Every day you make dozens of decisions. Some of these choices are easily made; others are more difficult. Potentially the most common dilemma we all share takes place before your feet even hit the ground. The alarm rings and you can either turn it off or press snooze. In that moment you must decide if work, school or whatever you have going on is even worth doing, and if it is, do you HAVE to get it done on time?

Last week a decent amount of Madison residents awoke to a surprise in their mailboxes or driveways. Ku Klux Klan recruitment letters had been distributed throughout a handful of local neighborhoods.

Racism has been around forever, but some segments of society seem to view it as a disowned relative. The family collectively agreed not to invite Uncle Ignorance, yet he manages to show his face at the 4th of July BBQ every year. Racism is often the elephant in the room that goes ignored. By ignoring racism you allow tensions to fill the air, and when racism causes conflict, a spark is ignited…

The KKK is a hate group that was founded in 1866. More recently they began to consider themselves a political party and seem less hostile. Throughout the years the group’s level of activity has varied; however the general public was at least aware of its existence.

Despite that awareness, the news of the letters caused outrage and upset many Madison residents. People finally had no choice but to face reality. When occasional media coverage of KKK activities aired in the past, people felt unattached, and due to that, it was in one ear and out another. The hate group was out of sight and out of mind.

By emerging from the closet that our community put the hate group in, the Klan caused many to reevaluate their own lives. Madison is a cultural melting pot full of diversity, a community that prides itself on education, and is arguably the antithesis to the traditional stereotypes that the South is generalized by. It is not hard to imagine that a lot of people have taken advantage of how accepting our community is. In fact, by living here people may have become conditioned to think these issues no longer exist.

Once again, an alarm has rung. This time the issue hit closer to home and seemed to wake many who were in a coma. By trying to recruit new members in our area, the Klan popped the bubble that kept those citizens in their own pretty, private fantasy land rather than the public’s ugly reality. This just goes to show how people can become desensitized from certain issues if they are unaffected by them.

Stay awake, Madison.