"What scares me is how the ability to instantaneously voice one’s uninformed opinion in a public forum can become a hurtful, damaging weapon. (…) in this day and age words can be more powerful than sticks and stones. (…) And I have a responsibility to be diligent in treating everyone around me with as much respect as I would a member of my own family. Yet, that same tool which so blatantly shines a spotlight on ignorance and arrogance just as easily unites the ignorant in a persuasive, common voice. (…) Like all other monstrous problems we face nationally these days, I am completely clueless about how to tackle this issue. I’m not going to pretend to have any kind of answer. However, I would implore everyone with a Twitter account, Facebook profile, or blog to think twice before posting anything. Use these tools to put good back into the world. Whether you’re a liberal hippie or a conservative Christian, we should all agree that spreading love and respect for one another’s humanity is a righteous, moral thing to do. Do it."

—

Will Sherrod (June, 2012)

I’m posting this mostly because I believe it’s unfair that people are still judging this person for words/an attitude that he has since proven to be apologetic about.

He uses the phrase “uninformed opinion” quite intentionally to admit his own ignorance and the nature of his mistake.  Note the date of those words; after he met Chris, and after the initial backlash.

No one reading this can say that they’ve never said something offensive and then learned better later on, changed their mind, and felt genuine regret.  

So stop villainizing people just because they get in the way of your personal fantasies.

(via missbeizy)