It doesn’t matter whether the person or people who sprayed swastikas and other graffiti symbols on two Bangor synagogues recently did it with the intention of alarming the Jewish community. Regardless of motivation, their actions inflicted fear and pain.
This is the time for Bangor and the surrounding area to counteract the ugly, hateful actions by showing strong support for the people who were targeted. Drown out the hateful speech with positive speech of your own.
As Congregation Beth Israel and Beth Abraham Synagogue respond to their own members, people of all faiths can write or call with their own words of affirmation. An attack on one religion is, at its heart, a threat to the freedom to practice any religion.
When people who are not Jewish speak out in support and say the crime does not reflect their values, they build healing connections on the back of hate. A unified voice will show that hate crimes do not, in any way, represent Bangor or Maine.
A few things should happen now. Bangor police will continue to investigate, and anyone with information about the Sept. 21 defacement should call them.
If you are a parent, teacher or school counselor, talk to young people about what discrimination and harassment means and how symbols and words inflict pain. Civil rights teams already work to educate schools about bias and bullying; students should be listening. Empathy can be learned. People must know they are responsible for the consequences of their behavior whether or not those consequences are intended.
In 2010, 41 hate-crime complaints were forwarded from law enforcement to the attorney general’s office. In 2011, there were 48, according to the office. Communities react to hate crimes in ways that are appropriate for them, but one response proved particularly effective.
In Bingham in 2010, a 10-year-old African American student discovered racial hate language, death threats and swastikas etched into the floor of the basketball court behind his school. Instead of ignoring the vandalism, the school district and community held a support rally.
More than 100 people attended in order to celebrate the boy, Durgin Sweet. They wrote positive words with chalk on the court, including: “It’s the differences that make us interesting.” Later, Sweet spoke at every classroom in the district to educate his classmates about acceptance.
After seeing the etchings, Sweet said he was sad, and then he became afraid. There were people out there who wanted to hurt, even kill, people who looked like him. But the outpouring of support, he said, let him know people were looking out for him and would protect him. He said the support made him understand that many people, in fact, are not racist. Seeing and hearing from community members was key.
With many people gathering together to send the same message, the small Somerset County community placed emphasis where it belongs: on the inherent worth of the people who were the subjects of hate.
Bangor can do the same. Let us add our voice to yours: The bias-based graffiti does not reflect the feelings of Bangor. We respect the Jewish faith.
We should respect people of all faiths, including those with no faith. It is the right thing to do.
This is a horrendous thing to happen to beautiful buildings like these. If this is a “hate crime” I hope the vandals are caught and punished severley. Like Mimizkool said, we should respect people of all faiths and like the article says we should stand by the people of this congregation. I wish I lived closer so that I could come help clean up that mess!!
Of course I cannot be certain but I do not think this is a hate crime. My guess is that some kids were looking for maximum shock value and made a bad choice. I guess they did maximize the shock value of their actions which won’t play well well in court but I doubt anti-semitism played any role what-so-ever.
Please do not take such ignorance as personal. Someone who did this is lost. They have no direction and for whatever reason are angry and do not care about themselves or anyone else. If we only cared more about people and extended a hand now and then, it could make big difference. Positively, give of yourself to those around you. We have become so self centered that we forget about others. I remember the older couple who lived down the street, she would send over warm rolls for our Saturday night dinner we were always thankful for her kind gesture and caring.
We need to care more for others.
The defacing of these synagogues is an outrage to anyone, be they a person of faith or not. I am a Catholic, but I find this totally abhorrent and so should everyone. America is no place for hate. And people of conscience need to remind–and be reminded–of that.
What’s wrong with people? These perpetrators should be persecuted like Hester Prynne. Ignorant…
While this is completely terrible, what is going to send a stronger message to those who do crimes like this is showing compassion… To everyone. I agree with WeRLosingCivility. Instead of hating those that defaced the synagogue, let’s set an example and reach out to the people effected by these crimes. Hate is hate, so let’s stop it in it’s tracks and show a little love.
I installed a “stealth cam” at my remote camp. It is hidden. The cost was $150. It shows high resolution images both day and night without a flash. It shows the temperature, time and date of each image. It can take still images or video. It could help police identify who would deface a church or synagogue.
The latent antisemitism in northern Maine has been here for a long time. It is stealthy and low-key, usually, but it is here.
At the University of Maine the word “Jew” is used as a verb by professors and students alike.
Bill Cohen’s campaign was forced to announce publicly that the candidate was NOT Jewish under Jewish law. (The mother’s ethnicity determines the ethnicity of off-spring.)
A Jewish owned business in downtown Bangor was targeted by the same type of vandalism as described above.
People will do what people do. The idea that any crime isn’t a “hate crime” is far beyond ludicrous. The idea that “education” will somehow miraculously change people is wrong. Believe it or do not, “educated people” like college professors still think is it O.K. to “Jew someone down” assumedly to a reasonable price. Politicians like Bill Cohen (whom I mostly respect) believe it is O.K. to gain a few percentage points by telling voters he is not a Jew. This latent acceptance paves ground for the full blown vandalism and kristallnacht type of behavior done at the synagogue.
I love freedom of speech. It allows haters to talk. It gives me the information I need to make decisions on appropriate associations. So keep talking, but leave your spray-paint cans home.