On the Midway Today
Recently it was reported that out of the material recovered from Osama Bin Laden's rathole we learned that one of his ideas was to recruit and exploit minority populations in the US - specifically African Americans - to carry out his acts of cowardice on his behalf. Bin Laden's motivation to do this was to create distrust, animosity and hatred among the many cultures, races and ethnicities that form our country's population. It's an abhorrent idea, but not necessarily one that wouldn't succeed. I mean, it's not like we all get along all the time, right? Throw a little insidious deliberate evil into the mix and we could just basically kiss our "melting pot" ideology into the dumpster, right?
So it got me thinking that we, as Americans and Massachusettsians (or whatever we are called) and Framinghamites, we need to be sure that we guard against that possibility that someone or something might play their siren song of intolerance and try to call us over to the dark side. Right here in Framingham we have our own divisive characters; let's call them Frick and Frack. They are outspoken about the very real and legitimate concern of illegal immigration. The problem is that they tend to paint ALL foreigners - of any kind, type or status - with the same brush. (Not to mention espouse, support and perpetuate some pretty abhorrent ideals outside of their main concern.) The real problem lies in that they try to create a sense of distrust and animosity in our own community, a community that could - and SHOULD - take advantage of welcoming and embracing the work ethic, friendliness and community devotion expressed by a vast majority of the non-citizens in our town.
We as a community must be vigilant in our ensuring that Frick and Frack do NOT speak for the Town! There are a multitude of issues regarding the teasing out people who are here without having gone through the proper channels but here in the United States of America, all are innocent until proven guilty (except in Traffic Court, but that's a different post!) and we, as citizens of this awesome nation, should hold fast to that basic tenet and evaluate every person based on their character, not their last name, their accent or their language of origin.
When my husband and I were looking for a place to "settle" after learning we were having a child, one of the parameters we used to decide where we wanted to look for a home was whether or not the community reflected the world as a whole. No knowing much about this area, I was initially attracted to the look and feel of Southborough but when I took a closer look at their statistics and school information, I quickly realized that my child would end up being just another slice of white bread in the package. Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with white bread, but we prefer the nutritional variety of all kinds of bread.
I believe there is great value to all living in a community where some people don't have cars, some people aren't native speakers, some people have horse farms with 8,900 square foot homes, some people can't afford to feed their kids, some people work at home, some people can't or don't work, some people are scientists, some people are factory workers; you're all getting it, right?
There is a richness that comes from living in a community where there is no "normal." My son will grow up knowing that not every kid's dad can afford to stop on the way home and get him that $40 game he wants just because, that some kids will be handed keys to their own cars - which are often nicer than the one *I* drive - the day they turn 16, that some kids have to find it in themselves to push through all the stereotypes and learn to speak English well enough to get good grades, that some kids come to school pale and hollow-eyed because their parents - if they have two, or even one - had to decide between rent and food, that some kids' moms make dishes at home that we can't pronounce or replicate but are so delicious that we want to eat at their house every day, that there are narrow minded people who don't understand how each and every person can bring something different to the table and that many of those things can enhance our life experience; I could fill the screen with examples, as I am sure many others could.
By living in Framingham my son is also learning the lesson of true altruism and generosity as opposed to not for profit profiteering, that a person's character is measured by what they do when no one is looking and that democracy is a double edged sword.
Without that diversity, without the richness that a diverse community offers and without having the opportunity to learn from each other, my son would leave my home not having any idea how to appreciate or deal with the diversity in the world.
People who believe they are the "majority" may - will? - soon find themselves in the minority. Wouldn't it be a lot easier, not to mention smarter, to practice intercultural harmony now to set the example by which your future generations will want to experience? Isn't it the right thing to do? Doesn't doing so, in the long run, make things easier and allow us all to reap the benefits of having a unified community? Doesn't it make sense to not allow ideological terrorism in your own community? Take the same stand against the Fricks and Fracks of the world as you would have Osama Bin Laden; hatred is hatred and there's just not enough time in the day to waste on that!
Kristen Nason
2:06 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Gave me goose bumps. Thank you! I am sharing this one with my kids :)
Jim Rizoli
4:34 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Jim Rizoli CCFIILE.COM WOW...What got your undies in a bundle....LOL Can' t imagine who you were talking about. You might want to hang on the south Side of town for a couple of days and tell me how you feel about all that diversity crap then. You folks have no clue what goes on in this town and want to remain ignorant. You say we "hate" hate what? Ya, we hate those who break the law, is that a bad thing? We hate those who lie about so called historical events, we hate how much the town is spending to aid and abet illegal aliens and then see the good people in the town have to pony up for the bill.
I regards for us speaking for the town, don't worry, the town has spoken for everything that we speak against and are reaping the whilrwind of problems for it. You haven't listened and never will. Just keep paying your fees for all you school extras and tell me it doesn't bother you, while those getting a free ride a laughing all the way to the bank.
At least my brother and I as TM members we're trying to make sure the town is solvent and doing what's right on that end....what are you doing? Oh, writing articles about the towns most dangerous persons when it comes to FREE speech issues.
Brenda Crawshaw
10:02 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
What makes you think I was talking about you?
But now that you mention it, when one person walks up to a representative of an organization whose URL is "www.GodHates______com"; (something I refuse to even cut and paste) and tells them "You are doing a great job", well, I would call that hateful. Suck it up, buttercup.
Joe Rizoli
5:37 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Joe Rizoli CCFIILE.com
This comment is FALSE:
>> The problem is that they tend to paint ALL foreigners - of any kind, type or status - with the same brush>>
We advocate for ALL immigrants who come to the town to do it legally. Your accusation here violates the policies of PATCH for putting up untruths. Shame on you and your hand slappers who agree with you Brenda.
YOU violated this:
http://framingham.patch.com/terms
•is inaccurate, false or misleading in any way;
SHAME on you.
Imagine trying to tell the public what we believe, incredible.......
The problem with YOU Brenda and others is you have'nt lived here as long as us. We have see this town go through a lot of changes. YOU don't speak for those who have been here for a half a century.
Joe Rizoli
Brenda Crawshaw
10:07 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
What makes you think I was talking about you?
And I respectfully disagree with the statement that you quoted. The inability of the people whom I was describing to come up with any actual statistics about a population they regularly revile forces me to default to the group as a whole. Should Frick and Frack wish to do the hard work and provide actual numbers that prove their allegations of community ruin at the hands of that population then I would most surely apologize, publicly and loudly to Frick and Frack with all the humility I deem appropriate.
Kerry Najarian
10:08 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
My favoite comment from Brenda - "suck it up buttercup"
Jim Rizoli
11:02 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Jim Rizoli CCFIILE.COM....Brenda time to grow up! You're acting like a kid.
Here is how things go here.....
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -
-- Mahatma Gandhi
I guess your in the second stage! LOL
When you have lived in the town as long as we have and seen it go from a vibrant town to Social Service Haven, illegal alien watering hole, then you might actually have something to contribute to the conversation.
You're all on your honeymoon living here, and haven't really tasted what it feels to be married to the town, give it another 25 years or so if you even make it that far.
Cheryl Tully Stoll
7:13 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Brenda,
We moved back to Framingham because we wanted to raise our family in a diverse community as well. Being exposed to the real world is important preparation for going out and making your own way in that world. Unfortunately, along with those of us who celebrate diversity are those who are threatened by the same thing. That too is the real world.
What's unfortunate is the intolerance and hate that is now allowed to be spewed while hiding behind the white hood of anonymous comments on the local newspaper’s message boards.
The one thing, and probably only thing, I will give Frick and Frack credit for is that they use their real names when spouting their hateful propaganda. With them you get what you see. Yes, they began these public fires, but the embers would have died out long ago were there not many others stoking the flames from under their white hoods of anonymity in darkness while during the daylight smiling at everyone and treating them like a best friend. I believe that the cowards are now far more dangerous and insidious to this community than the known instigators.
If people truly believe that they are better than other people, why are they so afraid to let us know who they are?
Jim Rizoli
2:09 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jim Rizoli CCFIILE.COM So Frick and Frack are referring to the Rizoli's....Hmmmm So this site is a site that can mock people and get away with it. If I did it I'm sure my post would be banned.
If your going to mock us at least use our real names. This Frick and Frack thing is childish.
Intolerence and Hate, Hateful propaganda...LOL Show me where we have done that? Some examples please.
So here you go charging the Rizoli boys as hateful propagandist and you cite NO examples....Interesting.
Don't think that would stand up in a court of law imagine charging us with things that you can't prove.
In regards to intolerance I think we've bee en very tolerant of people behaving very badly toward us.
Look at all the ways we're attacked....The police stop Jim Rizoli from attending town debates, Jim is attacked by some Zionist outside Walgreens getting campaign signatures and the police fail to anything about. Our cable show was taken off the air...for what reason? It is coming back soon though, submitted my show yesterday.
If anybody has shown real HATE sign it's been those who come against us. Oh, that's right they can do that because of their "FREE" Speech. Of course if I did these things against them I would be in jail.
The Rizoli's stand behind everything they say....We're not ashamed of anything we post and will defend our views anywhere, anytime. The problem is no one will debate us face to face.
Joe Rizoli
6:14 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Joe Rizoli CCFIILE.com
Here we go with the "hate" stuff. An OPINION is NOT HATE.
The Finance, Ways and Means committees can have an OPINION, do we say
those opinions are "hate" if they cut money to Immigrants?
I have seen this town go trough some BIG changes, some good some BAD. I have EVEY RIGHT to tell you what I have experienced. To say my opinion is "hate" and take the ADL's low road trying to demonize free thought is beyond comprehension.
Just be glad the Rizolis are on Town Meeting because we are holding a LOT back let me tell you.
Making the town accountable in all ways is a CIVIC DUTY. It may be "hate" to all you who are the reason why the town is where it is at now, but it is not hate to me.
Last point, I do have a name, it's Joe. If you want to play games with names I could do wonders with YOUR last name Brenda, but I am not twelve years old going through puberty.
Obviously we are winning here because the last thing people resort to when they are losing the argument is they make fun of your spelling or they make fun by using name calling. Where are you going on that one Brenda?
Miss Stoll the "hate" stuff is getting old........You and Chief Carl need to compare your ADL notes.
You all moved to Framingham because of the diversity, great, now you are paying for it through fees for buses, music, free lunches, and sports. Don't you just love diversity?
Joe Rizoli
Jim Rizoli
6:42 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jim Rizoli CCFIILE.COM You are all paying dearly for all your Diversity. Diversity is just a code word for Law Breakers...as most of them are. We don't mind if people come here and follow all the laws but that isn't what's happening. The diversity crowd have their own agenda and set of laws they follow. The good news is for them anyway....Your paying for them to enjoy their time here. If you're happy then I guess that makes it alright...
gggggg1@gmail.com
2:35 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler legally became Chancellor of Germany, appointed by President Paul von Hindenburg. Although he initially headed a coalition government, he quickly made Hindenburg a figurehead and eliminated his non-Nazi partners. The Nazi regime restored economic prosperity and ended mass unemployment using heavy military spending while suppressing labor unions and strikes. The return of prosperity gave the regime enormous popularity, and no serious opposition ever emerged to serve as a challenge to its rule, apart from a failed assassination attempt in 1944.