Editor,

A presentation of demands at the March meeting of the South Whidbey School Board exhibited a fear of change and a lack of understanding of American social history.

Our nation, including the Whidbey community, is an experiment in democracy and multi-racial society with inclusionary aspirations of racial and gender justice. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” However, the arc is a jagged one. Unfortunately, each advance toward racial and gender inclusion and justice has been met with pushback. Change that moves our society toward fulfillment of these aspirations is perceived by some as a possible loss of white male privileges. They act out of fear of change rather than hope.

A local example of this difficulty accepting change was evident when a small group of Whidbey residents, without children enrolled in South Whidbey schools, read a letter of demands to the South Whidbey School Board. The list of demands included the ending the teaching of multi-cultural, multi racial history, a rejection of any cultural sensitively training.

These individuals with their fear of change profess to be firm supporters of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. A pledge which states our national aspirations to be one nation “with liberty and justice for all.” However, the demands of these individuals clearly do not support liberty and justice for all.

Fortunately the South Whidbey community acts from hope and not fear. Last November ‘s election returned the challenged incumbent school board members to office with a resounding 70% of the vote. Hope overcame fear.

Dick Hall

Coupeville