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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