Maybe we really are too old to understand what is going on in the world. Didn’t Columbus discover America in 1492? Would we all be here if he had not? Wasn’t Thomas Jefferson one of the Founding Fathers? Was he not an author of the Declaration of Independence? Down with Theodore Roosevelt at the American Museum of Natural History because, as Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement, “The city supports the museum’s request. It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.” Last night an attempt was made to tear down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. We are sure that this is not the end. There will come a time shortly, no doubt, that there will be some sort of social discourse about a statue of Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.
We are not in any way condoning acts that some of these “heroes” partook in. Yet we all have to remember that the world was entirely different when these people lived. As horrific as slavery was, it was the way of life in the South for many years and there were definitely land owners who treated their slaves with dignity. Yes, there were still slaves but that was the world at that time. In researching each of the people whose monuments have been desecrated or torn down, we found that they worked hard for the United States of America during completely different times.
Can someone please explain to us what normal person partakes in violence? Who do you know of who loots stores with smiles on their faces? How many of our readers would walk over to a homeless man and throw a firecracker on his body? Who goes over to a policeman and throws a vacuum cleaner at his head? Are we supposed to feel sorry for these oppressed people? What a disservice all of this is doing to the wonderful African American people who have built beautiful lives based on love and concern for one another.
We remember well when we had a discussion with our friend Isaiah, the African American crossing guard at the corner of New Bridge and Westminster, who would be the first to say how embarrassed he is by the behavior of certain individuals. He “wished that the government would stop enabling them with all of the special perks of being unemployed.” If they would have to work for a living, he has said, things would be completely different.
Who would want their sons, daughters, husbands, etc., to be police officers these days? It seems to us that you would have to be crazy to choose this profession. Saying goodbye to one’s family in the morning with the knowledge that you may not come home at night or, even better, to feel that you might have to walk away from a confrontation for fear of being accused of acting inappropriately. Just this week in Bergenfield, three police officers were targeted by a Teaneck man in a totally unprovoked attack. Yes, in safe Bergenfield. Yes, there are police who act reprehensibly and they need to be fired. But in our minds, the vast majority are heroes. There is not one profession that does not have members who act dishonestly and illegally. However, they do not bring down an entire country of honest, law-abiding members of the profession who took their jobs because they believed in making the world a better place. Each time we see a police officer we thank them for their dedication to making our lives safer and more pleasant.
As a community, as a people, we need to up the ante in terms of the way we show respect to people of color. The days of the “shvartzes” who lived across the street are over. No more do we need to hear that someone is a pretty nice “goy.” A woman is a woman, not a shiksa. The Spanish guy is a person. People from Spanish-speaking countries working in kosher stores are salespeople or cashiers. We need to set an example. Partaking in a march is one thing but it really does nothing to make a difference in our everyday lives. Consider inviting your African American neighbor who lives in your neighborhood to your home for a coffee. Buy your children dolls of different colors.
Teach your children of the horrible atrocities that took place in the South years ago and encourage them to honor people of all skin colors. Watch your language when you speak with others, even if it is in jest. We must be more careful in our choice of words. These actions might be more useful than marching.
Let us not ever confuse the issue of civil rights with civil disobedience. Those who break the law need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent. The majority of people are not in that category and it is them that we feel sorry for the most. We all have the opportunity to make the world a better place. If we have been remiss in some of these areas it is never too late to begin!
Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick are living in Bergenfield after many years of service to the Montreal Jewish community. Rabbi Glick was the rav of Congregation Ahavat Yisroel as well as a practicing clinical psychologist in private practice. He also taught at Champlain Regional College. The Glicks were frequent speakers at the OU marriage retreats. Nina coordinated all Yachad activities in Montreal and was a co/founder of Maison Shalom, a group home for young adults with special needs. They can be reached at [email protected].
