Several months ago, the Federal Way City Council passed legislation that created two positions.

They are a liaison for the Korean community, and a liaison for the Hispanic community.

I asked one of the council members if they were going to have a liaison for the black community. I was told no.

The explanation that they gave to me made no sense, which is why I won’t repeat it.

I believe that it might have been a good idea that has gone bad. In choosing what ethnic group deserves a liaison, and other ethnic groups that don’t, the government plays favorites. Social engineering is not the government’s job.

I am demanding that the city council hire a liaison for the black community. While they’re at it, they can create a liaison for the Ukranians, the Filipinos, Native Americans — and for good measure, poor white people.

I mention those groups because they have no liaison to help them access City Hall. Government’s responsibility is to provide essential services: Fire, police, road repairs, etc. Imagine if every local government decided to hire liaisons for certain groups at the expense of others. The social upheaval would be tremendous. What makes this country great is the sheer sense of value held together by a common language, which is spoken by different races, colors and creeds.

Imagine if I were a poor white person who went to the city council and requested a liaison for my group. I wonder what the response would be? Everyone knows that the city council wouldn’t touch that suggestion with a 10-foot pole, and everyone knows why.

We had a mayor for four years who is Korean and has strong roots in his community. However, I will assume that was not enough, which is why we have a Korean liaison. The Koreans have a strong economic base and lots of small businesses. However, there are very few African-American businesses, very few Filipino businesses, very few Ukrainian businesses, and no businesses owned by poor white people. Would it not make sense to have an economic liaison to encourage other ethnic groups to start businesses in Federal Way, instead of having liaisons for only two ethnic groups?

I was told by some of our city leaders that the need for liaisons has to do with English being a barrier. I have always found it interesting that we are the only country on the planet where, if you advocate for English as the official language, you will be considered anti-immigrant or racist.

Here is another scenario. If you were to go to France and tell the French they shouldn’t have an official language, and if doing so would be considered anti-immigrant, you would immediately be put on a plane and sent to Baghdad — with all the Frenchmen chanting “Bon voyage.”

I would hope in this politically correct country, and its willing henchmen in the media, that we would focus on things we have in common, and not the things that separate us. No excuses.

Walter Backstrom is a Federal Way resident. Contact: wkbackstrom@aol.com.