Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A Response to Laurie Cumbo regarding the Knockout "Game"



Laurie,

I was, quite frankly, dismayed by what you wrote regarding “the Knockout Game.”

I have great respect for you and fully expect that you will be an excellent addition to the city council, but I would be neglectful if I didn’t point out that some of your comments were downright counter-productive. Expressing, as you have, a sympathy for those who hold the success of the Jewish community in contempt—as a success “not their own”—almost rings as an apology for those who are committing violent crimes as a response to their resentment. Identifying members of the community as “Jewish landlords” is a stereotype with profound negative connotations.   

As you state later in your letter, if one person attacks another, regardless of the motivation, there is no justification for such an action. That, Laurie, should be the only message. The race of the attacker is as unimportant as the race of the attacked.

While the sociologists busy themselves analyzing and ruminating over social trends, our jobs as elected officials should be to protect the victims and protect the community, not ascribe  motivation to criminals.

Respectfully,

Dov Hikind

No comments:

Post a Comment