Archive: Opinions

Last Thursday Governor Cuomo announced more than $10 million in awards to enhance security at 207 non-public schools, religious-based institutions and cultural centers in response to a growing number of hate crimes in New York State, more than half of them against Jews.  This announcement came on the heels of an earlier round that funded over 300 projects to the tune of more than $14.8 million.  Hate crimes against Jews has been a fact of life for millennia, so this isn't exactly news.  And these modern crimes have not only been targeting Jews.  But the number of statements by the Governor about specific anti-Semitic crimes around the state over the past year has been alarmingly high.

"The cancer of hate and division spreading across this country is repugnant to the values of diversity and inclusion we hold dear in New York," Governor Cuomo said. "We are continuing to do everything we can to stamp out threats and acts of violence targeting religious and cultural institutions, and this new grant funding will allow many of these organizations to enhance their security measures and help keep people safe."

Cancer indeed.  So far $25 million of 'chemo' hasn't been enough to eradicate this cancer.  Indeed, it is growing.  Many pundits have attributed that growth to an atmosphere of hate fostered by President Trump, but one has to wonder whether that conveniently political view is just an excuse.  Even if hateful people have been emboldened to act out in the current political climate, sling out from under the veil of political correctness, they probably felt this hatred long before Trump (or any particular president) came to power.

Anti-Semitism is referred to as the world's 'oldest hatred'.  When people hear 'anti-Semitism' most think of the Nazis, but Hitler certainly didn't invent it.  It dates back to ancient Greek, Babylonian, and Roman times, and escalated in Europe during the medieval period.  Jews were denied citizenship in most countries, a notable exception being Poland, which allowed Jewish citizenship and religious freedom starting in 1264. Pogroms, ghettos, and identifying Jews with yellow emblems on their clothing weren't new ideas when Hitler rose to power.  He simply commandeered and refined these things with deadly intent.

In 2017 hate crimes against Jews rose 34% in the United Kingdom, and 57% in the United States.  They doubled in the US in 2018.

It is easy to demonize people from other demographics when you don't know any, or don't know much about their cultures and beliefs.  Or when you just know one who happens to be a jerk.  Many Jews such as Elie Wiesel and Ithaca's own Fred Voss took the approach that if you keep stories of atrocities against Jews alive, then history will not be repeated.  Cuomo's approach has been to beef up security and use state resources to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.  Together they are prevention and punishment.

Another remedy is favored by science fiction authors who posit that when Earth is attacked by malevolent aliens all the human enemies and nations unite against a common foe.  It comes from an ancient proverb that says,"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".  Ironic idea that... not hating a person or group simply because you both hate the same person (or whatever space aliens are).

Last week Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Patrick A. Murphy said, "Diversity is at the core of what makes New York, New York, and we must do everything possible to ensure our communities are protected against those who seek to divide us and spread hate."

I have long felt that the way to foster understanding is for Americans with different cultural and religious roots to live and work together.  Murphy is partly right, but diversity isn't worth a fig if it isn't shared in our local communities.  When our children go to the same schools, and we invite each other into our homes, share meals, talk about how bad the "Cats" movie is, and revel in both our sameness and differences, maybe... just maybe there is a chance that we will bring those hate crime numbers down.  The local initiative that holds monthly interfaith dinners is a great way to promote understanding.

It has been politically correct to decry hate crimes and religious slurs for many years, but political correctness is not a cure.  It's a cover.  Enforcing feelings is a losing enterprise.  Informing them is a way of changing them, and that is how we will eliminate hatred among humans, if we ever do.

Next Wednesday starts a new year and a new decade.  We started this millennium with the 9/11 attack, and here we are almost 20 years later with escalating hate crimes in our state and country.  My wish is that we start the third decade of the millennium with better understanding and appreciation for all of our differences, and put an end to hate crimes once and for all.

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