THE CZECH IS IN THE MAIL
A great thing about the United States is that it’s made up of people from all walks of life.
We have many ethnicities, religions and financial situations. It takes all of us to make things work.
Our history of accepting differences has been subpar in general, though. Collectively and historically, we have found ways to discriminate against people of different ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, etc.
During the last two decades, discrimination against political affiliations has ramped up. Expressing political differences has become an excuse to give someone the cold shoulder or the evil eye — or not invite them to the cookout.
On Tuesday, Williamson County took a step toward working together across party lines. After a disastrous precinct-level voting strategy in the March 3 primary election, the county will return to countywide voting for the runoff May 26.
The county’s Republican Party wanted precinct-level voting because it believed such a strategy would protect against voter fraud. Although Wilco’s Democratic Party wanted countywide voting, it eventually signed off on the precinct- level method.
The move backfired. Many voters, poll workers and politicians were frustrated with only being able to vote in their precinct of residence, instead of at large like in the past.
There were even separate polling sites for Democrats and Republicans. The lines on Election Day were horrendous as well.
I will refrain from pointing fingers because people on both sides of the aisle are guilty of thinking anyone who thinks different from them is wrong. At the end of the day, being different does not mean wrong.
I don’t identify with either party. As stated in previous pieces, I am a defender of the First Amendment. I’m also a fan of the Second Amendment — the right to bear arms for defensive purposes.
I support good law enforcement, but I also support Black Lives Matter.
It is my belief that most law officers are good people who serve and protect their communities. I also believe when people say, “Black Lives Matter,” they are saying, “Black Lives Matter, too,” instead of “only black lives matter.”
While I have not attended any stands for solidarity or BLM demonstrations since 2020 after George Floyd was killed, I still took time last month to remember Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin — both of whom were killed by neighborhood watchdogs/zealots. Martin died February 2012 and Arbery lost his life February 2020.
I’m grateful justice was served in the Arbery and Floyd cases, but I am still heartbroken that Martin’s killer was acquitted.
In the last six months, I have covered a memorial for late conservative pundit Charlie Kirk and protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Although they’re on different sides of the political line, I support the free-speech rights of both groups.
At the end of the day, there’s no place for ethnic nor political division in our society. Let’s agree to disagree when we must, but more importantly, let’s work together.
Chlapek is the area editor of the Elgin Courier and the Taylor Press. He can be reached at jason.chlapek@ granitemediapartners. com.
