from January 14, 2011
The tragedy this part Saturday in Tucson was indeed a pivotal moment in our nation’s history or at least it should be.
What are the lessons of this terrible tragedy?
Political pundits will give you theirs but here are mine from my perspective as a rabbi.
First, we need to be asking some serious questions about the state of mental health care in this country. How is it that the unbalanced people that perpetrated the massacres at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Tucson seem to slip through the cracks until a terrible tragedy occurs? I am not a mental health professional, but I do know that this question needs to be asked.
Second, it is simply not acceptable the ease with which mentally unbalanced people seem to be able to purchase a semi-automatic weapon. We need a rational discussion of how such purchases can be prevented in the future.
Third, we need a rational non reactive discussion about Gun Control in this country. I know that it is a political hot potato and I am doubtful that politicians will want to consider certain common sense measures but consider the following. From 1994 until 2004, the largest size clip that could be purchased for a Glock semi automatic pistol held 15 bullets. The clip used by the Tucson shooter held 30. I have served in the army and once possessed a 9 millimeter handgun. I can tell you that a 30 bullet clip can be completely fired from a semi automatic handgun in less than five seconds. Is it really an aspect of second amendment rights to be able to purchase such clips? How many lives would have been saved, or people who would not have been injured had the shooter clip only contained 15 bullets instead of 30. Again, it is time for both Republicans and Democrats to have a rational, non reactive, non knee jerk discussion of these issues.
Frankly, while I support Representative Peter King’s legislation to ban the possession of weapons with 1000 feet of our elected official, I find it troubling that people in Congress would be willing to have a discussion about their own personal safety without also having one concerning the personal safety of the rest of us as Americans.
Fourth, the only real solution from a Jewish point of view to the problem of violence in our country and our world is the replacement of hatred with love. One of the great rabbis of the twentieth century, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook wrote: "If we were destroyed, and the world with us, due to baseless hatred, then we shall rebuild ourselves, and the world with us, with baseless love." (Orot HaKodesh vol. III, p. 324)
Martin Luther King in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1964 said:
“When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response which is little more than emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality....Let us hope that this spirit will become the order of the day.
The creation of such a world will not be easy. In November 1963, Dr. King addressed the Union for Reform Judaism’s 47th Biennial convention. In his stirring remarks, he said, “Human progress comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of social stagnation and irrational emotionalism. We must help time and we must realize that the time is always right to do right.”
Fifth and finally, it is irrelevant to debate whether or not the political rhetoric of recent years had anything to do with the tragedy in Tucson. We all know that the level of civility in political discourse has decreased in this country during the last decade. We can all agree that political discourse which demonizes political opponents, if not in this case, then in a future case could very well have the unintended consequence of stirring up a random lone wolf to carry out violent or terrorist acts. The state of Israel witnessed this in the months prior to the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin when political opponents pilloried Rabin as a Nazi. There is an element of great danger and unintended consequences when politicians and pundits use language which demonizes the opponent.
Frankly, I am proud that this part of North Carolina is represented by two fine gentlemen whose level of political discourse is respectful and admirable. Representative Mel Watt and Representative Howard Coble are both friends of mine and friends of each other. It is not often that they agree of political issues, yet their disagreements are always expressed in a respectful and honorable way. I am proud to call each of them my friend and proud of the way they represent our state.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Some of the times, I wish they would leave us alone!
Some of the times, I wish they would leave us alone!
This past week, I taught an adult class on the topic concerning “Miracles.” In Judaism, some of the rabbis felt that miracles were supernatural events. Others like Nachmanides felt that miracles were natural occurrences and that what made them special was their timing. In other words, when we needed “such and such” to happen, it happened! Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch taught that the greatest miracle of all was the survival of the Jewish people. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism felt that a belief in miracles should not be part of modern Jewish thought. The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidim, felt that miracles were everywhere, but that we put on blinders and are not able to see them.
It was this last thought which really intrigued me. I happen to know a woman who has battled metastatic melanoma for more than 10 years. Seven years ago, her family got together and held a Passover Seder which euphemistically her kids called the “Last Supper.” Her continued health and well being is nothing short of a miracle in my opinion.
On Thursday, I shared these thought with a group of economically poor people who were being fed at First Presbyterian Church as part of the Hot Dish and Hope program. Our congregation serves food there twice a month. Our community is grateful to Rev Sidney Batts, Sheron Summer and First Presbyterian Church for their wonderful leadership of the Hot Dish and Hope program.
I ended up my little message of hope with the ideas that every morning that we wake up is a miracle and that perhaps the greatest miracle of all is life itself!
People responded very warmly to my message; that is, all except one person. This one man afterwards came up to me and said rather aggressively that I was wrong and that the greatest miracle of all was that Jesus died for our sins. He wanted to give me a testimony in order to save my soul. The same man has accosted my colleague Rabbi Andy Koren on previous occasions.
I have pretty thick skin and so I was able to slough this off. However, I often receive emails, letters and oral testimonies from supposedly well meaning Christians. Once on Shabbat (the Sabbath), the cars in our parking lot had leaflets put on them. The leaflets encouraged us to accept Jesus. On Yom Kippur, after an article in the newspaper in which the author of the article said that Jews do not have a safety net in Jesus, my mailbox was destroyed. It was the only mailbox on the street to be destroyed and it was destroyed purposely on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
I have an acquaintance to whom I have explained many times why Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Nevertheless, he still wants me to explain to him what I do believe about the Messiah. One of the days, perhaps, I will. But I am hesitant to do so because I know that this will lead to an unwanted testimony from him to me.
I simply do not get it. When I am urinating at the hospital, having gone there to visit the sick, I often see on the urinal note cards urging me to accept Jesus. By contrast, we Jews do not take prayer books or prayer shawls into the bath room.
I simply do not get how being aggressive to others in supposed testimony of one’s faith encourages Brotherhood and Sisterhood. If you want me to respect you as a Christian, behave towards me and all people with justice and compassion. Become part of a joint partnership towards making our community a better place in which to live! Be a part of a joint effort whose goal is bringing more of God’s presence into this world!
In a movie a few years ago, there was a famous line “Show me the money.” To those who are so worried about saving my soul I say, “Show me (by your own personal example) your kindness.”
In his letter in response to the remarks of the governor of Alabama’s dismissive remarks towards those who are not Christian, (see previous blog post) my colleague Rabbi Jonathan Miller quoted the Prophet Malachi who taught: "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?"
That about says it all as far as I am concerned.
This past week, I taught an adult class on the topic concerning “Miracles.” In Judaism, some of the rabbis felt that miracles were supernatural events. Others like Nachmanides felt that miracles were natural occurrences and that what made them special was their timing. In other words, when we needed “such and such” to happen, it happened! Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch taught that the greatest miracle of all was the survival of the Jewish people. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism felt that a belief in miracles should not be part of modern Jewish thought. The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidim, felt that miracles were everywhere, but that we put on blinders and are not able to see them.
It was this last thought which really intrigued me. I happen to know a woman who has battled metastatic melanoma for more than 10 years. Seven years ago, her family got together and held a Passover Seder which euphemistically her kids called the “Last Supper.” Her continued health and well being is nothing short of a miracle in my opinion.
On Thursday, I shared these thought with a group of economically poor people who were being fed at First Presbyterian Church as part of the Hot Dish and Hope program. Our congregation serves food there twice a month. Our community is grateful to Rev Sidney Batts, Sheron Summer and First Presbyterian Church for their wonderful leadership of the Hot Dish and Hope program.
I ended up my little message of hope with the ideas that every morning that we wake up is a miracle and that perhaps the greatest miracle of all is life itself!
People responded very warmly to my message; that is, all except one person. This one man afterwards came up to me and said rather aggressively that I was wrong and that the greatest miracle of all was that Jesus died for our sins. He wanted to give me a testimony in order to save my soul. The same man has accosted my colleague Rabbi Andy Koren on previous occasions.
I have pretty thick skin and so I was able to slough this off. However, I often receive emails, letters and oral testimonies from supposedly well meaning Christians. Once on Shabbat (the Sabbath), the cars in our parking lot had leaflets put on them. The leaflets encouraged us to accept Jesus. On Yom Kippur, after an article in the newspaper in which the author of the article said that Jews do not have a safety net in Jesus, my mailbox was destroyed. It was the only mailbox on the street to be destroyed and it was destroyed purposely on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
I have an acquaintance to whom I have explained many times why Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Nevertheless, he still wants me to explain to him what I do believe about the Messiah. One of the days, perhaps, I will. But I am hesitant to do so because I know that this will lead to an unwanted testimony from him to me.
I simply do not get it. When I am urinating at the hospital, having gone there to visit the sick, I often see on the urinal note cards urging me to accept Jesus. By contrast, we Jews do not take prayer books or prayer shawls into the bath room.
I simply do not get how being aggressive to others in supposed testimony of one’s faith encourages Brotherhood and Sisterhood. If you want me to respect you as a Christian, behave towards me and all people with justice and compassion. Become part of a joint partnership towards making our community a better place in which to live! Be a part of a joint effort whose goal is bringing more of God’s presence into this world!
In a movie a few years ago, there was a famous line “Show me the money.” To those who are so worried about saving my soul I say, “Show me (by your own personal example) your kindness.”
In his letter in response to the remarks of the governor of Alabama’s dismissive remarks towards those who are not Christian, (see previous blog post) my colleague Rabbi Jonathan Miller quoted the Prophet Malachi who taught: "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?"
That about says it all as far as I am concerned.
Rabbi Miller's Response to the Governor of Alabama
Friends:
Rabbi Jonathan Miller of Temple Emanuel of Birmingham is a very close friend and colleague of mine. I thought that you might enjoy seeing his response to the governor of Alabama’s dismissive remarks (some of which are quoted below) towards those who are not Christian.
Rabbi Miller is one of the rabbis whom I admire the most. This is a fabulous response in my opinion.
Rabbi Fred Guttman
*********************************************************************************
January 18, 2011
Governor Robert Bentley
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL36130
Let me offer you my congratulations on yesterday's inauguration as the Governor of Alabama. I wish you success, and that these next four years will be years of growth and prosperity for all the citizens of our great State. Leadership has its responsibilities and burdens, and I pray to God that you will bear these burdens with dignity and grace, and that you will fulfill your responsibilities with skill and compassion.
Governor Bentley, I feel a duty to my conscience and my role as the rabbi of the largest synagogue in Alabama to bring to your attention the fact that your remarks at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church yesterday were troubling to me and my congregation, and I believe also to many Alabamians. You are quoted in the Birmingham News as saying:
"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit. But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister. . . . Now I will have to say, that if we don't have the same daddy, we're not brothers and sisters. So anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother."
I admire people of faith, and I hope that God guides you through these next years. Yours is a difficult job, to be sure, and you will need Divine Providence to get you through the days and months and years.
I want to tell you about us. We Jews are also deeply faithful people. Our living tradition harkens back to Abraham and Sarah, and forward to our rabbis today. The ideas brought forth by my ancestors were incorporated as the cornerstones of Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, Sikhism and Baha'i, and are the foundations of western ethics and modern spirituality. We are also Alabamians. We pay our taxes. We vote in elections. We send our children to school in this state. We abide by Alabama's laws and work, each of us in our own way, for the betterment of all. We are good citizens of this state.
Governor Bentley, as a non-Christian, I felt disenfranchised from your grace as our leader in the immediate hours after your inauguration. If you were an archbishop or the pastor of a church, I could take issue with these statements, or even ignore them. But you are my Governor. Our great nation, by law and tradition, provides us with religious freedom. And even though we do not believe exactly alike, we ought to see each other with brotherly affection, and as equals in conscience and human worth.
We Jews, and others who are not Christians, know that we are a minority in Alabama. We know what it is like to be few in number and sometimes seen as outsiders. We are also proud Americans. Governor Bentley, religion in this country is great because every American is offered equal protection and defense from a government that would attempt to dictate conscience and belief. We hope that you would reconsider the sentiments you shared at the historic Dexter Avenue Church, and be a Governor that respects us all and treats us all as brothers and sisters. Please don't use religion to divide us. Unite us all instead. You are your brothers' keeper, and Governor Bentley, we are your brothers.
2500 years ago, the Prophet Malachi told my people: "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" I am a religious man, Governor Bentley. We have only one God and one father, and we are all, whether we like it or not, brothers. And we need to be kind to each other as we ought to be kind to our brothers. And we are kind to our brothers for sake of the One God who is the father of all.
I am hoping that I will hear back from you a clear message of enfranchisement and understanding. I am depending upon you for leadership.
Governor Bentley, I plan to send this letter to my congregation. I promise you that I will also send them your response. And Governor Bentley, it would be my honor to invite you and Mrs. Bentley to address Temple Emanu-El one Sabbath evening so that you would get to know us better. I hope you might find time amid all of your duties to reach out to us in the spirit of friendship.
This was not an easy letter to write. But do know that it was written with great hope and prayers for you and our State of Alabama.
Shalom,
Rabbi Jonathan Miller
Rabbi Jonathan Miller of Temple Emanuel of Birmingham is a very close friend and colleague of mine. I thought that you might enjoy seeing his response to the governor of Alabama’s dismissive remarks (some of which are quoted below) towards those who are not Christian.
Rabbi Miller is one of the rabbis whom I admire the most. This is a fabulous response in my opinion.
Rabbi Fred Guttman
*********************************************************************************
January 18, 2011
Governor Robert Bentley
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL36130
Let me offer you my congratulations on yesterday's inauguration as the Governor of Alabama. I wish you success, and that these next four years will be years of growth and prosperity for all the citizens of our great State. Leadership has its responsibilities and burdens, and I pray to God that you will bear these burdens with dignity and grace, and that you will fulfill your responsibilities with skill and compassion.
Governor Bentley, I feel a duty to my conscience and my role as the rabbi of the largest synagogue in Alabama to bring to your attention the fact that your remarks at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church yesterday were troubling to me and my congregation, and I believe also to many Alabamians. You are quoted in the Birmingham News as saying:
"There may be some people here today who do not have living within them the Holy Spirit. But if you have been adopted in God's family like I have, and like you have if you're a Christian and if you're saved, and the Holy Spirit lives within you just like the Holy Spirit lives within me, then you know what that makes? It makes you and me brothers. And it makes you and me brother and sister. . . . Now I will have to say, that if we don't have the same daddy, we're not brothers and sisters. So anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother."
I admire people of faith, and I hope that God guides you through these next years. Yours is a difficult job, to be sure, and you will need Divine Providence to get you through the days and months and years.
I want to tell you about us. We Jews are also deeply faithful people. Our living tradition harkens back to Abraham and Sarah, and forward to our rabbis today. The ideas brought forth by my ancestors were incorporated as the cornerstones of Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, Sikhism and Baha'i, and are the foundations of western ethics and modern spirituality. We are also Alabamians. We pay our taxes. We vote in elections. We send our children to school in this state. We abide by Alabama's laws and work, each of us in our own way, for the betterment of all. We are good citizens of this state.
Governor Bentley, as a non-Christian, I felt disenfranchised from your grace as our leader in the immediate hours after your inauguration. If you were an archbishop or the pastor of a church, I could take issue with these statements, or even ignore them. But you are my Governor. Our great nation, by law and tradition, provides us with religious freedom. And even though we do not believe exactly alike, we ought to see each other with brotherly affection, and as equals in conscience and human worth.
We Jews, and others who are not Christians, know that we are a minority in Alabama. We know what it is like to be few in number and sometimes seen as outsiders. We are also proud Americans. Governor Bentley, religion in this country is great because every American is offered equal protection and defense from a government that would attempt to dictate conscience and belief. We hope that you would reconsider the sentiments you shared at the historic Dexter Avenue Church, and be a Governor that respects us all and treats us all as brothers and sisters. Please don't use religion to divide us. Unite us all instead. You are your brothers' keeper, and Governor Bentley, we are your brothers.
2500 years ago, the Prophet Malachi told my people: "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" I am a religious man, Governor Bentley. We have only one God and one father, and we are all, whether we like it or not, brothers. And we need to be kind to each other as we ought to be kind to our brothers. And we are kind to our brothers for sake of the One God who is the father of all.
I am hoping that I will hear back from you a clear message of enfranchisement and understanding. I am depending upon you for leadership.
Governor Bentley, I plan to send this letter to my congregation. I promise you that I will also send them your response. And Governor Bentley, it would be my honor to invite you and Mrs. Bentley to address Temple Emanu-El one Sabbath evening so that you would get to know us better. I hope you might find time amid all of your duties to reach out to us in the spirit of friendship.
This was not an easy letter to write. But do know that it was written with great hope and prayers for you and our State of Alabama.
Shalom,
Rabbi Jonathan Miller
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The DREAM Act; article and letter
The following was submitted today to our local newspaper. The fact that the article comes from clergy of a different faith strengthens its effect. After the article which you may use in any way helpful for this cause, is a "fill-in model" of a letter to senators which I sent out to my clergy friends. Please feel free to share this with other clergy. Tell them to send their letters as faxes, not snail mail or email, and on official church, synagogue, mosque etc stationary. Much of this is inspired by the RAC website on the DREAM Act. We need this to become viral.
Let’s Make Their DREAMS Come True!
Rabbi Fred Guttman and Rev. Mark Sills
Recently, two very bright young women graduated with honors from Greensboro area universities. One received a degree in nursing, the other received a degree in chemical engineering. Both of these young women have talents and skills that are in high demand. These graduates are the kind of young adults that every community wants to attract and keep.
.
Talented, disciplined, and with a keen sense of civic responsibility, they would be a wonderful asset for Greensboro.Unfortunately, neither of these talented women will be able to pursue their career in Greensboro. Even though there are several local employers who want to hire them, neither can work legally anywhere in the United States. These young women were brought to the United States from Mexico when they were just pre-schoolers. They grew up here. This is home to them. Both had outstanding records at local high schools, and they would like nothing more than to contribute their considerable talents to our land. Because they are undocumented immigrants, they cannot do so. These young women will be forced to leave the United States to work in other countries in order to fulfill their personal dreams.
In the next two weeks, the lame duck session of Congress could finally do something to alleviate this injustice. The Congress is due to consider Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. Each year, some 65,000 students who entered America illegally with their parents will graduate from High School. The DREAM Act would give these students a path to citizenship if they attend college or join the military.
There is sound biblical basis for asking for your support of the DREAM Act. Leviticus teaches us, “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” [19:33-34].
We are a compassionate country! The idea that we would expel a child who has lived here since he or she was young because of the choices of their parents is nothing short of cruel. For all intents and purposes, this child is an American. It is nothing less than a horrific example of holding a child responsible for the sins of the parent. In addition, we as a country would be deprived of the unique, God-given contributions that this child, a product of our educational system, would be able to give to our country.
These students often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. It is now time for us as a country to give them hope. After all, their only “crime” was being born to parents who came to this country to pursue a better for themselves and their children, just like many of our ancestors.
We see this as a compelling religious and a moral issue. Apparently others in Congress do as well, for the DREAM Act has solid bi-partisan support.
As clergy dedicated to helping our country to become more just and compassionate, we urge the passage of the DREAM Act and call on those who read this to contact their elected representatives in support of this act. The DREAM Act will go a long way towards making legitimate dreams come true for the young people that it is designed to help.
(Rabbi Fred Guttman is rabbi of Temple Emanuel Greensboro and Rev Mark Sills is the Executive Director of FaithAction International House in Greensboro. In 2009, they were co-recipients of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Brotherhood Citation Award, 2009. )
SAMPLE LETTER FOR CLERGY.
SenatorFax: (xxx) xxx-xxxx
Dear Senator,
As a committed, I encourage you to support the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (S. 729). This important, bipartisan legislation will allow law-abiding high school students, many of whom have lived in the United States nearly their entire lives but remain undocumented, a chance to go to college or serve in the military.
Each year about 65,000 U.S.–raised students who would qualify for the DREAM Act’s benefits graduate from high school. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities.
There is sound biblical basis for asking for your support of the DREAM Act. Leviticus teaches us, “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” [19:33-34].
We are a compassionate country! The idea that we would expel a child who has lived here since he or she was young because of the choices of their parents is nothing short of cruel. For all intents and purposes, this child is an American. It is nothing less than a horrific example of holding a child responsible for the sins of the parent. In addition, we as a country would be deprived of the unique, God-given contributions that this child, a product of our educational system, would be able to give to our country.
These students often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. It is now time for us as a country to give them hope. After all, their only “crime” was being born to parents who came to this country to pursue a better for themselves and their children, just like many of our ancestors.
We see this as a compelling religious and a moral issue. Apparently others in Congress do as well, for the DREAM Act has solid bi-partisan support.
Therefore as a and as a religious person of conscience, I urge you to vote for the DREAM Act
Most Respectfully,
Let’s Make Their DREAMS Come True!
Rabbi Fred Guttman and Rev. Mark Sills
Recently, two very bright young women graduated with honors from Greensboro area universities. One received a degree in nursing, the other received a degree in chemical engineering. Both of these young women have talents and skills that are in high demand. These graduates are the kind of young adults that every community wants to attract and keep.
.
Talented, disciplined, and with a keen sense of civic responsibility, they would be a wonderful asset for Greensboro.Unfortunately, neither of these talented women will be able to pursue their career in Greensboro. Even though there are several local employers who want to hire them, neither can work legally anywhere in the United States. These young women were brought to the United States from Mexico when they were just pre-schoolers. They grew up here. This is home to them. Both had outstanding records at local high schools, and they would like nothing more than to contribute their considerable talents to our land. Because they are undocumented immigrants, they cannot do so. These young women will be forced to leave the United States to work in other countries in order to fulfill their personal dreams.
In the next two weeks, the lame duck session of Congress could finally do something to alleviate this injustice. The Congress is due to consider Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. Each year, some 65,000 students who entered America illegally with their parents will graduate from High School. The DREAM Act would give these students a path to citizenship if they attend college or join the military.
There is sound biblical basis for asking for your support of the DREAM Act. Leviticus teaches us, “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” [19:33-34].
We are a compassionate country! The idea that we would expel a child who has lived here since he or she was young because of the choices of their parents is nothing short of cruel. For all intents and purposes, this child is an American. It is nothing less than a horrific example of holding a child responsible for the sins of the parent. In addition, we as a country would be deprived of the unique, God-given contributions that this child, a product of our educational system, would be able to give to our country.
These students often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. It is now time for us as a country to give them hope. After all, their only “crime” was being born to parents who came to this country to pursue a better for themselves and their children, just like many of our ancestors.
We see this as a compelling religious and a moral issue. Apparently others in Congress do as well, for the DREAM Act has solid bi-partisan support.
As clergy dedicated to helping our country to become more just and compassionate, we urge the passage of the DREAM Act and call on those who read this to contact their elected representatives in support of this act. The DREAM Act will go a long way towards making legitimate dreams come true for the young people that it is designed to help.
(Rabbi Fred Guttman is rabbi of Temple Emanuel Greensboro and Rev Mark Sills is the Executive Director of FaithAction International House in Greensboro. In 2009, they were co-recipients of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Brotherhood Citation Award, 2009. )
SAMPLE LETTER FOR CLERGY.
Senator
Dear Senator
As a committed
Each year about 65,000 U.S.–raised students who would qualify for the DREAM Act’s benefits graduate from high school. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities.
There is sound biblical basis for asking for your support of the DREAM Act. Leviticus teaches us, “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” [19:33-34].
We are a compassionate country! The idea that we would expel a child who has lived here since he or she was young because of the choices of their parents is nothing short of cruel. For all intents and purposes, this child is an American. It is nothing less than a horrific example of holding a child responsible for the sins of the parent. In addition, we as a country would be deprived of the unique, God-given contributions that this child, a product of our educational system, would be able to give to our country.
These students often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. It is now time for us as a country to give them hope. After all, their only “crime” was being born to parents who came to this country to pursue a better for themselves and their children, just like many of our ancestors.
We see this as a compelling religious and a moral issue. Apparently others in Congress do as well, for the DREAM Act has solid bi-partisan support.
Therefore as a
Most Respectfully,
Do not sign the latest JStreet petition.
There are several reasons why in my opinion, people should NOT sign the J Street Petition.
First, these peace talks are at a very sensitive and critical juncture. The agenda for the peace talks and its sequencing is now being discussed between the U.S. and Israel. In order for these talks to resume and succeed, the two governments need to come to an understanding on these sensitive issues in quiet discussions with no outside intervention--even by well-meaning friends of Israel. Pushing the President to push Israel to accept any specific agenda could be counterproductive.
Second and sadly, a public U.S. statement calling for a specific agenda might push Abbas to reject any other agenda that might be agreed between the U.S. and Israel, thus possibly scuttling the resumption of the peace talks.
Third in essence, this is calling for an imposed a solution on Israel. As one who holds dual citizenship and who served in the Israeli army, whose son and other relatives live there and VOTE there, I find this to be particularly disturbing. In essence, this would curtail Israel’s independence. In addition, such an imposed solution would most likely ignore some very real security concerns and needs that Israel has. Of course, this has been part of JStreet’s ideology since its inception. JStreet is a “proscriptive” organization when it comes to the Middle East Peace process. ‘Israel will need to be saved from itself and we in Washington know what is best for Israel. (Israeli democracy be damned!) Of course, if we are wrong it is no big deal to us because we live here in safety and security. Israel on the other hand… Poor Israelis and Jews! They can never catch a break!’
Most Israelis by the way would view such an action by the Obama administration as being very anti Israel.
For this and other reasons, the only way towards any legitimate and long lasting agreement will be though direct negotiations between the two sides.
Finally, the tone of this sounds to me to be quite partisan. The petition begins with the words: “You (President Obama) have inspired me with your commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” On its web site, J-Street writes: “We have stood shoulder to shoulder with President Obama as he has repeatedly pushed both sides toward negotiations. Our community taken hundreds of thousands of actions in support of the President's vision of Middle East peace and his active efforts to make it a reality from day one.” I am beginning to think that on Israel, JStreet has become the left wing alternative to Matt Brooks and the Republican Jewish coalition? I certainly believe that it is in the best interest of Israel for our community to be bi partisan.
A claim is often made that JStreet allows for those who are so upset with Israel to become “involved.” Involved in what? I have not seen this. I have not seen JStreet supporters and rabbis working diligently to bring more people to Israel or to encourage more teens and college students to go there. Frankly as I see it, a sad result of JStreet has been to undermine American Jewish support for Israel.
So once again, I urge those of who are JStreet supporters. We all want peace. The language of such resolutions sounds good, the intentions may be well meaning but the actions called for will move the peace process backwards, not forward.
Before you sign on to the latest J Street petition, you might also want to take a look at Rabbi Micky Boyden’s latest on this issue. Micky, who lost a son in Lebanon, lives four miles from Qalqilia (which is near Kfar Saba). He does not live in the West Bank.
Micky writes: "The J Street petition affirms that its supporters have been inspired by President Obama’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the question is not whether J Street has been inspired but rather whether the Palestinians share the same aspirations. And that is an entirely different matter."
For the full item, go to http://weareforisrael.org/2010/11/30/borders-and-security-first/
Do not sign the latest JStreet petition.
Fred Guttman
First, these peace talks are at a very sensitive and critical juncture. The agenda for the peace talks and its sequencing is now being discussed between the U.S. and Israel. In order for these talks to resume and succeed, the two governments need to come to an understanding on these sensitive issues in quiet discussions with no outside intervention--even by well-meaning friends of Israel. Pushing the President to push Israel to accept any specific agenda could be counterproductive.
Second and sadly, a public U.S. statement calling for a specific agenda might push Abbas to reject any other agenda that might be agreed between the U.S. and Israel, thus possibly scuttling the resumption of the peace talks.
Third in essence, this is calling for an imposed a solution on Israel. As one who holds dual citizenship and who served in the Israeli army, whose son and other relatives live there and VOTE there, I find this to be particularly disturbing. In essence, this would curtail Israel’s independence. In addition, such an imposed solution would most likely ignore some very real security concerns and needs that Israel has. Of course, this has been part of JStreet’s ideology since its inception. JStreet is a “proscriptive” organization when it comes to the Middle East Peace process. ‘Israel will need to be saved from itself and we in Washington know what is best for Israel. (Israeli democracy be damned!) Of course, if we are wrong it is no big deal to us because we live here in safety and security. Israel on the other hand… Poor Israelis and Jews! They can never catch a break!’
Most Israelis by the way would view such an action by the Obama administration as being very anti Israel.
For this and other reasons, the only way towards any legitimate and long lasting agreement will be though direct negotiations between the two sides.
Finally, the tone of this sounds to me to be quite partisan. The petition begins with the words: “You (President Obama) have inspired me with your commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” On its web site, J-Street writes: “We have stood shoulder to shoulder with President Obama as he has repeatedly pushed both sides toward negotiations. Our community taken hundreds of thousands of actions in support of the President's vision of Middle East peace and his active efforts to make it a reality from day one.” I am beginning to think that on Israel, JStreet has become the left wing alternative to Matt Brooks and the Republican Jewish coalition? I certainly believe that it is in the best interest of Israel for our community to be bi partisan.
A claim is often made that JStreet allows for those who are so upset with Israel to become “involved.” Involved in what? I have not seen this. I have not seen JStreet supporters and rabbis working diligently to bring more people to Israel or to encourage more teens and college students to go there. Frankly as I see it, a sad result of JStreet has been to undermine American Jewish support for Israel.
So once again, I urge those of who are JStreet supporters. We all want peace. The language of such resolutions sounds good, the intentions may be well meaning but the actions called for will move the peace process backwards, not forward.
Before you sign on to the latest J Street petition, you might also want to take a look at Rabbi Micky Boyden’s latest on this issue. Micky, who lost a son in Lebanon, lives four miles from Qalqilia (which is near Kfar Saba). He does not live in the West Bank.
Micky writes: "The J Street petition affirms that its supporters have been inspired by President Obama’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the question is not whether J Street has been inspired but rather whether the Palestinians share the same aspirations. And that is an entirely different matter."
For the full item, go to http://weareforisrael.org/2010/11/30/borders-and-security-first/
Do not sign the latest JStreet petition.
Fred Guttman
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Noah’s Ark as a Paradigm - Me vs We
Almost everyone know the story of Noah and his ark. What most people fail to realize, and Sydney will talk about this in a moment, is that the end of the story is very serious. At the end of the story, God tells us that every time we see a rainbow in the sky, we are to remember that God will not again destroy the earth. However, the implication is clear that the future of the earth is in our hands. It is our responsibility to care for the earth and to create on it a just society.
It occurred to me that basically the story of the ark is important because it says that once upon a time there was a small ark, it contained Noah, his family, and all of the animals – all of the world according to the legend. But now we live in a world where our consciousness has been expanded; stars and galaxies are hundreds of light years away and we realize that as big as our world seems, we are but a small speck of the universe. In essence, the earth as we know it is now our ark. We, as humanity, are Noah. We are on this ark with every living creature in the universe. The issue now for us is, "How will we take care of our ark?" How will we take care of our earth?
The more I look at where our society is right now, the more I see a conflict between what I call the forces of “Me” versus the forces of We.” This “we versus me” conflict can be seen all over America and the entire world. It is seen in those who would make predatory loans to the poor and bring down the entire economy. It is seen among the business community who callously shift jobs overseas, destroying the manufacturing base in places like North Carolina. These are but two examples. The base of the problem is that many in our society now believe that the most important thing is personal achievement, and that any personal achievement trumps any communal responsibility.
I am reminded of a story of a very wealthy king who refused to provide food for his starving subjects. One day, a fisherman invited him to go in his rowboat to go fishing. The king readily assented. Once they were out in the middle of the ocean, the fisherman took out a drill and began to drill in front of his, the fisherman’s, seat. The king went berserk. “How can you do this?” he cried, “If you drill a hole in the bottom of the boat it will sink and both of us will die!” To which the fisherman responded, “But I’m only drill a hole underneath my seat, why should you be concerned?” The king then replied, “I understand your point.” The fisherman returned to shore and the king became a better king. He became more concerned about the welfare of his subjects, more concerned about the welfare of the entire community.
The environmental problems that we are facing are quite serious. Global warming is indeed very serious. Without a doubt, the hotter and smokier that we make the earth, the less livable it will become not only for ourselves but for our children, grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.
The effort to establish renewable energy needs to be taken very seriously and I am very proud of the fact that Temple Emanuel, within the next year, hopes to install solar panels as our energy source.
Global warming is here to stay. This ark belongs to us and our children. Will our ark continue to be a livable environment or will the “me” of selfishness and consumption prevail. Will we be like the selfish king as we drive gas guzzlers or will the “we” of collective responsibility triumph making our world livable for our children?
The second place in which we recently have seen this conflict between the “Me versus We” is an event that occurred this past week in a rural town in western Tennessee. A fire department was called to a house to put out a fire, and because the owner of the house had not paid a $75 fee to the fire department, the firefighters stood by and watched the house burn down. Fortunately no one in the house died, yet three dogs and a cat were incinerated. The fire department said, “We are not responsible because this homeowner did not pay the appropriate fees.” Here we see the ultimate of the “Me versus We” conflict in our society.
First of all, it goes without saying, here in Greensboro we don’t have a choice to whether we pay taxes to our police and fire departments. The system in Tennessee, therefore, is to blame.
But the Torah tells us that we should not stand idly by the blood of our neighbor. The idea that people who have supposedly dedicated their lives to saving life, limb, and property would stand by is indeed appalling. The Torah is quite clear. We are not to stand by when someone else is in trouble.
Second, Judaism stresses that the collective wellbeing trumps personal wellbeing. Society is of greater importance than individual personal achievement. For example, the Torah tells us that we are all responsible for the education of our children in our society, even if we send our kids to private school. Jewish tradition is filled with the idea that all of us must provide for the common good. In the medieval Jewish community, taxes were not considered a bad thing, nor should it be considered bad here. The next time you hear we pay too many taxes, ask if they’d like to send their children to school in buildings that are dumps. The answer, of course, is no. We like having proper bridges, roads, schools and transportation and an army to protect our country. The problems that we have with paying taxes are not that taxes are bad, but that wasting tax money on bridges to nowhere in Alaska is not a good thing. Judaism clearly eschews community care. Our tradition stresses that what is important is not “Me,” but rather the “We.”
The third incident where we see the “We” versus “Me” in our society recently is the sad story of Tyler Clementi. Tyler was a Rutgers University student whose roommate secretly taped him having relations with another male. The tape was put on the internet and the next day Tyler jumped off the George Washington Bridge.
Jewish tradition would say that we are all responsible in some way for this tragedy. It is our responsibility to fight to eliminate bullying. Sadly, our society seems to fail to combat bullying when the person who is being bullied is gay or lesbian.
Here at Temple Emanuel, I am pleased to mention that last week and this week we are doing anti-bullying education with our students. This will, of course be ongoing, because we think the problem is indeed that serious and we think it will help make this ark that we live in a bit better. Bullying and discrimination against gays and lesbians is our problem, not merely someone else’s.
At Temple Emanuel we will not stand idly by. This conflict that we see between the “We” versus “Me” is all to frequent. It all goes back to the ark. When Noah goes on the ark he takes his family and the animals because he realizes that on the ark, community is important.
In Jewish tradition, the rabbis tell us that we are all responsible for each other. Personal salvation, no matter what your religion, is not as important as communal responsibility. In most religions, prayers are said in the plural tense. The community is important, because theologically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically we are all bound in the same ark.
If we adopt this attitude of the “We,” the attitude that recognizes the importance of community, we will care for our ark, our earth. We will love it and try to be ecologically responsible and try to provide for all its inhabitants just like Noah did. Poverty, homelessness, indecent housing, poor education – these are communal concerns.
If we believe in the value of “We,” we can create a community wherein every individual is seen as being created in the image of God. Once we do that, we will create a loving society on our “ark,” a loving society on our earth. Truly it will be a society based upon justice compassion and peace. And truly it will be a fulfillment of the vision of the prophet Zachariah who wrote, “On that day God will be one and Gods name will be one.” In other words, on that day all humanity will be one because we will realize that we have to lovingly care for each other, our earth and our planet.
May this be God’s will as it is our task!
It occurred to me that basically the story of the ark is important because it says that once upon a time there was a small ark, it contained Noah, his family, and all of the animals – all of the world according to the legend. But now we live in a world where our consciousness has been expanded; stars and galaxies are hundreds of light years away and we realize that as big as our world seems, we are but a small speck of the universe. In essence, the earth as we know it is now our ark. We, as humanity, are Noah. We are on this ark with every living creature in the universe. The issue now for us is, "How will we take care of our ark?" How will we take care of our earth?
The more I look at where our society is right now, the more I see a conflict between what I call the forces of “Me” versus the forces of We.” This “we versus me” conflict can be seen all over America and the entire world. It is seen in those who would make predatory loans to the poor and bring down the entire economy. It is seen among the business community who callously shift jobs overseas, destroying the manufacturing base in places like North Carolina. These are but two examples. The base of the problem is that many in our society now believe that the most important thing is personal achievement, and that any personal achievement trumps any communal responsibility.
I am reminded of a story of a very wealthy king who refused to provide food for his starving subjects. One day, a fisherman invited him to go in his rowboat to go fishing. The king readily assented. Once they were out in the middle of the ocean, the fisherman took out a drill and began to drill in front of his, the fisherman’s, seat. The king went berserk. “How can you do this?” he cried, “If you drill a hole in the bottom of the boat it will sink and both of us will die!” To which the fisherman responded, “But I’m only drill a hole underneath my seat, why should you be concerned?” The king then replied, “I understand your point.” The fisherman returned to shore and the king became a better king. He became more concerned about the welfare of his subjects, more concerned about the welfare of the entire community.
The environmental problems that we are facing are quite serious. Global warming is indeed very serious. Without a doubt, the hotter and smokier that we make the earth, the less livable it will become not only for ourselves but for our children, grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.
The effort to establish renewable energy needs to be taken very seriously and I am very proud of the fact that Temple Emanuel, within the next year, hopes to install solar panels as our energy source.
Global warming is here to stay. This ark belongs to us and our children. Will our ark continue to be a livable environment or will the “me” of selfishness and consumption prevail. Will we be like the selfish king as we drive gas guzzlers or will the “we” of collective responsibility triumph making our world livable for our children?
The second place in which we recently have seen this conflict between the “Me versus We” is an event that occurred this past week in a rural town in western Tennessee. A fire department was called to a house to put out a fire, and because the owner of the house had not paid a $75 fee to the fire department, the firefighters stood by and watched the house burn down. Fortunately no one in the house died, yet three dogs and a cat were incinerated. The fire department said, “We are not responsible because this homeowner did not pay the appropriate fees.” Here we see the ultimate of the “Me versus We” conflict in our society.
First of all, it goes without saying, here in Greensboro we don’t have a choice to whether we pay taxes to our police and fire departments. The system in Tennessee, therefore, is to blame.
But the Torah tells us that we should not stand idly by the blood of our neighbor. The idea that people who have supposedly dedicated their lives to saving life, limb, and property would stand by is indeed appalling. The Torah is quite clear. We are not to stand by when someone else is in trouble.
Second, Judaism stresses that the collective wellbeing trumps personal wellbeing. Society is of greater importance than individual personal achievement. For example, the Torah tells us that we are all responsible for the education of our children in our society, even if we send our kids to private school. Jewish tradition is filled with the idea that all of us must provide for the common good. In the medieval Jewish community, taxes were not considered a bad thing, nor should it be considered bad here. The next time you hear we pay too many taxes, ask if they’d like to send their children to school in buildings that are dumps. The answer, of course, is no. We like having proper bridges, roads, schools and transportation and an army to protect our country. The problems that we have with paying taxes are not that taxes are bad, but that wasting tax money on bridges to nowhere in Alaska is not a good thing. Judaism clearly eschews community care. Our tradition stresses that what is important is not “Me,” but rather the “We.”
The third incident where we see the “We” versus “Me” in our society recently is the sad story of Tyler Clementi. Tyler was a Rutgers University student whose roommate secretly taped him having relations with another male. The tape was put on the internet and the next day Tyler jumped off the George Washington Bridge.
Jewish tradition would say that we are all responsible in some way for this tragedy. It is our responsibility to fight to eliminate bullying. Sadly, our society seems to fail to combat bullying when the person who is being bullied is gay or lesbian.
Here at Temple Emanuel, I am pleased to mention that last week and this week we are doing anti-bullying education with our students. This will, of course be ongoing, because we think the problem is indeed that serious and we think it will help make this ark that we live in a bit better. Bullying and discrimination against gays and lesbians is our problem, not merely someone else’s.
At Temple Emanuel we will not stand idly by. This conflict that we see between the “We” versus “Me” is all to frequent. It all goes back to the ark. When Noah goes on the ark he takes his family and the animals because he realizes that on the ark, community is important.
In Jewish tradition, the rabbis tell us that we are all responsible for each other. Personal salvation, no matter what your religion, is not as important as communal responsibility. In most religions, prayers are said in the plural tense. The community is important, because theologically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically we are all bound in the same ark.
If we adopt this attitude of the “We,” the attitude that recognizes the importance of community, we will care for our ark, our earth. We will love it and try to be ecologically responsible and try to provide for all its inhabitants just like Noah did. Poverty, homelessness, indecent housing, poor education – these are communal concerns.
If we believe in the value of “We,” we can create a community wherein every individual is seen as being created in the image of God. Once we do that, we will create a loving society on our “ark,” a loving society on our earth. Truly it will be a society based upon justice compassion and peace. And truly it will be a fulfillment of the vision of the prophet Zachariah who wrote, “On that day God will be one and Gods name will be one.” In other words, on that day all humanity will be one because we will realize that we have to lovingly care for each other, our earth and our planet.
May this be God’s will as it is our task!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Friends:
Judaism places the highest value on Pikuach Nefesh - saving a life. In this highly charged political environment, the chances of discrimination against the LGBT community are higher than they have been in a while. In addition, the Clementi suicide shows how social media can be used as an instrument of bullying and discrimination.
Here at Temple Emanuel, we are and will continue to be welcoming of LGBT’s and we will continue to advocate on their behalf for full civil and legal rights. We are disappointed that Congress did not overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” but our efforts will not stop with what we believe is a momentary setback on the road to full equality of LGBT’s.
Below is a wonderfully written letter concerning the recent bullying, gay bashing incident at Rutgers. The letter was written by a minister in Maryland. The content of the letter is too important to ignore.
Rabbi Fred Guttman
September 30, 2010
Dear Congregation,
I am overwhelmed by a story reported on the news last night about Rutgers University freshman, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide the day after two fellow students recorded him having sex in his dorm room and broadcast it over the Internet. Was it just a coincidence that he was targeted because he was with another male student?
The night before I listened to a Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell defend the blog he has started called, “Chris Armstrong Watch,” an attack on the student assembly president at the University of Michigan. Shirwell attacks what he says is Armstrong's "radical homosexual agenda," and posts Photo shopped pictures of Armstrong with rainbow flags and swastikas and picks apart the student's Facebook page. Armstrong is the first openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan.
Are any of you suspecting that we are spiraling down into a muck of behavior that has moved beyond demeaning, demoralizing, and ridiculous to dangerous? What makes us think that it’s okay to put out personal stuff about someone else on blog pages, Facebook, or other Internet sites? Just because the technology is available does that mean we have to use it? It seems to me that a hidden camera in someone’s private bedroom is more than an invasion of privacy which is all those students have been charged with at this time. Are public officials such as attorney generals such as Shirwell not held to a higher standard than his “I have freedom of speech” statement?
These young adults are among many young adults and teens who are being taunted, mocked, and bullied by classmates. Some choose to commit suicide when confronted with such hatred from their fellow classmates. Where are the other classmates who witness these acts of bullying? Where are the adults who are charged with creating safe environments for students? What kind of nation have we become that an officer of the state, an attorney general, can go after a student because he believes he is promoting an agenda he doesn’t approve of or like?
Now is not the time for apathy or silence. It is apathy and silence that have allowed this ugliness and hatred to permeate all parts of our lives these days or so it seems. Please join me in praying for peace and for the courage to name the violence in our midst. Please join me in paying more careful attention to bullying and mean behavior in our midst. Please let us join together in speaking up and out so that our young people don’t think their only option is suicide.
Barbara
Barbara Kershner Daniel
Evangelical Reformed Church, United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Judaism places the highest value on Pikuach Nefesh - saving a life. In this highly charged political environment, the chances of discrimination against the LGBT community are higher than they have been in a while. In addition, the Clementi suicide shows how social media can be used as an instrument of bullying and discrimination.
Here at Temple Emanuel, we are and will continue to be welcoming of LGBT’s and we will continue to advocate on their behalf for full civil and legal rights. We are disappointed that Congress did not overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” but our efforts will not stop with what we believe is a momentary setback on the road to full equality of LGBT’s.
Below is a wonderfully written letter concerning the recent bullying, gay bashing incident at Rutgers. The letter was written by a minister in Maryland. The content of the letter is too important to ignore.
Rabbi Fred Guttman
September 30, 2010
Dear Congregation,
I am overwhelmed by a story reported on the news last night about Rutgers University freshman, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide the day after two fellow students recorded him having sex in his dorm room and broadcast it over the Internet. Was it just a coincidence that he was targeted because he was with another male student?
The night before I listened to a Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell defend the blog he has started called, “Chris Armstrong Watch,” an attack on the student assembly president at the University of Michigan. Shirwell attacks what he says is Armstrong's "radical homosexual agenda," and posts Photo shopped pictures of Armstrong with rainbow flags and swastikas and picks apart the student's Facebook page. Armstrong is the first openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan.
Are any of you suspecting that we are spiraling down into a muck of behavior that has moved beyond demeaning, demoralizing, and ridiculous to dangerous? What makes us think that it’s okay to put out personal stuff about someone else on blog pages, Facebook, or other Internet sites? Just because the technology is available does that mean we have to use it? It seems to me that a hidden camera in someone’s private bedroom is more than an invasion of privacy which is all those students have been charged with at this time. Are public officials such as attorney generals such as Shirwell not held to a higher standard than his “I have freedom of speech” statement?
These young adults are among many young adults and teens who are being taunted, mocked, and bullied by classmates. Some choose to commit suicide when confronted with such hatred from their fellow classmates. Where are the other classmates who witness these acts of bullying? Where are the adults who are charged with creating safe environments for students? What kind of nation have we become that an officer of the state, an attorney general, can go after a student because he believes he is promoting an agenda he doesn’t approve of or like?
Now is not the time for apathy or silence. It is apathy and silence that have allowed this ugliness and hatred to permeate all parts of our lives these days or so it seems. Please join me in praying for peace and for the courage to name the violence in our midst. Please join me in paying more careful attention to bullying and mean behavior in our midst. Please let us join together in speaking up and out so that our young people don’t think their only option is suicide.
Barbara
Barbara Kershner Daniel
Evangelical Reformed Church, United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
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