statistics. I feel
them each time my son, Owen, hesitates before walking into school, glancing at
me as if to ask, “Will I be safe today?” I feel them in the sideways looks at
the grocery store, the whispered comments about where I “really come from,” and
the hesitation of neighbors who once greeted me warmly but now pass me by.
Some say silence is wisdom—that ignoring ignorance starves it. But silence
has a price. The more we leave hateful words unchecked, the more we invite them
to grow into hateful actions. My own family learned long ago that prejudice
does not simply fade with time; it must be met with courage, compassion, and
truth.
I am a physician. I believe in treating what festers before it becomes
fatal. Prejudice is no different. Left unattended, it seeps into a community’s
bloodstream, poisoning trust, weakening our bonds, and robbing our children of
the innocence of belonging.
Yet I also believe in healing. I have seen wounds knit together with steady
care. I have witnessed forgiveness mend what division broke. And I have faith
that Cedar Valley, despite its fractures, can choose that path. Not through
grand gestures, but through simple acts: the parent who teaches respect at
home, the pastor who names prejudice from the pulpit, the friend who speaks up
in defense of another.
Silence carries a cost we can no longer afford. If hate has grown bold, then
let our love grow bolder still.
This editorial is part of the fictional Cedar Valley News
series. While the people and town are fictional, the national events they
reflect on are real.
It's free, it's fresh, and it's waiting for you on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
and all major platforms starting October 6. We're launching Quiet
Echo—A Cedar Valley News Podcast! Every day, you'll hear a short
editorial straight from the fictional newsroom of the Cedar Valley News. Join
us in Cedar Valley—you'll feel right at home.
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