Let's have a polite conversation about race. I must admit that the mere act of typing that sentence has brought a slick sweat to my palms. Also, my mind is now racing through all the possible ways what I intend to write in this post could blow up in my face, but I'll continue. Join me?

I never imagined I would someday be compelled to write something like this. In fact, I have been wrestling with writing something on similar topics for a very long while, but I have been a coward. There is seldom the desire (at least from those who need to hear it) to entertain the opinions of a ‘white male’ on topics like this. So, instead of trying to wrestle with a thoughtful opinion piece on race, or sexuality, or orientation, or gender, I cower. Instead of broaching these subjects that are usually dominated by well-meaning liberals one-upping themselves with all the right buzzwords: inclusivity, equality, social justice; I have bitten my tongue. But, no longer. I ask you if you have read this far, to continue and I beg you to consider the perspective I offer without making sweeping judgments or hurling labels and accusations.

The growing racial tensions in America that have been widening since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri, (perhaps earlier) and have been exacerbated since the election of Donald Trump have placed an incredible strain on our culture and society. I wish this to stop.

I'm not going to argue who is and isn't racist. I am wholly uninterested in debating who is or isn't privileged. Pundits on (what once were) news channels may waste countless hours pondering who is most oppressed and what minority America is exploiting worse, but the rest of us rational, proud Americans should try and be more grounded and practical in our political analysis.

America is fundamentally not racist. The vastly diverse multitude of its citizenry is comprised of largely good, wholesome and God-fearing people. This land, even before it was carved away from an all-powerful empire and forged in the fires of war in the face of total destruction, has served as a beacon of hope to the downtrodden of the globe and an ever-present reminder that liberty and prosperity, self-determination and freedom are all worth dying for.