Wednesday, May 6, 2009

"Blood in the streets..."

When I saw the headline to this story in the latest Jewish Star, "Partisan sniping in Dist. 15 race", I figured the term "sniping" was meant in the sense of sharp verbal conflict that has become the norm in local school board politics. Sadly, the article itself includes downright frightening quotes that shed a new light on the term:
"[O]ne man said that there would be “blood on the streets” if the “Orthodox school board” remained in control and the Number Six school is sold.

“They’re going to come after kids wearing yarmulkes,” he said.
Wow.

25 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, we're seeing the same hateful element now that sent death threats to some of the board members a couple of years ago.

    I hope the police investigate that threat thoroughly, wherever it came from. People have to realize that as frustrated as they may be, making statements like that or sending death threats is crossing the line, and will land you in prison.

    People need to act more civil and treat their neighbors with more civility, especially if they wan to be heard. Everyone in this equation is human, and can be appealed to on a human (rather than barbaric) level.

    Let's try a little more outreach and overtures for open dialogue and sharing of viewpoints and opinions, instead of yelling, protests, petition, etc. Frankly, I don't think any of that stuff works, and it only serves to shut yourself out from being heard.

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  2. Petitions and protests come about after people try to reach out and the other side consider your views or concerns, "kareoke time." Your right everyone does have a human side but they need to show it soon because the only ones who are going to suffer are the children. Now with more budget cuts while the district has a surplus plus money coming from the President, What are the people suppose to think? It seems this will only stop if the state steps in and remove this board

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  3. Maybe people should try reaching out to the administration and board outside of karaoke time. Maybe people should attempt to speak to the board instead of at the board or about the board.

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  4. wow. That's an open threat. Blood in the streets??? You know, last election we saw death threats, now threats of widespread violence toward anyone wearing a yarnulka?? Is anyone else alarmed? I am.

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  5. I was at the meeting and I didn't hear any such threats. Here we go. Let's stay focused the issue at hand are the children. Nobody is out to hurt anybody children because they wouldn't want their own hurt. Maybe we should try to band together instead making up stories. Not all jewish people are bad just like not all blacks are bad so cut it out now!

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  6. Um, 6:44?? Who ever said black people were bad? Careful, your racism is showing. Also, someone absolutely did make that threat at the meeting that night. The police are seriously investigating.

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  7. I would like to pose a question. I understand why the Orthodox community would want representation on the board. You pay taxes & have a vested interest in the board decisions. Why is a majority and control not enough? Why do you need to exclude any representation by the public school community? A compasionate majority would understand the value of including that very segment whose children's future is in their hands.How would you feel if the shoe was one the other foot............

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  8. How would you feel if the shoe was one the other foot....Umm, the shoe was on the other foot. Isn't that how this all began?

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  9. 8:13 - I don't think the Orthodox community necessarily desires to exclude public school representation from the board, but look at the "representatives" that the public school community puts up in these elections every year. Even the level headed public school people don't support them.

    Try putting up some more moderate candidates, whom everyone can expect to act more like partners, than opponents.

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  10. 1:15- The public school community have attempted to elect representatives to speak for them. But you want to have only those with opposing views that are "modereate"..Do you really expect to vett the oposition? People who agree with you are "level headed" It appears that you will accept public school board members that the Orthodox community approves of. This community NEEDS voices with a different opionion to be heard. I don't beleive Stanley or Pamala were radicals. They spoke for me and allowed some balance...there is no longer is any balance.

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  11. Based on what I saw at meetings, I would agree that Stanley was pretty level headed, but Pamela (like most of the other candidates) seemed a little more focused on battling with the other board members than looking for common ground.

    And yes, when you want to appeal to the broader community, you will need to come across as level headed. It's not a matter of the Orthodox community vetting the opposition - Just a smart move for anyone who wants broad-based support. Isn't it obvious already that the alternative approach is not working?

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  12. Their you go again, pulling out the race card. When will it stop? The supposed threat to Mr. Hattan(which I overheard and did not make), was that the closing of #6 is causing alot of tension. If this tension leads to anything bad happening(not excluding violence), it is on the Boards Heads. No public school advocate looks at yalmukas as targets, no children will be harmed or harrassed.

    It's interesting how scared the private school agenda is, weather or not you win the election. You know that what you are doing is wrong. This is not Eastern Europe, this is America. In time you will get what you deserve, that's how America works.

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  13. "The rationale for the closure was not discussed at the meeting which devolved into a shouting match with members of the audience directing anti-Semitic slurs at the board members"
    What a bunch of BS. A large number of people who spoke were public school jews. I love when I am referred to as anti-semetic, I think of this during my torah readings.

    Mr. Hattan, let's here the real story. Blood in the streets my A**. Oh, and by the way, when are you replacing Fitzsimmons?

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  14. My feeling is that a public school candidate will not recieve any votes form the private school voters as long as there is a private school candidate. The orthodox newspapers will never present fair & unbaised information (its not their job) & most of the orthodox voters will be guided by that paper. Today in SD 15,there cannot be "broad based support". The feeling I have is that the board makes its decisions privately and even one public school member would cause too much light to be shed. Be bold & let representative democracy work as it was intended...representing all. " Absolute power corrupts absolutly"

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  15. I disasgree with you, but it's apparent that the people who "put up" the public school candidates share your opinion. As long as they assume that orthodox board members are monsters and that orthodox voters blindly follow every word in the local newspaper, the "public school candidates" will probably fare steadily worse in these elections, as has been the case in recent years.

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  16. I didn't call any one blind Or refer to anyone as a monster. You are pandering to those who share your views. My feelings come from the discussions I have with my neighbors. I'll ask again Why does the Orthodox community want all 7 seats on the Board?

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  17. "The supposed threat to Mr. Hattan(which I overheard and did not make), was that the closing of #6 is causing alot of tension. If this tension leads to anything bad happening(not excluding violence), it is on the Boards Heads."

    That is NOT a mitigating explanation! That is a very bad and dangerous thing to say! Do you think the the TSA would be Ok with someone saying "the invasion of Iraq is going to cause a lot of tension and maybe blood on airplanes" and then explaining it wasn't a threat but it will be on Americans' heads if the tension leads to anything (not excluding violence)?? Do you see yourself shrugging and getting on a plane with someone who talks like that vs. reporting them to the authorities? There is no such thing as idle talk with this kind of dangerous speech.

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  18. Ever heard of if you hear something, say something. Our politicians have said repeatedly that we are at risk of being attacked by terrorists. Our current president has said that the reason we are disliked by many nations is because of our arrogance. Wake up and get your head out of you a**

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  19. Once again should demand for the state to step in !! This is not going to end up pretty. THere is no balance on this board what a dang on shame. They don't want to share the schools, parks, and communities with us what makes us think they are going to share the board with us. I say as a public school parent the day after the election we pull all of our children out of school and demand the state to come down and investigate this sorry district!! NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!! Enough talking already they don't really care about our children we have a surplus and they are still cutting programs> Give me break! I just feel sorry for all of the children who are caught in the middle.

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  20. Does everyone keep forgetting that the reason the private school parents started running for the board was because they felt there was no balance and that THEY were getting the raw end of the deal even though there was a surplus? How quickly people forget when the tables are turned.

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  21. I don't recall that and it may have been but private school is a choice. You can send your children to public school for free. Maybe Lawrence should start serving kosher and you can send the children to religion after school. that would save a ton of money.

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  22. I'll ask again Why does the Orthodox community want all 7 seats on the Board?Why would you assume that "the Orthodox community" wants all 7 seats? Wake up and smell the coffee. There are those in the Orthodox community who vote for the "public school candidates" and there are quite a few outside the Orthodox community who support the "private school candidates"

    Every voter has a choice, and my hunch is that they overwhelmingly favor the "private school candidates" because the choices either carry hateful or incendiary messages, or band together with other people that carry those messages.

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  23. 809: If you look at the voting results from each school you can see where the votes are going. I say that the orthodox community wants all 7 seats
    bacause Mr Hattan is not running for re-elction & another member of the orthodox community is running for his seat. A step towards healing this district would be to not run a candidate & encourage a public school parent to join the board. Truth be told, the public school community will not be represented unless you allow it. You have the strength & the numbers. Harmony can only come if you want it to.

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  24. Unfortunately, the public school community is still far from coming together on any of this. Year after year, they can't even get public school parents to support the people who throw their hats in the ring, which tells you something about the candidates... As we all can see, it's always the people who scream and yell at meetings, who run for office. This sort of behavior sets a very bad tone, turns off plenty of people at the meetings, as well as many natural supporters in the public school community, and obviously turns off potential Orthodox voters from supporting them. Without a doubt there are also those voters whose attention is captured by all of this screaming at the board and about the Orthodox community, but it doesn't seem like those people will every respond strongly enough to counterbalance all of the other voters getting turned off.

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  25. Without truthful dialog, this blog is a waste of time. You have no clue who is supporting public school candidates. It doesn't matter. If you put an Orthodox candidate up for the 7th seat, that person will win..... The only logical reason is that this board is hiding their plans! Not allowing a single public school representative is nothing less than distructive to this entire neighborhood. If you want to be partners, allow a partner at the table. If you turn down the "volume" all you have to do is look at what people do, not what they say

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