Hatred of one group transfers easily to another
Letter to the editor, Manchester Cricket | February 23, 2006
To the editor:
What are we teaching our children? When I reflect back on the horrible hate crime that was perpetrated by Jacob Robida, the 18-year-old from New Bedford, who hatchetted and shot three men in a gay bar, I ask myself, "why?" One of his friends recounted to the press that Robida never spoke disparagingly against gays but he did so against Jews and blacks. Well, if anything is an indication that prejudice toward and hatred of one group certainly opens the door to the hatred of another, this horrible incident in New Bedford was the epitome. But from whom did he learn this hatred? Weren't the swastika tattoo and posters enough to set off an alarm? Were his views encouraged or tolerated? Is there really a difference? And what about his parents, his school, or his community? What was their role in all of this? We will never know for sure. Or will we?
When a parent takes it upon herself to work the child drop-off line at Brookwood School to collect signatures for the anti-gay/anti-family petition, the question of what we are teaching our children hits a little too close to home. Running the risk of exposing children to the prejudices of the adults in this manner is, in my opinion, reprehensible. On Brookwood's behalf, they are taking part in a "Multicultural Conference" where "family structure differences" will be discussed. I was informed by a Brookwood trustee that anyone collecting petition signatures was reprimanded as going against Brookwood's "non-solicitation" policy. So, the selling of Girl Scout Cookies on Brookwood property without permission gets the same scolding as collecting signatures for an anti-gay, anti-family petition at a school which has clear policies regarding diversity and equal treatment of students, parents and teachers? I get it..."Would you like Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, or this year's favorite, 'Discrimination in the Constitution?'"
The Violence Recovery Program at Fenway Community Health in Boston cited in a report last year that when looking at 2004 Hate Crime Statistics, 25 percent of the offenders were under the age of 18. There was also an increase of 320 percent in offenders between the ages of 18 and 29. These young people are learning it from someone. But when it is learned passively from the actions of the parents or from the failure of others to correct the obvious, then the next generation is given permission to hate and possibly to act out on that hatred. Just ask those three men in New Bedford.
Alex Westerhoff
Colburn Rd
Manchester-by-the-Sea
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