By Greg Taylor
Contributing columnist

Everyone just needs to take a step back and take a deep breath. There is no room in life or on a web site to be throwing around accusations about how racist a family may or may not be.

The Taliaferros have lost a son; another family is dealing with their son’s wounds. Meanwhile, those riding with Tahliek have their “wounds” that need to heal.

On top of that, the community has come together trying to deal with this situation. We need people to be proactive instead of reactive regarding the incident.

We must let the judicial system run its course by having either a judge or jury decide the guilt or innocence of Stephanie Reynolds, Ethan Parrish and Joey Parrish, not the court of public opinion.

Remember, we are a nation built on the foundation of the rule of law, of being innocent until proven guilty not the other way around.

While people are entitled to their opinions and the right to express them, we also need to be cognizant of what our words and actions will do once spoken or acted out.

This situation can either bring us together or tear us apart. We are a nation of many races, the melting pot of the world where multiple religions, creeds and colors are woven into the American fabric.

We must realize that this is more than white versus black; this is about children resorting to violence in a very adult manner to solve a problem. The biggest issue we face is teaching our children not only tolerance of others but the wherewithal to know right from wrong.

We all lose something. For the Taliferros, it is a family member; for the Parrishes and Reynolds, their freedom both literally and figuratively as their families are “imprisoned” by the court of public opinion. Meanwhile, the community has lost a little more of its innocence and its character.

We must not lose more by throwing around accusations of racism and hate crimes before the facts are presented in open court. For everyone’s sake, let us hope that the accusations are not true. For if they are, Powhatan has a lot of work to do.

Powhatan Today welcomes contributions from county residents for the My Point of View column.

Send submissions to editor Roslyn Ryan at editor@powhatantoday.com or mail them to 3229 Anderson Hwy. Powhatan, Va. 23139