Letter to the Editor: Respect is seriously lacking in today's society
Friday, December 11, 2015
To the Editor:
RESPECT – “A way of treating or thinking about someone or something. A quality seriously lacking in today’s society.”
It saddens me that there are those in Shoreline who lack tolerance in our very diverse community and instead of doing something positive (like love their neighbors) spew their lack of respect or tolerance with a bunch of legalize regarding the lighting of a menorah on the steps of the city hall of Shoreline.
I was born a Jew and continued my life as a practicing Jew. I have lived in Shoreline over 50 years; my children were raised here. There were very few Jewish families here in the 60’s. We belonged and still belong to a Temple in Seattle and continue to practice our faith with our very enlarged family.
We enjoyed sharing our customs with our many non jewish friends whose children grew up with our children, ate my latkes at Hanukah and danced the Hora at my children’s and grandchildren’s Bnai Mitzvah parties at the Innis Arden Club. These same friends became very much a part of our lives by sharing their customs, times of joy and sadness.
I will never forget the weekend shooting at the Jewish Federation in Seattle in 2006. Six women were shot, including Pamela Waechter who died. It was considered a hate crime. I was away at the time, but found a voice message from one of our first Innis Arden non Jewish friends that said “your pain is our pain”. I still cry when I remember this call and tell this story.
Whatever you celebrate, I wish you all joy and a healthy and peaceful New Year and remember - respect your neighbor.*
Sis Polin
Shoreline
* I love driving around and seeing the Christmas lights.
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8 comments:
Lack of respect for your neighbors is government sponsoring a specific religion, and having a councilmember use it as a publicity tool. The menorah was publicized as being displayed on city hall property. It was only after the hubbub that it was changed to be removed right after. Nobody cares about religious ceremonies on private property, or even in a park, but it does not belong at city hall.
Thank you for lifting up the discussion by sharing your beautiful personal experience. My family (Christian Protestant) moved to Shoreline in 1966 when I was 4. At Syre, Einstein and Shorewood there was little diversity. At age 11 I was blessed to be invited to the Flower family home to celebrate Passover. The experience was welcoming, inspiring and made an indelible imprint on my heart. I wish there had been more community opportunities to learn about eachother and share that richness. My children now attend school in Shoreline and I am immensely proud of how the diversity of our neighborhoods have multiplied. There is so much value in publicly honoring and participating in a variety of religious and cultural celebrations. Understanding and familiarity overpower ignorance and fear. May the light and love of the season be with you
Thank you Sis for your comments.
Once I learned that the event Sis refers to was not sponsored by the City, but that the facility was simply rented by an outside group my initial sense of concern for respect for separation of church and state was eliminated.
Many of the people who came to this continent came here to escape religious persecution. People are still trying to get here for that same reason from Syria, Iraq and other areas of conflict.(For many they see it as their only hope to survive).
As a result of this influx of cultures from all around the world America is enriched. The exchange of ideas, cultural history and appreciation for diverse viewpoints helps us problem solve and fosters compassion for the rest of the world.
It was very wise when the founders of this nation insisted that Government would be completely unbiased when it came to religion. Such objectivity is necessary to prevent our country from fracturing into multiple city states as has happened in other parts of the world.
So, if a Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or any other group (Atheist included) wanted to rent the City steps for an evening for a special event they should not be denied that opportunity.
Full disclosure: My husband was raised Catholic and though not Jewish he is employed at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. He was not employed there at the time of the attack.
Thank you for the wonderful reminder of how we are all one community. Learning about others' religion is a true privilege. We need to get the hate out of Shoreline - whether someone thinks it is "legal" or not - there is no place in our community for intolerance.
It is unfortunate that Sis Polin has misunderstood why objections were raised to the Chabad Hanakkah celebration that was permitted on the City Hall steps on Sunday, December 6, 2015. They had nothing to do with the particular group that benefited from this unique permit. She apparently is not aware of the purely non-sectarian basis for these objections.
The non-sectarian organizations - Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and others - strongly respect and advocate for the protections offered by the strict observance of the First Amendment to the U.S.Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .”. By virtue of the 14th Amendment, this applies to the states as well. Using the City Hall as a place to hold a religious service - of any religion whatsoever - violates this prohibition when these premises have never before been available for rent to any group at all.
This separation has a profound importance for our country. The founders were intimately aware of the terrible consequences - even including torture and death - that followed from governmental support of one religion over another.
There are many public places in our city where religious celebrants are welcome, along with many other groups - for example, public parks have many sites for rent to accommodate those who wish to apply.
There is only one Shoreline City Hall, and it should never be rented out or used for anything but the public business. Who has the right to decide - using what criteria? - which among all the potential applicants for similar use should be entitled to rent it? what categories would be allowed, which excluded?
By preventing use of City Hall property by other than the City government and City-sponsored events, we avoid all possible conflicts among potential non-governmental groups whether religious, political, commercial or any other category - one policy for all: No use of City Hall property for anything but official City events.
I urge the Shoreline City Council to adopt a provision removing City Hall from the purview of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department, and making its use restricted to events directly related to City business and City-sponsored public events.
This has nothing to do with tolerance. In America, we do not accept the imposition of anyone's faith on others. Those who wish to share their faith and those who want to reach out to other faiths are free to do so, but not with government assistance. The government must remain free of all such entanglements because the government controls the police power of the state. There are many good reasons to maintain separation of church and state, both to protect freedom of belief as well as freedom from imposition of belief.
You are right, Elaine. The brouhaha had nothing to do with religion - but it also had nothing to do with a religious event on government property.
There were no issues when Christian weddings have been held inside the building.
I haven't seen you or anyone else raise a stink that the city of Lynnwood not only also held a menorah lighting but it was inside the building with their Mayor giving a speech and special guest Dave Somers. Where is the outrage there?
You are only having an issue with this particular event because you currently disagree with Shoreline government and you can't contain your spite towards one specific council person who beat out your candidate and attended this event.
And yes, I'm posting anonymous, because I don't want to worry about this kind of behavior being aimed at me.
I am unsure why comments are not being posted, but I am Jewish and also live in Shoreline. Jesse Salomon does not represent me, and I don't like that he uses our religion as a publicity tool. I find it disconcerting that Councilman Salomon would use this holiday in our faith that celebrates the defeat of people who wished to impose restrictions on the Jewish People. Councilman Salomon's vote destroyed my neighborhood simply because he wishes to impose his views on what my neighborhood should be, and who should live in my neighborhood.
Mayor Shari Winstead should not speak of disrespect and intolerance, she is the one driving these horrible changes to Shoreline. And I notice her home was not rezoned.
Thank you - Ed Cohen
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