Today I read in the news about a new surge of hate crimes and antisemitism happening in Brooklyn. This came to me as a shock as I work in a Jewish community and can't really believe that some people are going back in time to a mentality that has no place in the present. I believed that the world was starting to be more accepting of all the differences that there are. There is talk about equality, tolerance, acceptance and yet there are people who choose to act like Hitler's followers and draw swastikas on the sidewalks in a Jewish community.
I believe that moving to New York has made me accepting of so many more cultures than I was before growing up in Puerto Rico, because in Puerto Rico, most people are Puerto Rican regardless of their race, so I grew up having a feeling of pride in my country and all that we represent to the point of believing that we were the best country in the world.
After 11 years in Brooklyn, I have been exposed to Jewish people, Muslim People, African American's, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Dominicans, people from Bangladesh and Egypt, and from many other countries and cultures and religions, and I have found new friends in most all of these and I have learned to see the amazing traits of so many kinds of people. I am so glad that I have had this opportunity to be immersed in the different cultures of the world and see the beauty that others might not see.
I really hope something is done about these hate crimes that have started recently, because this should be the time for acceptance, for understanding, and love towards one another.
What do you think about this? Do you have any experiences that you would like to share with us regarding acceptance or the lack there of?
Cocoons to Butterflies, is not only about helping our children reach their potential, it is about every one of us. It is about finding a way to make our dream develop into butterflies and fly. It is about finding our true potential, it's about life. Please join me in this journey through the unexpected, the wonderful and the mysterious that leads us to our true potential, our own butterflies.
of course. in my opinion, the hate crimes here is more of a silent disease, people don't express it as much as they do in the US. We have instances of antisemitism when vandals destroyed a Jewish cemetery.Hate crimes for Filipinos are very dominant in the Middle east where domestic helpers are treated like animals in the cases I have seen and read.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is that people hate quietly, now because of economic pressure the voices and opinions can be heard.
ReplyDeleteHate comes in so many different packages....that sometimes when it happen in front of us ....we can,t believe that is so near.
ReplyDeleteIn Puerto Rico....there is a 2 year old little girl ....that this people attempt twice to kill her ....Why? Well her dad kill the 2 year old little girl ....not on purpose but she was killed of the guy that is trying to kill her....Can you believe the way this people are behaving. Eye for and eye.....that is really sad because we use to go out without looking over our shoulders ....but not any more....The children dept took the little girl out of the Island for safety.
The only way I see that she lives is Europe and to be adopted and not to come ever to Puerto Rico....Sad...=(
I think t is very sad that in this day and age there are still people that are ignorant and choose to hate. To me hate is not a word that fits in my day to day vocabulary. I have learned to see the good things in the people that surround me. I do not judge just because someone is different from me. We all want to be accepted. We should do the same for others.
ReplyDeleteSo many opinions but mine aren't necessarily hate experiences - just ignorance.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Utah for a while and most Latinos residing in Utah are Mexican. So naturally, I was in class and someone asks me if I was mixed (black and white) given my curly hair and caramel complexion. I told them "No, I'm Dominican!" They ignorantly asked me, "What part of Mexico is that?"
I felt so sad for their ignorance. Really? All you know about Spanish people is from Mexicans. So sad! But I get your story. I'm from NYC as well - raised in Harlem for years and you don't expect it here because there are so many kinds of people but it is there and I guess it will never really go away. Change starts with one person !
@KG Style, your story reminds me of the time I was in High school and some of my classmates participated on some presidential program and they traveled from Puerto Rico (where I am from) to Washington DC and when they came back they told us that the other Kids where asking if we Puerto Ricans lived in tents! We joked around with that for a long time making fun of how ignorant the other kids where.
ReplyDelete