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Thanksgiving has evolved far from the original intent of neighbor-getting-to-know-neighbor. Nowadays, the country is facing a surge in hate crimes and it’s time to set a new table to address the issue.
When it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving, everyone thinks it’s the holiday most closely observed in the same spirit as our forefathers —friends and family sitting at the same table sharing food and enjoying each other’s company.
Yet, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Since that first Thanksgiving, whether you believe it took place either in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 or in St. Augustine, Florida in 1565, the holiday has evolved into one that is farther away from that original idyllic scene of pilgrims/ Spanish explorers breaking bread with Indians than reminiscent of it.
The idea behind Thanksgiving wasn’t to celebrate with family, since a lot of those first “immigrants” made the trip with only their immediate family members or solo, but to sit down with people who were their new, strange, and in many cases, unknown neighbors — and get to know them.
In that respect, we’ve drifted away from the original intent of the holiday to the point where we are facing yet another emerging crisis in this country — an increase in hate crimes.
Since Barack Obama’s presidential win, there has been an increase in reports of physical assaults, racially motivated graffiti and verbal harassment on people of color.
The most infamous case so far, since the election, has been the Long Island murder of Marcelo Lucero. Lucero was an Ecuadorian immigrant murdered by a gang of kids who were specifically looking to beat up someone who looked Latino.
The shock goes beyond putting words to the horrific crime but it’s not an isolated event when it comes to preying on people of color.
In Wylie, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, people in one neighborhood have been under siege for a week by someone who has been spraying ethnic slurs on garage doors accompanied with swastika images.
Reuters news agency reports that in schools, mainly located in southern states, racial tensions are running high with kids calling each other derogatory names. And perhaps the most disturbing revelation is the fact that the white supremacist groups, the Ku Klux Klan and the Council of Conservative Citizens, have reported that they are fielding a flood of interest in their organizations from possible new members.
The situation is regarded as being so serious that this week leaders from six civil rights groups held a press conference condemning the rise in hate crimes. It’s a trend that was noticed during the election when Republican extremists singled out undocumented immigrants in their rhetoric against illegal immigration.
At that time, the National Council of La Raza created the web site We Can Stop the Hate to counter the negativity against Latino immigrants. Unfortunately, since then, the attacks have broadened that now the site is a clearinghouse on information of racial attacks against all people of color and ethnicities.
Thankfully, there are some bright developments happening.
The murder of Marcelo Lucero has forced that local community to seriously reevaluate how they look at Latinos. In a positive step, the county police commissioner appointed the highest-ranking Hispanic official in the department to oversee the precinct where Lucero was murdered. And a newspaper editorial tried to offer suggestions on how local officials can make it clear that hate crime is not a sport.
Yet much more is needed to address the issue and deliver a uniform “curriculum,” strategy, implementation and response to counter this disturbing and escalating national trend.
Because the nature of this issue has the potential to tear apart the fabric of our society and keep us from acting as “one” country, it warrants the creation of a special presidential advisory board.
It should be staffed not only with representatives of different ethnic groups active in civil rights but it should also attempt to bring in members of those very organizations whose memberships have targeted people of color.
Dialogue has to begin somewhere and what better place than in seats at the same table?
Comments (1)
Dear Marisa:
Your message is so important today; we can see the hate monster growing by leaps and bounds.
I certainly hope those who read your words of wisdom will reach out with love and patience towards their neighbors, pray for those who practice hate to realize the error of their ways.
Those of us in the theological community are very much aware of the increasing malady of hate, as is stated in the Bible that the increase of hate will be felt as never before, and that it's also a sign that Jesus Christ (for those who believe in Him) is due to return to punish those who practive evil. He would rather that evil ones should repent and instead love their neighbors; but it's their choice:
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9" Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." [Matthew 24:3-14]
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Posted by Joe Ortiz | 27 de Noviembre 2008 a las 01:26 PM
Posted on 27 de Noviembre 2008 13:26