The antisemitism displayed during the public discussion over the cease-fire resolution put before the City Council’s Feb. 21 meeting was frightening [“Dozens lobby council for cease-fire resolution,” Recorder, Feb. 23]. There is no excuse for shouting down a member of our community who was expressing her sorrow and outrage over the murderous Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.
It is important for people of good will to speak out against the tragedy of the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians and the Israeli government’s war on Palestinians. Calling for a cease-fire is a humane and sensible position. However, what happened at the council meeting exacerbates the problem. The slaughter that occurred during the Hamas attack on Israel citizens is unconscionable. The slaughter occurring in Gaza under the leaders of the Israeli government is unconscionable.
Jews and Palestinians are suffering. Those who shouted down one of our Greenfield neighbors failed the test of democracy; that reasoned debate over the issues seemingly dividing us is the only way to progress in finding resolutions. We are all neighbors in a small community. If we cannot listen to one another here, what hope is there for peace in the world?
Thomas Jefferson, in spite of his many flaws, put it best: “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” A group of Greenfield citizens did not pay that price Wednesday night. They did not cease fire.
Wilson Roberts
Greenfield