Community's actions invite tolerance

Wednesday night a former leader in the Aryan Nation spoke against hate and intolerance.

This semester, the Purdue community has made a surprising number of moves toward tolerance. The semester began with the addition of homosexuals and transsexuals to Purdue's nondiscrimination policy. This addition gives these groups the University's protection and some aid in their struggle for equality.

In February, Judy Shepard spoke about hate crimes from the perspective of a family member of a victim of hate. Shepard is the mother of Matthew Shepard, the college student killed two years ago because he was gay.

Last night, Floyd Cochran spoke from the perspective of one who was a high-ranking member of a hate group. Cochran's experience is a stark contrast to Shepard's, showing the ignorance and intolerance present in hate groups.

Where Shepard discussed the effects of ignorance, Cochran discussed the causes, speaking about youth recruitment strategies employed by hate groups.

This movement to embrace tolerance and discourage ignorance should be commended. Though each event came from different sources, not all from the University, it still speaks well of the Purdue community.

These groups acted out of the same desire to end intolerance. Where just a single speaker or policy change would be worthy of some notice, two speakers and a policy change in a few months time is worthy of a lot of notice.

Even if you didn't take part in it or didn't know, it's going on around you and you should take notice. The great efforts of a community are only a community in action and things such as tolerance and hatred are, ultimately, the actions of individuals.

n Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Melissa Davis and Laura Pelner.

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