Within hours of the breaking news, the local Muslim community reached out to their Jewish neighbors and offered help. In a span of three hours, the Muslim community raised over $25,000 to help with repair and clean up costs. Local volunteers of all faiths gathered at the cemetery today to offer help with the clean up.
Now, I hope everyone is listening to this:
THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT!!!
My co-worker and friend, Mrs. H, told me she has family buried in that cemetery. She doesn't yet know if their stones are damaged. Up until today, no one but cemetery employees were allowed in the cemetery to review the damage. Local rabbis are notifying families as soon as they know anything.
Neighbors helping one another through kindness and sharing. Why are we so engulfed in mistrust and vitriol? Bury the hate and come together as a community. This is not a difficult concept.
Mrs. H and I discussed this heinous act at length today. She wondered out loud if she should continue to wear her religious medals in public. I was stunned that she felt fearful for her safety. I told her to continue to wear them - they help define who she is. She is proud of her Jewish heritage and I believe it's disgraceful that some ignorant &*$%* would make her consider hiding the very thing that makes her who she is. So, in solidarity with my Jewish brothers and sisters, I have put on my crucifix and St. Gabriel medal. I haven't worn them lately because the chain broke. However, I found another chain (it doesn't match the pendants) and I'm wearing my own religious medals proudly.
I hope the police catch the people responsible for this and I truly hope the punishment fits the crime. Clean up the mess without mechanical help. What? You can't lift a 1,000 pound headstone? Too bad that didn't occur to you when you knocked it over!
The President's tepid and delayed response was and is inexcusable. It was nice that the Vice President stopped by since he was in town for something else anyway. He and our Governor rolled up their sleeves, put on gloves and helped with some of the clean up.
However, it will eventually be up to all of us to send the strong message that hate crimes will not be tolerated by anyone. Here or anywhere.
May God Bless us all.
