6 August 15 • 2019
jn

RAMAN SINGH, STANCY ADAMS & ROBERT BRUTELL
INTERFAITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
P

osters expressing anti-Semi-
tism found recently in Royal 
Oak and Birmingham reflect 
the growing expression of religious 
and cultural hatred in our society. 
The posters are attributed to the 
Atomwaffen Division, labeled as a 
terrorist hate group by the Southern 
Poverty Law Center, one of 148 hate 
groups in the United States, many of 
which are linked to white nationalist 
ideology.
It is especially disheartening that 
the president of the United States 
has chosen to be a cheerleader for 
racism, anti-Semitism and nativism. 
Democracy and pluralism are not just 
quaint American notions but rather 
they are the core of what America is 
and what makes it great. To entertain 
and encourage divisiveness, racism 
and nativism risks breaking the bonds 
of affection that sustain America as a 
nation, internally strong and worthy 
of respect internationally.
We who commit to improving 
the social fabric through healthy 
interfaith engagement and education 
fear that the growing expression of 

religious hate and racism is a grave 
threat to the survival of American 
culture. It is built on embracing the 
cultural and religious differences that 
have enhanced this nation since its 
inception and promise to continue to 
do so, if not stifled by this dangerous 
trend in our society.
The InterFaith Leadership Council 
of Metropolitan Detroit has demon-
strated that educating young people 
through our Religious Diversity 
Journeys and adults through 
Exploring Religious Landscapes leads 
to understanding, acceptance and 
engagement with religions that other-
wise may seem strange. But these are 
people willing to consider different 
beliefs and customs. What do we do 
with the brash ignorance of those 
who want to rid American society 
of its religious and social diversity, 
and revert back to the hatred of the 
anti-Semitic and racist past?
We who may be from other coun-
tries or people of color or religions 
unfamiliar to Americans fear the 
underlying passion of the crowd’
s 
chant “Send her back.” When will 

they call for us? When will they post 
threats to everyone other than their 
definition of religion? 
We, of good faith and humane 
intent, should reflect on the poetic 
interpretation of German Lutheran 
pastor, Martin Neimoller, featured 
in the United States Holocaust 
Memorial Museum. Rev. Neimoller 
criticized German society for not 
resisting the rise of Nazi power in 
German. It is as relevant today as 
then:
“First they came for the socialists, 
and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade union-
ists, and I did not speak out — 
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I 
did not speak out — 
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there 
was no one left to speak for me.
” ■

Raman Singh is president, Rev. Stancy Adams is 

chairperson and Robert Bruttell is past chair-

person of the InterFaith Leadership Council of 

Metropolitan Detroit.

statement
“And Then They Came for Me...”

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Hosting Maccabi Athletes

I enjoyed reading Jessie Cohen’
s arti-

cle regarding the young Maccabi ath-
letes who we are hosting (Aug. 1, page 
12). Being a host family in previous 
years, I have very pleasant memories, 
like when I found out the daughter 
of a friend of mine, a native Israeli 
from New Jersey, whom I met when 
we both attended a seminar for Ulpan 
teachers in New York, was coming to 
compete. Naturally, I asked that she 
be assigned to me. Or hosting two 
lovely girls from the former Soviet 
Union who lived in Brooklyn. The 
beautiful cloth hand-embroidered 
napkins which one of them gave me 
are still in my living room, too pretty 
to use. Or the lovely girl who told us 
she lost her watch and was very upset 
about it, so my husband went to get 
her a new watch.
However, there was also another 
not-so-happy experience when a girl 
who was assigned to me and seemed 
quite happy actually placed a call 
from her closed room to the person 
in charge of hospitality saying that 
she was miserable because she wanted 
to be with a friend of hers. Well, I 
received a surprise call from that per-
son, did understand and the tragedy 
ended. 
Hosting these young athletes, all in 

views

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