By Bill Connell, Somerset.
Before I get started, lets do an exercise. I assume Franklin Reporter & Advocate readership crosses the broad demographic of Franklin. Think a minute about your race and your culture. Now think about the person with the most racist views you know, in your chosen demographic. See, we all have one, and we can start on a common ground. If the answer you came back with is yourself, stop reading. You won’t get it anyway.
To my amazement, Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad once again pushed himself as a culture warrior, never addressing the fact that he does not understand his role as Councilman and apparently never will. The point is a Councilman and an Advocate have two different jobs. A Councilman is responsible to the whole town, and advocate is only responsible to the topic chosen.
My feeling about what he said was wrong. Franklin does not have a problem he needs to fix. A town hall meeting will only attract those of opinion who want to express it. People like to complain. They were against a pocket park on Arlington Avenue, am I to assume they hate children? People hate the unknown. The real way to fight racism is getting out side-by-side and working with people. Franklin does that better then any place I know.
I lost of life long friend this week. She was not political, she was not a holy roller, but was innately kind and generous. That nature does not come from a microphone. We need to replace her and add at least one more. Let’s start there.