On the surface, a tongue in cheek comment may seem innocent enough, yet can go on to portray exactly how different reactions would be if brought about by the individuals in which it targeted. The comment in question is one that managed to slip through the editorial process of a Folsom high school yearbook, the word in question being “cracker”, often used as a derogatory statement for low income, Caucasian individuals. Though it may not be as outright offensive as other terminology available, it still raises questions. We live in a climate today where race has taken front and center stage in a number of political commentaries. From immigration to travel bans, undocumented citizens to gangs of ethnicity being given the blame for a number of different issues. We have seen violence against minorities, we have seen a rise in social commentary and have done our best to balance the line between being able to point these issues out while also being able to raise a conversation that allows for both better understanding and the capability to come to an agreement to disagree. Often, we see minorities in our surroundings as the targets of this type of speech, these types of actions and don’t often pay much attention when it comes to statements made against the majority. In the Folsom area, the demographic is predominantly white, so when statements of race are made, it’s those that highlight the minorities that are often the ones that garner the biggest reaction. But do we ignore comments made against the majority, simply because they are less often the target of this specific type of speech. Do we allow a certain level of leniency in order to pay back the actions of a certain few? In an ideal world, we would never have to worry about dealing with situations of this nature as we could all coexist as human beings and leave aside any previous prejudices or prejudgments placed on individuals of any color. The world doesn’t yet seem to be ready to step into that line of thought, which means that we need to take careful stock of the words that we say, the actions that we carry out and the means in which our behaviors have the capability to impact individuals of all races, colors and creeds. Statements being made negatively towards any race need to be addressed yet doesn’t overshadow the severe imbalance in place when it comes to actions of this nature. We all need to play our part in attempting to build a better future, even if it starts with a less than common situation. The only way that we have the capability to move forward and to better ourselves and our positions with each other is to ensure that we are treating everybody with respect, even if we get none in return. It’s only through the strength of character that we have the capability to make everybody stronger.