City of Wausau. MWC file graphic
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Wausau Mayor Doug Diny proposed doing away with city’s diversity committee. I take this more as a matter of housekeeping. The committee was dormant, having not met for the last 26 months.
But, of course, diversity is a hot-button issue. 10 council members voted to keep the committee even though it hasn’t been missed for the past two years.
In its most recent incarnation, the committee called itself Liberation and Freedom Committee. That begs the question, who, exactly in Wausau is not liberated? Who isn’t free? And the answer is, no one. That this committee languished under liberal mayor Katie Rosenberg is curious. Because she’s on the far left, it’s considered an oversight. Now a more conservative mayor proposes getting rid of the committee, and it’s an outrage.
This committee, originally named the Welcoming and Inclusiveness Committee is a reminder of the limits of government. If there are people with hatred in their hearts, pray that they may be changed. People’s internal prejudices are beyond the government’s power. But if people are treated differently because of their race or ethnicity when dealing with the city, that, indeed, is a concern. All that’s missing is evidence that such racism exists. It’s my belief that everyone who enters city hall, or interacts with a city employee, or even deals with police, they’re treated fairly. If that’s not the case, bring those stories forward and let’s investigate them.
Marathon County, wisely, disbanded its Diversity and Inclusion committee and rejected its Community For All proposal. County supervisors, in their wisdom, saw the resolution as the first step towards a myriad of changes in county policies.
I’ve lived in Wausau for 20 years. When I arrived, the Hmong were, by far, the largest non-white ethnic group in town. The rest of the city was almost all white. And since then, Wausau has become more diverse on its own. The numbers of blacks and Hispanics who choose to live here as grown considerably. It begs the question: if Wausau and Marathon County are considered not welcoming, why are growing numbers of non-whites choosing to live here? And the question answers itself, if you are hard-working, law-abiding… a good neighbor… this is a welcoming community.
Mayor Diny may still have the last word on this issue. The Mayor alone controls committee appointments. He should appoint no one and leave the committee vacant.
Chris Conley
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