Commentary: Clearing up the myths of No Place for Hate

Yukari Scott/No Place for Hate Committee member

Thu Oct 04, 2007, 05:34 AM EDT

Lexington – Many members of the Lexington community have benefited
>From Lexington No Place For Hate (LNPFH). However, many are learning
of our group for the first time because of the recent Armenian
American Community’s demand on us to "sever our tie" to the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at the recent Board of Selectmen meeting
on Sept. 24.

Though I was deeply moved by our Armenian American neighbors’
testimonies at the Selectmen’s meeting and felt a desire to respond to
their request, as a member of the LNPFH Steering Committee I couldn’t
help feeling sad and frustrated that LNPFH had been unfairly
misrepresented. I wanted to provide some information so residents of
Lexington who may not know of our work will get to know LNPFH better
and support our effort to continue serving this community.

I am Japanese and I’ve lived in the U.K., Hong Kong, and visited many
countries. I’ve been a resident of Lexington (with my American husband
and our daughter) for more than 10 years. There are places I’d love to
return, but Lexington is the only place I call "home." Why? Because
I’ve never experienced or witnessed discrimination or disrespect in
Lexington like I have in many other places, including my home country.
Lexington has made me love the United States and its people.

I wondered why Lexington was so different from any other place I’ve
been. At the invitation of a friend, I visited a LNPFH Steering
Committee Meeting and finally understood. Coming together were
representatives from the police, public schools, the School Committee,
Board of Selectmen, LexFEST!, Interfaith Clergy Association and
individual community members. And to my surprise and delight, the
retired elementary school principal from my daughter’s school whom all
the parents admired was a steering committee member.

Yet the most impressive thing I saw that day was everyone’s patience
and respect towards those with different views. It’s a very hard thing
to achieve.

It’s human nature for people to persuade others at any cost to take
the same view. It was clear to me that LNPFH’s desire was to create a
peaceful, safe, and inclusive community. Everyone was ego-free. The
discussion never became "who’s right and who’s wrong." Now I
understood that because of the mission of LNPFH, I could enjoy a
prejudice free, safe, and caring environment.

I wanted to be a part of the steering committee so I could help in my
own small way. Now I’ve been attending the steering committee for
several years and gained deeper understanding of LNPFH.

Recently, I’ve been in conversations with members of AAC and the
community at large. I started to feel there might be some
misunderstandings about LNPFH, including:

· "ADL created a program called NPFH."

Reality: NPFH is part of a grassroots state-wide campaign launched and
sponsored by New England ADL and the Massachusetts Municipal
Association. Although the campaign name "No Place For Hate" is a
trademark of ADL, neither national ADL nor ADL of New England has ever
influenced our programs or decision-making.

· "Local NPFH committees are human rights groups devoted to promoting
tolerance among all Americans"

Reality: Mission of LNPFH is to work with citizens and town employees
to create a community-based, shared vision of Lexington as a
prejudice- and bias-free community where respect and civility govern
public discourse. We are a local, apolitical group for the people of
Lexington including non-U.S. citizens such as myself.

· "NPFH simply cannot credibly continue to be a subsidiary of the ADL"

Reality: We are not a subsidiary of the ADL or NE-ADL. We are a
grassroots group. The people of Lexington are LNPFH.

As I see it, a more important question needs to be asked: What is the
best role for LNPFH to play on this issue?

The tragedy of the Armenian Genocide was something I didn’t know
before and I’m glad that I’ve begun to learn. I’d like to learn more
and be educated properly, something that the Armenian-American
community can help us do. I believe LNPFH would serve its mission if
we work together with the Armenian-American community to develop a
program about this tragedy to educate others in the Lexington
community.

My husband asked me "Why can’t you just change the Lexington No Place
For Hate name?" I asked him a question in return: "Do you want to
change your company’s name?" He immediately understood.

LNPFH has done many great things for the community and has sponsored
many wonderful programs. The name has history and the collective pride
of so many volunteers who have been involved in this program and
everyone who has benefited from what we have done.

Lexington No Place For Hate is not "just a name." It represents what
we all are.

Yukari Scott is a resident of Turning Mill Road and a member of
Lexington’s No Place for Hate Committee.

Source: /x775338169

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress