I am concerned that our president has demonized racial sensitivity training. I spent five years in the U.S. Air Force, where among my primary duties was teaching and promoting race relations.
At the end of each course, attendees completed a comprehensive evaluation. The high positivity of the evaluations stayed in the mid-90% favorable level. All races, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and religious and nonreligious affiliations were included.
The purpose of racial sensitivity was to promote empathy and harmony, not guilt. It focused on understanding the toll that discrimination and prejudice have produced and to encourage embracing differences rather than trying to stifle them. Learning empathy increases acceptance and compassion. It encourages kindness and generosity. This is a goal of nearly all religions and ethics teaching. It is good for psychological growth.
During training at the Defense Department’s Race Relations Institute, participants were placed in inner-city environments, different cultural settings, migrant camps, etc. We ate different food, listened to different music and spent time in different homes. Being immersed in such different lifestyles broadened our understanding and respect for each other.
So, I encourage discussion and actions to continue such a course for our society. The president is wrong on this. He does not grasp the richness of multicultural living. For those who have not been immersed in experiencing different worlds, I encourage you to do so. The result is growth as a human being. One strives for harmony instead of vision, acceptance rather than judgment. How can this possibly be harmful?