Stop harping on race

OPINION:

I was born white and I am sorry. My birth certificate even has blocks labeled “Color” for both my parents; and the block lists “W” for both. I cannot even claim to be partly Black or brown, and for that reason, I cannot claim to be free of racism. If I do, I will be cancelled and criticized. I am doomed to be categorized as “privileged.” After all, if a white person today claims he is not racist, that is supposedly evidence of his racism. If I had been born Black or even a darker shade of brown, I probably could claim to not be racist.

To make things even worse for me, I was “privileged” to be born with other characteristics in addition to my white skin. I was born with good vision, good hearing, four limbs and overall good health, and I am taller than average. I was privileged to be born in America and not some third-world country. I was born with so many privileges that I guess I must spend my life apologizing.

Of all these “privileges” why is it only skin color that we whites must atone for? Is there not prejudice against short people, disabled people and people not born in the United States? Race is not even a characteristic that is determined by science.

Can’t we just treat everyone as individuals and recognize that we are all different in many ways? Let’s stop putting people in groups —especially in groups that have no scientifically identifiable features. Let’s just be kind to each other. Live and let live.

ROY MILLER

Phoenix