I am a 77-year-old native Staten Islander, born and raised. My family still lives on the Island. I am troubled by the antisemitic hate posts on the Young Republican site on three counts. One, it advocates hate and violence towards Jews. Second, for personal reasons, is that my domestic partner Ilene is Jewish and I would not want any harm to come to her or her family. Third, it comes from a group in a political party. Is this what they are taught and how these young people are groomed to become future political leaders on Staten Island? When will leaders take responsibility for teaching against racism, antisemitism and discrimination and hate against any group?<\/p>\n
I have seen and heard too much hate growing up. I remember a family burned out of their home because they were Black, people told \u201cgo back to where you came from,\u201d among other things. Yet our group of friends in New Brighton were Black, Italian American, Irish, Catholics and Jews and we all hung together and are friends to this day. <\/p>\n
We are sliding into a more deeply divided country. I learned about how authoritarian leaders in the 1930a in Germany and Italy used hate to divide people so they can take and keep power. I learned about the Holocaust and the lasting effects of it. <\/p>\n
How about some leaders offering solutions to high costs of living, better paying jobs, better services, respect for others\u2019 religions, races, nationalities, women and points of view? If we work together we can build a better country. <\/p>\n
Hate and hate posts just beget more hate. Those who do it are misguided . . . especially if they are young. Let\u2019s pull together instead. <\/p>\n
(Ralph Palladino is a Manhattan resident.)<\/p>\n
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