Legislation alone won’t end bigotry

Yes, America is beautiful, but we're not without problems. And one of our most serious problems is drenched in homegrown discrimination and bigotry.

Particularly upsetting are tragic occurrences between police and minorities, especially in predominantly black communities.

President Barack Obama focused on that problem when he spoke at a recent event marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma, Ala. clash between police and civil rights protesters. That day in 1965 became known as 'Bloody Sunday” and led to passage of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965.

'Fifty years from Bloody Sunday, our march is not yet finished. But we are getting closer,” stated Obama.

We may be getting closer than we were in 1965, but our war against discrimination and bigotry is far from over. And we - as in ‘We the People' - are the only ones who can win that war. As Pogo said in that famous newspaper comic strip decades ago, 'We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Yes, we're the ones who need to admit we've all made mistakes and understand it takes more than legislation to end bigotry. We need to come together and work productively to mutually understand the dangers of continuing on our current path.

For those escalating problems between police and minorities, leaders need to get serious about talking to each other, and begin to develop productive relationships.

I'm just an old white guy, so I certainly don't have the answers. But I know how important it is to sit down, get serious and be productive.

Leaders on both sides need to stress the axiom that you don't have to love or even like each other in order coexist peacefully; perhaps even productively. And again, both sides need to stress the value of communication. Talk may be cheap, but clearly it's a huge improvement over what's happening now.

In theory, the public supports the police, and police protect the public. Clearly, some of us have a lot to learn before that becomes a reality.

' Bob Elliott is a longtime Iowa City residents and former member of the City Council. Comments: elliottb53@aol.com