Richness of DIVERSITY!
Richness of diversity!
Reflecting on the HATRED expressed last Sunday at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, WI, I am the MORE attuned to the true RICHNESS of DIVERSITY! Are YOU?
I find it difficult to understand why there is the dramatic increase of 65 percent in “HATE GROUPS” since 2000 as reported by the Southern Poverty Law Center. We have moved from 148 “patriot groups,” such as the one that gave rise to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, at the end of 2008 to 1,274 in 2011, including armed militias. WHY? What do YOU think?
I myself am convinced that there is a RICHNESS in DIVERSITY in our American culture. I have experienced the blessings of DIVERSITY in every dimension of life, including: race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age! Haven’t YOU?
The tragedy of the attack on the people at the SIKH TEMPLE in Oak Creek, WI by Wade Michael Page last Sunday (8/12) which is being investigated by the FBI as a “domestic terrorist” attack has reverberated through WI, the USA and the WORLD these days.
I have followed the situation since first hearing the reports of the attack via media last Sunday. I had just joined the congregation of Zwingli United Church of Christ in Monticello, WI to celebrate their 125th church anniversary.
I learned of the attack on the radio driving through the beautiful hills of “Swiss Valley” back home to the Janesville area. The STARK CONTRAST of the beauty and peace of the “Swiss Valley” and the bloody violence and death at the SIHK TEMPLE in Oak Creek was INTENSE!
Yesterday the families of the 6 kills in the shooting at the Sikh Temple along with their Sikh community, the Oak Creek community, WE THE PEOPLE of WI represented by our Governor Scott Walker who spoke, WE THE PEOPLE of the USA represented by our US Attorney General Eric Holder who spoke and the whole wide world represented by the international representatives joined in a memorial service at Oak Creek High School.
I read Steven Yaccino’s very perceptive article, “Thousands Gather to Mourn Six Dead in Shooting at Temple” published yesterday in the New York Times with gratitude. I encourage you to use this link to read the full article.
Steven wrote, “The deaths have rocked the town and reverberated throughout the global Sikh community, leading neighbors to skip work and visitors from as far as India to converge at Oak Creek High School for a group memorial service and wake.
“’These bullets have hit their hearts,’ said Rajwant Singh, chairman of Sikh Council on Religion and Education, who traveled from Washington. ‘It has become a big family gathering. It is really a shaking moment hitting the core of the community.’”
He cites Governor Walker’s statement, “No matter what country your ancestors came from, no matter where you worship, no matter what your background, as Americans, we are one. When you attack one of us, you attack all of us.”
And then he cites US Attorney General Eric Holder, “Last Sunday morning, this community witnessed the very worst of humankind.” Holder noted that it was not the first time that Sikhs had seen violence directed at them, and added, “In the recent past, too many Sikhs have been targeted, victimized simply because of who they are, how they look and what they believe.” Steven reports, “Mr. Holder said. He said that law enforcement officials would implement the solutions ‘that we need to prevent future tragedies.’”
Please read Steven’s entire article – it has a great deal of meaningful reflection on the memorial service yesterday in Oak Creek, WI. Again the LINK is, “Thousands Gather to Mourn Six Dead in Shooting at Temple.” What are YOUR comments after reading Steven’s article?
I agree with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s editorial statement, “'We came together' to fight hatred unleashed by a killer.”
"’Hate and the killer were not successful. He wanted to divide us, and we came together.’
“So true. Those were the words of Prabhjot Singh, co-founder and trustee of the Sikh Coalition, at Friday's services in Oak Creek. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Gov. Scott Walker and representatives of the Sikh community spoke to mourners at the services for the six people killed in Sunday's shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.
“Singh said religious ceremonies will continue privately over the next weeks. He also said it was moving to see all Americans come together to pay their respects to the victims.
“He's right. The evil that Wade Michael Page displayed when he shot and killed the six will not destroy a strong community. Wade's violent actions helped bring mourners from all walks of life to stand together in the face of Page's kind of hate.”
I have the audacity of hope that we will really and truly come together to build a HEALTHY community enriched by DIVERSITY! Do YOU?
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel articulated the reality of the attack on the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, WI in its editorial published last Wednesday, August 8, "We stand together, united, to overcome hate," for me when they cited a couple Letters to the Editor and drew their own conclusion.
In her Letter to the Editor, Darlene Martin Rose of Elm Grove, WI wrote, "Borne of tragedy, we stand with them, as well as with the dedicated officers and responders." Francis Pauc of Oak Creek, WI wrote, "In a way, the shooter wounded us all."
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel drew its conclusion in its editorial statement, “That's who we are. We are Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, people of all faiths and beliefs who all have been wounded and who all stand together now to face an uncertain future and face down hate - together.”
Do YOU agree? Will YOU too join in facing down hate? Will YOU too encourage and appreciate the RICHNESS of our DIVERSITY? I do HOPE so!
Here we go…
Mr. E.
John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Aug 15, 2012 at 7:34 a.m.
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I’d like to see you, J.Eyster, write a public letter and post it on the Gazette “Your Views” page in which you decry Rahm Emanuel’s (and others’) openly anti-Christian family values postion. Emanuel’s statement attacks you, John, and the very nature of YOUR marriage and family.
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Here we have the Mayor of Chicago, spewing inflammatory hate-filled remarks. And you, J.Eyster, spout your “audacity of hope” as an offshoot of Obama, your idol. The same Obama who embraced Emanuel and his anti-Diversity opinions. “Richness of DIVERSITY!” indeed.
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Granted, I don’t have time to read all blogs, so maybe I missed the one in which you refuted Emanuel’s comments. Still, go public, J.Eyster, so the entire Gazetted readership can see where you stand.
Aug 13, 2012 at 2:38 p.m.
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*We have moved from 148 “patriot groups,” such as the one that gave rise to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, at the end of 2008 to 1,274 in 2011, including armed militias. WHY? What do YOU think? *
Oh, I don't know, couldn't be that the FedGov is tyrannical or anything, right? The vast majority of the groups you are trying to count are not race-based/racially-motivated. For that you might want to look at the New Black Panther Party or something--you know, groups that have made documented threats of race war in the public arena.
Aug 12, 2012 at 11:03 p.m.
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I apologize for being so presumptuous.
A lesson for all, perhaps.
Aug 12, 2012 at 10:57 p.m.
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garyprimer
No, I wouldn't be calling him a Muslim because of a head covering. You presume too much.
Aug 12, 2012 at 10:45 p.m.
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What are the criteria for a group to be defined as a "hate group" by the SPLC? Has their definition changed between then and now? I don't doubt there has been an increase in hate groups, that's obvious, I would, however, like to be more educated as to how they define a "hate group".
Aug 12, 2012 at 9:49 p.m.
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Mr. Eyster, you wrote, “I myself am convinced that there is a RICHNESS in DIVERSITY in our American culture. I have experienced the blessings of DIVERSITY in every dimension of life, including: race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age!”
After reading some of the negative and slanted responses to your blog, perhaps you may want to exclude some in the Janesville area from, “our American culture”. JMO
Aug 12, 2012 at 8:12 p.m.
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Holder will get his due on Monday...can't wait.
Aug 12, 2012 at 5:05 p.m.
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All Christians are inherently "aligned" with each other by virtue of the fact that they worship the same God. And yes, that includes Fred Phelps.
Aug 12, 2012 at 12:47 p.m.
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donnaw, I think we are having an adult conversation here. The title of John's blog is Richness of DIVERSITY. To attempt to impugn the character of someone over what they chose to wear or not wear on their head, after that person has traveled many miles and taken time out of a very busy schedule to represent the President and our nation in memorializing the victims, is just wrong. The suggestion that everyone should wear the same religious head wear runs contrary to celebrating our Richness of DIVERSITY. We can clearly respect one another, and our diversity, without dressing as monolithic clones of one another.
Aug 12, 2012 at 12:15 p.m.
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Holder probably didnt want to get his hair messed up.
Seriously, could we have an adult discussion here. What is the right thing to do? What about when dignitaries and even common folks attend services for other religions? Do non Jews wear a yarmulke to a Jewish ceremony? What does wearing the turban signify? Maybe each situation is different. What is correct to honor the situation but not deny your own religion? I wouldn't expect a Jew to wear cross to a Christian ceremony.
Aug 12, 2012 at 11:53 a.m.
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wislady said, " I was referring to the people who appeared as DIGNITARIES..."
That would possibly be believable if you hadn't said, "The ONLY person out of the thousands who went to the temple....and he is the only one who declined to show respect by donning the garb everyone else wore." The problem you have in wanting people to now believe that you meant Holder was the ONLY person amongst those who "appeared as dignitaries" and not "the thousands who went to the temple" is that you said "thousands." There were not thousands of people who "appeared as dignitaries" at that small venue.
garyprimer is correct in his assessment; there is no way Holder would have ever received the respect he deserved from everyone (tea party supporters included) for attending and representing the President and the nation. If he had worn a turban, his political opponents would have plastered the photo all over until the day of the election. If he doesn't wear a turban, the surrogates of his political opponents attempt to impugn his decision and character. Pathetic.
Aug 12, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.
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Wislady, if you had a picture of Holder in a head covering,
you would be jumping up and down and calling him a Muslim.
Fox news would run it on a twenty four hour loop
and my beloved Tea Party websites
would be emailing me updates every twenty minutes.
Aug 12, 2012 at 9:06 a.m.
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They should all have worn the head coverings. I was referring to the people who appeared as DIGNITARIES...they supposedly represent the elected people. I don't care what the security guards wear.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7...
Aug 12, 2012 at 4:50 a.m.
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oh yes wislady what a glaring issue pointed out by another poster, Holder's security detail also didn't wear them. How dare you not mention that too.
Aug 11, 2012 at 9:51 p.m.
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wislady said, "I would still like Holder to explain why he was the only person attending the event who declined to wear the head dress that everyone else wore (as a sign of respect for the religion), inside the temple."
You're just wrong. Watch the video. Of the ten or more people in the frame, you can clearly see two other people besides Attorney General Holder with no turbans. [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqzFUcghK... ]
Aug 11, 2012 at 8:25 p.m.
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"I believe that was a personal decision,
something that you would not understand."
The ONLY person out of the thousands who went to the temple....and he is the only one who declined to show respect by donning the garb everyone else wore.
Aug 11, 2012 at 5:15 p.m.
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In this YouTube video, Pat Condell discusses with great eloquence the fallacies of several of the previous comments: [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4dSiHqpU... ]
Aug 11, 2012 at 4:14 p.m.
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“Diversity” is a funny thing. It’s generally used to mean a difference, or unlikeness, or lack of uniformity. Liberals love diversity, except when they don’t.
Suppose a neo-Nazi moved in next door to you. Congratulations! Your neighbourhood just became more diverse! Would you consider that you have now “experienced the blessings of DIVERSITY”? Probably not. I know I wouldn’t.
When liberals say they “love diversity”, what they mean is, they love certain favoured groups who are diverse by virtue of “race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age”. Not all groups, mind you; just certain ones. They may, for instance, enjoy GLAAD while shunning NAMBLA. At least for the moment.
Having come up with a list of “good diverse” and “bad diverse”, liberals pretend that the “bad diverse” don’t exist, and insist that everyone accept the groups on the “good diverse” list. If you don’t, you’re a bigot and guilty of hate crimes. If your thinking differs from liberals on diversity, that ipso facto makes you diverse, but they demand lock-step uniformity in their diversity! Personally, I prefer to shun both GLAAD and NAMBLA, seeing them as just two different steps on the same deviancy scale. But according to the liberals, that makes me a bad person, now doesn’t it?
Just to be perfectly clear, I view the Oak Creek shootings as an atrocity, and would demand the death penalty for the shooter had he lived. But I wanted to point out the hypocrisy of your self-righteous “diversity” rant here.
Aug 11, 2012 at 1:32 p.m.
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" I do NOT agree with persons who claim the ID of "Christian" who assert that all persons who do NOT believe in Christ AS THEY DO are going to hell."
--John Eyster
John,
So in other words, you DON'T believe Jesus when he said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Aug 11, 2012 at 1:01 p.m.
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iconclast@7:26am. You could look into some basic theology before you spout off. Jesus came to save all, not some. There are many paths but only one God.
Embracing diversity and same sex marriage are two unrelated issues.
Being against gay marriage is not hate and speaking against gay marriage is not hate speech, no matter how much you wish it to be so.
Aug 11, 2012 at 10:42 a.m.
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I understand your comment "iconoclast." I do NOT agree with persons who claim the ID of "Christian" who assert that all persons who do NOT believe in Christ AS THEY DO are going to hell. That is NOT the God revealed by Jesus of Nazareth whom most Christians identify to be the Christ/Messiah. I am NOT a person who opposes same sex marriage. The United Church of Christ of which I am a member and clergyperson is OPEN and AFFIRMING to all God's children regardless of sexual orientation. We all are contending against the HATERS regardless of the label or ID they use. Some use the ID "Christian" to hide behind to HATE. Sad, but true... here we go... John W. Eyster
Aug 11, 2012 at 10 a.m.
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I believe that was a personal decision,
something that you would not understand.
Aug 11, 2012 at 9:35 a.m.
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I would still like Holder to explain why he was the only person attending the event who declined to wear the head dress that everyone else wore (as a sign of respect for the religion), inside the temple. He was asked to wear it, and declined.
If he felt that way, he should not have attended the event.
Aug 11, 2012 at 8:50 a.m.
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totellthetruth....I believe that John's point is that although, as you say, this individual acted alone, his thoughts were far from alone in our nation today. The reemergence of race hate groups in America is a reality.
Aug 11, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.
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John, you may say you appreciate diversity, but what about the belief all Sikhs and other non-Christians are going to Hell after they die because they haven't accepted Christ as their savior? Also, how do Christians embrace diversity with all their hate talk against same sex marriage? Free thinkers would like to know!
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