Photo taken by Sue Leven 11/27/05This is an e-mail which was sent to me on Sunday by Harwich Selectman, Edward Mc Manus and who is a No Place for Hate Harwich Steering Committee member. Bell Ringer!
This is from Sue Leven
"Greetings --
I was driving on Route 39 towards East Harwich this afternoon when I happened upon what is pictured in the attached photograph. For those of you that can't open the picture, it is a photo of a sign that is just before the bike path in Harwich Center.
There is a swastika spray painted in red on it.
This disturbs me deeply and concerns me as well. One can chalk it up to an act of ignorance and stupidity on the part of some kids, but somehow that doesn't make me any less concerned about it.
I wonder what this says about the supposedly quiet place we live in? I wonder if it is time to revisit the subject of tolerance as a community value? I wonder if this was the work of adults?
This has made me think about many things -- mostly about the ability of something so ugly and hateful to find its way into a community that I thought would never be defaced by something so awful.
Why have I sent this to you? Because you are (mostly) residents of Harwich, and should know that this happened in our community. Because some of you are also Jewish or gay or some other group that was the target of extermination by the Nazis, and should know that there are people capable of this kind of act on the Cape. Because I don't want you to drive by this without warning like I did (though I hope the sign will be removed before I go to work tomorrow morning).
I am planning to speak during the Open Forum at tomorrow night's Selectmen's meeting to express my concern about this symbol appearing within the borders of Harwich and ask how Harwich is going to let everyone who will listen know that we will not tolerate this kind of expression of hate in our town. Please join me tomorrow night if you feel the same way."
Opinion Page -Yes we do!
Thanks, Sue you certainly are not alone! Our whole Harwich community should be outraged every time a incident of hate is expressed, and our response should be heightened, as we raise our collective voices to say, Not In My Name! Not In My Town ! I agree that this is the perfect time for a re-examining our consciences whenever our community is under attack. Recently, we had a 5 foot cross burned out side the Forestdale Elementary School, the same school Hurricane Katrina survivors would attend. A Confederate flag was displayed on Queen Anne Road in October, and the rainbow flag outside the Chatham UU Meetinghouse is stolen monthly if not,weekly. This self-hatred, leads to community hatred, and becomes very harmful. We are seeing many suicides this time of year.
I wonder why our communitie's stop sign fails?
When we see a stop sign, it's must indicate STOP to our whole community, not to those who agree, but to all. When it becomes clear that it is safe to continue on in our right of way, in turn. This agreement should work 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. At 3:00 PM or 3:00 AM when we drive up to a stop sign we first must stop not because a police crusier in in the area, but rather because we should police ourselves. And we should do so because it is the right thing to do, it's the law we hold up for all. Is this not still sacred? "Oh well, I can go now, and spray this sign because nobody is here to see me." Is that what went through the mind of the individual or individuals who sprayed the hate symbol on the bright yellow bike path sign on Rt. 39 on Sunday? We are the body of our community, we need to respond. We have responded.
Hurricane Katrina has exposed us with this new and sad reality, that we must be our own first responders to our community security by countering hatred and violence. The action to call the police, the selectman, and the community was the right thing to do. The sign was gone by noon on Monday, thanks to the Harwich DPW.
Some think that we should hold our community to the same high standards which we say we believe in. I agree, let's see it work in Harwich!
We all come from diverse and various ethnic cultures, whether it be Arab, Irish, Japanese, Chinese, African, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, or from whatever faiths or with no faith in any religion. We are all Americans.
Yet, when we don't hold others to the commonally accepted laws of the land, we all fail at community building. Racial and social inequality must never be the standard of our community and it shall never go undisputed. There will be always be a response or our cultures may collide like that of the french-arabs recently abroad.
This is a time for peace, a pause for us to gain from this season of reflection, and to return to the poise of non-materialsm and to lift each other up. Not listening to hate radio or hate TV, or knock someone down to just to get to the limited number of discounted iPods on sale at the mauling mansions of commerce.
What is happening? What is our response?
Perhaps we should say no to racism and hate every chance it raise it's ugly outward signs in our community. This is a far better respose then putting a tri-color flag or ubiquitous ribbons on our auto's rear ends, it means we take and make a real stand on not erasing anyone's freedom.
UPCOMING COUNTY WIDE EVENTS
THE CAPE COD ANTI-DISCRIMINATION TASK FORCE
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO COME AND CELEBRATE!
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
JOIN CITIZENS OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY’S 15 TOWNS
AS WE CELEBRATE THE RECENT ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE BARNSTABLE COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
WHEN: 10:00AM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2005
WHAT: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
WHERE: CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2nd FLOOR OF THE COMMONS BUILDING
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
PLEASE RSVP BY 7 DECEMBER 2005 TO HELP US TO KNOW HOW MANY
TO ANTICIPATE FOR THE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
TO RSVP: CALL 508-428-1616 OR EMAIL:
capeadtf@gmail.com
The important document, United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which came to us in 1948, the year of
Ghandi's murder, 57 years ago last January. On Sunday, December 11th(*)we invite other Human Rights committees, Social Justice Committees, and church Social Concerns Committees to join us in Harwich. We shall have a reading from the Declaration of Human Rights, and perhaps do it each and every year.
Souper Sunday
It has been proposed that we should reclaim the bike trail with a march and vigil and then retreat to the Community Center Hot Soup from different cultures and fellowship with our own Beloved Community and those that whom also support a coming together time and healing time for wounded souls.
(*) the date should be on the 11th out of respect for the Sabbath Day (the Jewish Sabbath day of rest, called Shabbat in Hebrew, which begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening.)
We should affirm the season's real greetings of "Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All People." Young, old, fat, skinny, tall, small, black, white, all.
Now let's get to work on this. We also should remember that we soon will have a Barnstable County wide Human Rights Commission. There is more than enough human and civil rights works that can and will be done in the future. We just need you now! Are you in? To the folks of color offended by the cross burnings and to our Jewish sisters and brothers, we are sorry, and we are listening, and watching and are organizing!
This is the Blog-Editors Opinion only!
Here is an answer!
WHAT WE MUST DO FIRST !
To Build a community of tolerance, respect and acceptance in the Town of Harwich
To Promote individual responsibility for supporting diversity and eliminating prejudice and bias
To Promote community awareness and unity concerning the Coalition's goals
No Place for Hate Coalition - Harwich, MA
Select a Pledge Read it, then sign it today!
E-mail us a copy!
Resolution of Respect #1
I pledge from this day forward to do my best to combat prejudice and to stop those who, because of hate or ignorance, would hurt anyone or violate their civil rights.
I will try at all times to be aware of my own biases and seek to gain understanding of those who I perceive as being different from myself.
I will speak out against all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
I will reach out to support those who are targets of hate.
I will think about specific ways my community members can promote respect for people and create a prejudice-free zone.
I firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that no person can be an "innocent" bystander when it comes to opposing hate.
I recognize that respecting individual dignity, achieving equality and promoting intergroup harmony are the responsibilities of all people.
By signing this pledge, I commit myself to creating a Harwich community that is No Place for Hate!
Resolution of Respect #2
I pledge from this day onward to do my best to interrupt prejudice and to stop those whom, because of hate would hurt, harass or violate the civil right of anyone.
I will try at all times to be aware of my own biases against people who are different from myself.
I will ask questions about cultures, religions, and races that I don't understand. I will speak out against anyone who mocks, seeks to intimidate or actually hurts anyone of a different race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual orientation.
I will reach out to support those who are targets of harassment.
I will think about specific ways my community can promote respect for people and create a prejudice-free zone.
I firmly believe that one person can make A World of Difference and that no person can be an "innocent bystander" when it comes to opposing hate.
By signing this pledge, I recognize that for individual dignity, achieving equality, and opposing anti-Semitism, racism, ethnic bigotry, homophobia, or any other form of hatred is a non-negotiable responsibility of all people.
NOW WE CHOOSE THREE ACTIVITIES TO BUILD AROUND~
Our local Harwich NPFH committee chooses three activities from among the items listed below and completes them within the year.
1. Orientation
Create a school orientation program for students that addresses the needs of students of all backgrounds so that they feel welcome when joining the student body.
2. Discussion in Schools
Have teachers spend one full class period discussing anti-Semitism, racism, prejudice, stereotypes, scapegoating, discrimination, ethnocentrism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, and bias. Have all students sign a proclamation, to be displayed in a prominent place, declaring that they will actively challenge hate and bigotry in all forms.
3. A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute
a. Schools:
Educators, administrators and staff at all primary and secondary schools take part in ADL's six-hour anti-bias and diversity training program.
b. Peer Training
Implement the anti-bias Peer Training Program in one of your schools.
4. A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Day
Suspend regular classes for a day and invite community members and leaders to speak about and explore issues of diversity with students.
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