James Adams of Greenfield wrote to The Recorder on Jan. 3 that he thinks “some might find it offensive that a crèche has been placed in one of our most visible common areas.” I find that a sad, disturbing, chauvinistic and anti-foreign comment.
I have found my non-Christian friends and immigrants find that attitude and those ideas are totally offensive because, as they say, implies that they are bigots, that they cannot tolerate any public religious expression, and that they are jingoistic and not open to other cultures, religions or ideas. They say that they are sick of those who, like Adams, are constantly stereotyping them as closed minded and prejudiced simply because they are not Christian and because they are foreigners.
Coming from countries where that sort of intolerance is officially and violently mandated by dictators and despots, they are understandably offended by the presumption of intolerance and bigotry on their part by the likes of Adams. Perhaps Adams should ask himself if his attitude is maybe more offensive, intolerant, and violent than a peaceful cultural and religious expression in a public place. His parting shot suggesting that “if a Christian Church wants to have a crèche on its property that would be fine,” is sadly a nice way of saying that we should limit free speech, and segregate different cultures and religions in their own separate but equal ghettos.
Christina M. Fischer
Greenfield