I offer this opinion at the risk of being labeled, but I believe that it’s important that the term “supremacy” deserves greater scrutiny.

I first heard the term years ago. It gradually and ultimately disappeared as a result of the civil rights movement begun in the ’60s. The left has resurrected the term as a device to define what they believe are ignoble motives of the right.

They are right to an extent. Some whites probably view minorities on the basis of race and/or customs and mores they believe to be inferior. On the other hand, it is my belief that these views have largely disappeared. There is more than sufficient evidence to support this. So why does the left have the need to use this tactic?

Let’s stipulate that slavery and Jim Crow have curtailed minority advancement. However, as evil as they were, they cannot detract from the contributions made by whites for advancements in human rights, medicine, engineering, science, education, transportation, agriculture, economic freedom and growth, social services, and so many more.

Why must the left generalize that these accomplishments are attributed to privilege? To be sure, some benefited from privilege. Some probably benefited from nefarious acts. However, I believe most benefited from ambition, hard work, personal sacrifice, love and care of family, and equally important, a constitutional system and Bill of Rights that encouraged and protected individualism and self-achievement.

Louis F. D’Emilio

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

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