Show Ignorance is to blame officer gives compassionate advice I Terry Dillon editor Co-editor AST week Horizon continued continued continued con con- L LAST its report abo about t Academy Park and the perception perception tion of ongoing racial problems there Campus Affairs Vice Pres- Pres dent Brenda Tanner wants to let students know that ignorance ignorance ignorance ig norance is to blame for any problems at Academy Park Racism Tanner feels is becoming becoming becoming becom becom- ing an used over expression The liThe real issue at the bottom of all this is ignorance she said Tanner explained that the best medicine for ignorance is isto isto isto to cast light on the issue in a loving way She does not want to persecute anyone for their ignorance She also doesn't want her child to suffer because of her concerns My liMy daughter has had no problems whatsoever at her school this year Tanner added that that she she hopes this is because v of progress and not because people still are thinking the same way way only only not talking about it Tanner said she is not looking for special treatment for ei either ther herself or her daughter She does however believe that a public school environment environment environment en en- should facilitate a level playing field playing meaning meaning teachers need to let children know that racial name-calling name is a socially unacceptable be be- havior Tanner agrees that children are innocent She said they may learn things at home from their parents and repeat those things at school school but but t that does not make them racist children are children Tanner said anyone who would like to approach her to talk should feel comfortable in doing soI soI so I 1 am not a racist and I hope that talking about this has not portrayed me as being one I do donot donot donot not hate anyone for the color of their skin skin she said Tanner explained that her definition of racism is s that it itis itis itis is active intentional and planned such as the organized organized organized or or- racism of the Neo Neo- nazis skinheads and the Tanner stresses that if anyone wants to make things better they should try a little love and compassion coupled with good listening |