Comments on: Fairfield Has No Room For Hate

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:16:09 +0000

I agree with Steven’s post above…..to take a stand against intolerance and prejudice, we cannot keep quiet! He is right about the German citizens back in the 1930s as a certain “Fuhrer” was rising to power….there were many, many who kept quiet out of fear. Thank god we live in a country where one of our rights is freedom of speech….and also freedom of expression. Sadly, those two rights also apply those masked cowards.

As to Stephanie’s post above, unfortunately bigotry still exists, especially around Fairfield County. Again, as a lifelong resident, I know that the largest city in CT, Bridgeport, is right next door, and the Park City is as diverse as one can get. However, I can recall hearing some former classmates of mine (thru middle school and high school here) talking crap about “oh Bridgeport this….” Also, there’s still of a “class” system that exists in town, but I believe over the years that’s changed due to the economy, etc. Of course, that’s another topic for another day….just ask me about it.

By: Soraya

Soraya — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:34:05 +0000

They are such COWARDS!! Show your faces , since you are so proud of what you are!!!!

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:15:40 +0000

As a Jew living in Fairfield, I was shocked by this blatant act and to hear that charges will not be pressed against these people. What if it was your children who were exposed to this blatant hatred and abuse? Will we ever know who they are or will the police and town leaders keep it quiet and hope it goes away? When you have cancer you do not keep it quiet and hope it goes away, you treat it aggressively and fight it. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” So dear neighbors, if you consider yourself good, then do something. Write to Ken Flatto and the Police Chief and the local papers as I have and tell them that Fairfield will not stand for masked mauraders with nazi flags stealing into our town in the dark of night. In 1933 the German people stayed quiet and thought, “Oh we’re good and decent people, the Nazi’s will simply go away”. Do not think that Nazism, racism, religious intolerance does not exist in this fair town or our great nation. First they come for the Jews, then it will be gays, blacks, hispanic, handicapped, catholics…speak up!!!

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:01:06 +0000

@David re: the lack of commentary. As far as I can tell, and I am probably wrong, but the only local mainstream media to pick this up was the ConnPost and News12. Both great outlets in my opinion, but neither has a large following. My guess is once this hits our local weeklies there will be comments the following week in the letters to the editor. The news will be nearly two weeks old at that point. One reason I started this site! Immediate commentary. No “Letters to the Editor” here, that is so last century.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:56:27 +0000

@Anat, I often feel the same way when the police bust 100 Fairfield University students for underage drinking at a local restaurant, or a local lawyer storms into a neighbor’s house and murders an innocent man (both made national news). However, like David said, there is a silver lining to this hate story. Local people got involved and either joined the Menorah lighting ceremony or told the haters where to go. Those are the real Fairfielders if you ask me.

By: Anat Rubin

Anat Rubin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:07:45 +0000

So sad that this is what put Fairfield in the news. I’m thoroughly disgusted. Shameful. Pigs.

Happy ALL holidays!

By: David Cullen

David Cullen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:33:05 +0000

I would add that in praising Fairfield as filled with people of goodwill (paraphrasing myself here!) I was myself being as positive as I could during this season of hope and renewal fro Christians and Jews alike as well as for many persons of goodwill who practice other faiths or practice none for that matter.

But, yes, it is true that– like everywhere else– Fairfield is also home to ignoramuses, bigots, racists and worse.

Interesting to me is that while, as reported in the Post, people on the scene Sunday night — passersby– got involved to their everlasting credit by shouting at the faux nazis and/or joining in with the Menorah-lighters to show solidarity.

On the other hand, I have been disappointed by the lack of commentary on the “flag bearers” that has appeared not only here, but on facebook. I guess it is early still and I react fast to most things, so I may be premature in that assessment of my fellow citizens.

By: leonard waks

leonard waks — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:04:53 +0000

Sorry for the sloppy editing of my post. Here it is again. Please ignore the previous version.

Thanks, Ed, for an insightful reflection on this incident.

If the three masked intruders were “dealt with” by Fairfield’s finest, as Tim wishes, I do hope that it was with love and compassion. Hate, even when directed against hate, just breeds more hate.

Not sure that I agree with Jennifer that ‘education is the answer’. Fear and other deep emotions are not rational and do not respond in any direct way to ‘teaching’. Better that the community be a model of inter-cultural love and respect, with many opportunities for positive inter-action. INclude all who seek a positive experience.

In that way the haters are eventually shunned and marginalized. “There’s more freedom on the tracks,” as they told Tootle the Engine

By: Stephanie Johnson

Stephanie Johnson — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:01:49 +0000

I think it’s very, very sad. My guess is that the masked individuals would call themselves Christian. Well, this certainly is not Christian behavior and maybe if they stopped to think about that for one second perhaps they wouldn’t have done the things they did. I can appreciate your view of Fairfleld being a town that is filled with people whose hearts are open and welcoming to all diverse beliefs. However, Dave, it is with a heavy heart that I disagree. I have witnessed with my own eyes, more than once this Holiday Season, blatant bigotry and disregard for human beings based on the color of their skin and religious beliefs. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is still being passed on to the children of our community and they are acting out in the same shallow, ignorant ways their parents do. I could only hope that the peace and love that is supposed to engross us, especially during the holidays, finds a small crack in those walls these people have built and true compassion and love for your fellow man prevails.

By: Doug Jones

Doug Jones — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:52:32 +0000

Disgusting, infuriating…and all the more so for the fact that these cowards hide their identities.