PHS Friday Letter

The San Francisco 49ers are currently downplaying the effects of their indefensible “diversity training” video that was sent anonymously to the media and broadcast on local and national television last evening. Coach and players alike are vehement about it all being done in fun and not intended to offend or hurt anyone. But hurt and offense are what members of the Chinese American and the gay communities are feeling. Racism and homophobia are no laughing matters for those on the receiving end. Good intentions do not cancel out bad outcomes.

In its most recent report on human rights abuses around the world, Amnesty International accuses the U.S. of violating the rights of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The international scandal of U.S. military personnel abusing detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and, most recently, Baghram prison in Afghanistan provide data to support A.I.’s disturbing claims. However, the Pentagon calls the report “ludicrous” and U.S. military leaders say that the deaths of prisoners during interrogations are regrettable but unintentional. I wonder what an Iraqi mother thinks about “unintentional” when she asks herself why her son stopped at that intersection the day he was arrested.

My hope for PHS is that “I didn’t intend to hurt you” will always be followed by “But I know you’re hurt and I want to be part of the healing.” Good intentions, bad impact, greater unity.

Wishing you a summer of peace and justice,

Lalitha Shastri
Multicutural Dean