I approve, but...
Snohomish County residents have responded with shock, anger and resolve to a cross-burning at the Arlington home of a black minister.
Another clear sentiment is embarrassment such thing still might happen. Thirteen years have passed since a Bothell family found the loathsome and unequivocally racist symbol in its yard.
The response has been swift. Arlington police teamed with the FBI to investigate this hate crime. The school district expressed its support to Pastor Jason Martin and his family, and Arlington High School is using the act as a teachable moment in classrooms.
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon wants a newly forming Community Council to explore diversity issues.
The Interfaith Association of Snohomish County is organizing the most outward and visible sign of the community's repudiation of the cross-burning.
A show of solidarity and support is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Martin's Jesus is Lord Life Tabernacle Church in Marysville. A spectrum of faith groups and leading civic organizations, including the United Way of Snohomish County and Providence Everett Medical Center, will be represented.
A powerful symbol was invoked out of ignorance or hatred. Residents are pulling together to say this is not who we are, and this racist trespass will not go unchallenged.
This is both a show of how far things have come and how far they have to go. The fact that "Thirteen years have passed since a Bothell family found the loathsome and unequivocally racist symbol in its yard" means someone had a cross burned in their yard in 1991. On a societal timescale that's, like, yesterday.
