Letter: ‘Ragtime’ a lesson in how we treat people who are different than ourselves

Congratulations to the Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre for its performance of Ragtime. The quality of the singing and acting is excellent. The story line deals with the prejudices and mistreatment of racial minorities and immigrants, and its timing couldn’t be better with the issues facing our country once again. If you can fit it into your schedule go; it will make you reflect seriously on how we all treat people who are different than ourselves.

We like to think we are the country that welcomes everyone to a land of liberty. As part of the inscription on the Statute of Liberty reads: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

To our shame, we have often not lived up to these words.

The character of Mother in Ragtime should be an example to all of us in how we should love and accept others.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 4:44 AM with the headline "Letter: ‘Ragtime’ a lesson in how we treat people who are different than ourselves."