I'm primarily a climate activist. That said, racism gets me really upset, along with every form of "otherism"—it seems like a new group is always being targeted to be scapegoats. (Trans people are the current new target.)

Racism strikes me as not only obviously evil, but hugely stupid as well.

Look, I understand that we were raised in a society in which racism is embedded—and that we've been subtly taught to fear and hate and believe negative stereotypes...so, I expect even good-hearted people to still have SOME evil ideas within them. I'm sure I've absorbed some of that stupidity, whether I can see it in myself or not.

BUT, I find it astonishing and depressing that we don't fully recognize that THERE IS NO "OTHER." White people are making people of different races "other"—and this artificial distinction is deadly.

Yes, people have different cultures and experiences. But we are all sharing the human experience. And we are living together on a planet that's being destroyed.

It makes me think that the old notion that we'd all unite if Earth was invaded by destructive aliens, we would NOT unite. We'd fight each other and die.

It's past time for White people to stop hating on "others" and for all of us to turn our attention to saving our home planet. Children everywhere from every group are endangered, and it's our responsibility as adults to protect them.

But we can't even clear the relatively low bar of racism. Or at least seem unable to. But we MUST do better than this.

Thanks for this article, Allison.