A racist?

By David Boehmer

Right here, right now, I'm going to admit to being a racist. I have struggled long and hard with this and feel that the truth must come out. I am a 53 year old white male conservative (that alone should convict me in today's views). I am a father and entrepreneur.

I love my kids and have always striven to give them the same or more opportunities I grew up with. The American system has always rewarded those who struggle, gamble and work hard to better themselves. I believe the American system for opportunity to be the world's best. Failure doesn't always feel good, but if you learn from life's hard knocks, you can get up, dust yourself off and try again.

I have always told my kids that if they do their best, life will take care of the rest. A wise man once said, "I worked like a dog and luck noticed." What a great creed. Success and life's comforts are earned by grinding day in and day out. Easy come... easy go.

I believe in the right of all to be free. I believe in the right to free speech. I believe in the right to own property and secure it from unreasonable search and seizure. I believe in the right to worship (or not) the religion of your choice. I believe in the inherent right to be free of preconception due to race, creed, religion, sex or even sexual preference.

That's what makes me a racist. I believe in the rights of the human race. I believe in the potential of the human race. I believe in the potential goodness in all human beings.

Yes, I am a believer in the human race, but reserve the right to not acknowledge the rights of those who don't acknowledge mine. I am definitely a human racist.