This editorial is not about politics.
It is not about an issue that mark us as Democrats vs. Repubilicans, liberals vs. conservatives, pro-life vs. pro-choice, higher vs. lower taxes, amnesty for immigrants vs. big, beautiful border walls, diplomacy vs. bombing No. Korea, Syria, Iran, or anyone else, pro gay, women’s, and minority rights vs. whatever the other side is, or any of the other matters that may divide us along party, religious, or any other beliefs.
Rather, this editorial is about something upon which all Americans should agree: America is no place for hate.
However, the unfortunate reality is that ever since the election of Donald Trump as President, hate crimes that are directed against persons based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, and religious affiliation have increased substantially.
For example, according to a report published last Monday by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 541 anti-Semitic incidents have occurred so far this year — an 86 percent increase compared to the same period in 2016.
For anyone to deny that the increase in anti-Semitic and other hate-crime incidents is related to the bigotry and invective that occurs almost on a daily basis from those serving in the White House is failing to acknowledge reality.
Words do matter, and when we have elected officials who openly make hate speech part of their campaign and governing rhetoric, it is inevitable that at a minimum they indirectly are giving tacit approval to acts that are contrary to everything that America stands for.
We realize that those who are Trump supporters because of his views on taxes, immigration, abortion, etc. will disagree with our position because they themselves do not support hateful acts and no doubt think of themselves as not being prejudiced — and that probably is true of the vast majority of Trump voters.
However, as much as one may agree with Trump or any other political candidate on any given set of political issues, we submit that there are some things that all of us as Americans make take a stand on — and one of those is that hate speech and hate crimes must be condemned from whatever the source.
Silence on matters such as these, which strike at the very heart of what has made America different than every place else in the world ever since the Pilgrims landed here almost 400 years ago, is itself un-American.
All of us, regardless of our political views and affiliations, have an obligation as citizens of this country to do whatever we can to ensure that America is no place for hate.
View Comments (5)
Uhhh guys... the anti-semitism is coming from the college campuses and other Liberal bastions and is almost entirely originating in Liberal groups. Most of the actual violence in the streets is also coming from college students and is directed at those who dare to express views and opinions different from what they want to hear, again almost entirely targeted at those express something other than Liberal views. The statement that such activity has increased since Trump was elected is certainly true but it's a bit disingenuous of you to try to create the impression that such behavior is coming FROM those or is caused by those who elected Trump. If you're actually sincere in condemning such activity then why not target your words directly at those carrying it out... or are you afraid that doing so will make you a target of these people as well?
Thank goodness for your response. This author is an idiot, or a liberal who doesn't care about the truth.
Wow, my sentiments exactly! It's a shame that our schools are now indoctrinating instead of teaching, our prestigious institutions of higher learning that once graduated the best of the best are allowing themselves to morph into asylums that crank out lunatics who are nurtured by warped faculty who not only condone violence against those with different opinions but encourage it, our "entertainers" and sports people, newscasters, late night talk hosts, and, let us be truthful here, politicians of all levels who delight in spewing vitriol have taken over and are force-feeding us a steady stream of hatred on a daily basis, literally brain-washing those who are not aware nor want to acknowledge such a fact. A daily dosage of mega-hate, without anywhere to go to escape it, could probably cause some who would otherwise remain neutral to rise up and cause the same type of carnage that we have been witness to over the past decade or two. In my 72 years of being on this earth, I have never experienced behavior like this towards my fellow citizens. Congratulations to all that are involved; you have caused harm to this country more from within than any of our enemies would ever hope to be able to accomplish. And the sad part is, a good percentage of you who are involved in the hate and mayhem don't even know why.
I agree with the librarian. It seems those who are most consumed with anger and hate are the radical liberals...
I hope the authors of this article write how deplorable Steven Colbert was in his statements about President Trump,as well as the lame excuse that U.Cal Berkeley used when not offering adequate protection to Ann Coulter.
The riotous and destructive behavior needs to be addressed either with expulsion and incarceration. Who is running these bastions of higher education? Jellyfish,spineless individuals who need to allow all people the freedom speak what is on their minds without fearing for their safety.