Giorgio: End the Climate of Hate

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Paul Giorgio, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

We need to have a conversation in this country, state and city about the interesting confluence of the rise of the TEA Party and the increase in the rhetoric of hate. This stems from two factors, the primary one being the election of Barak Obama. Up until that time, there was a lid on hateful rhetoric in most quarters, but with his election, that lid came off, because now certain people can say  ”But we have a Black President”.

The election of Obama gave rise to the TEA Party, which began as an anti- tax movement.  But what are anti- tax movements?  In reality they are anti- poor and anti- minority and anti-immigrant. The rational being, we spend too much money on “those” people. I vividly remember a TEA Party rally that was covered on the news. They interviewed a white southerner, who had a confederate flag flying from his trailer. His comment, “We need to take our country back”.  Back from who, I ask.

The TEA Party and their partners in slime, the Republican leadership of congress have been relentless in their attacks on the President. They have sought to diminish him since the day he was elected.  They have questioned his loyalty and his citizenship. Al, I believe, to create a narrative that Obama is not like the rest of us, as Rudy Giuliani said this past winter.

This week is important in American history

This week is an important one in American history. It is the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and today marks the 150th anniversary of the assignation of Abraham Lincoln.  This past Sunday marked the 70th anniversary of the death of Franklin Roosevelt. I mention both Lincoln and Roosevelt, because they too were vilified while in office, but history has shown then to be two of our greatest presidents. They both, at different times, saved this nation.

Our country and our city are at a cross roads.  We must end the vilification of the President.  What diminishes one of us diminishes us all. What diminishes the President, diminishes America. We must end the “rhetoric of hate” spewed by the right, whether they call themselves Republicans or TEA Partiers.

Communities of Faith have raised issue.

According to the faith community in Worcester, this hate has spilled over into our city. I believe it started with the President’s visit last year. Was it a mere coincidence that a noose was found in the Main Street Post Office at the time of Obama’s visit?

This hatred or anti- poor, anti-immigrant rhetoric has spilled over to the talk show circuit, to the blogosphere and to online comments on the T&G website.

It is becoming so prevalent, that the Faith Community called a press conference on Monday to address the issue. There should be no place for hate in our city.

Dividing us for political gain.

There are those who try to divide us for short term political gain. They masquerade as something they are not. They are integrating themselves into city government. When you accuse them of being fellow travelers of the TEA Party, they claim they are unenrolled voters. This bears great similarity to the Know Nothings of the late 1800’s. They too were anti-immigrant. These “Nativists” when queried said they knew nothing.  

Today these  latter day know Nothings seek to divide us by bringing forward phony issues.

Two such issues in the past few months that these Tea Party folks are using as a wedge issue is the problems at North High School and support of the Worcester Police.

There are problems at North High School.  But they are no different than any large public urban high School.  But the issues are not based on race.  It our hyper news world, issues get reported more.  Think back to when you were in high school. Where there fights?  Of course there were.  They just did not make the news.

Are there issues with the police, yes sometimes and the Police Chief deals swiftly with them as we saw this past week?

Wolves in sheep’s clothing.

According to the Gospel of Mathew 7:15 of the King James Bible, Jesus in a sermon said: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Today in Worcester, there are “ravening wolves” who seek to exploit issues like Ferguson, Missouri or the problems at North High School.  They seek to make these into racial issues.  They seek to divide.

So let us begin the conversation.  Let us call out the wolves and let’s all work to make our city a better place.

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Related Slideshow: 25 Massachusetts Cities and Towns with Highest Hate Crime Rates Per Capita

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