U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., could not have proved two points more handily last week if he had tried. First, he proved the spreading of vicious lies about an immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, has indeed led to the kind of hostility that puts those people (and their entire community) in danger. Second, he proved even those we should be able to hold to our highest standards are willing to once again publicly shout their racism and hate. They believe they have been freed of the shame of doing so.

According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, Higgins was facing calls for censure by Congress after what U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., referred to as an “overtly racist” tweet against Haitians and Haitian Americans.

It wasn’t just racist. It was threatening. It stank of arrogance and lies.

Once other members of Congress began to approach him about the tweet, Higgins did delete it.

“I am appalled by the racist and reprehensible remarks made by Rep. Clay Higgins about the people of Haiti,” U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat also from Louisiana, wrote, according to the Capital Journal. “We all owe each other better than this, but as elected officials we should hold ourselves to an even higher standard. We have a solemn responsibility to represent and respect all races of people. Hate-filled rhetoric like this is not just offensive — it is dangerous. It incites division, perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines the core values of our democracy.”

Enough is enough. We are seeing the fruits of what we have tolerated, and it is horrifying. Carter is right, though. We DO owe each other better than this. The question we must ask ourselves is why so many are choosing not their best, but their worst — and why they believe they will be cheered for doing so.

editorial@vindy.com

SCRIPTURE

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

Psalm 52:8-9 NLT