Contributing to violence by our silence?

Drummond Pike, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle asks:

When do people know they are contributing to intolerance that may lead to violence? When is silence complicity? When is it time to stand up to those voices and say, "Enough"?

On Monday afternoon, the Oakland Police Department called the Tides office to inform us that the man who survived a shootout with the California Highway Patrol last Saturday night had intended to target our organization. It was shocking: an American seeking to rain terror on fellow Americans.

In disbelief, we have watched events unfold resulting in the news media reporting that we were one of the targets. And others in the media suggest a connection between this sad soul's violent intentions and the frequent, inflammatory and highly inaccurate portrayal of Tides promoted in the conservative media.
.....
This incident serves to remind us that it should be the obligation of every American, especially those whose voices are amplified by the media, to foster civil discourse and dialogue among those who may disagree about public matters. One does not win an argument by inciting troubled people to violence. As Americans, we know we can best solve problems when we reach broadly across boundaries for the best of ideas.

Intolerance that closes our eyes defeats our aspirations. It is time to speak up because we all have a right to lead safe, productive lives without fear.

Posted by Ann Fontaine on July 27, 2010 10:30 AM | |
Comments (1)

Often grandstanding LIARS and NEWS PRESENTERS who appear-to-know-it-all, instigate confusion, fear, spew gross negativity and acts of hate...of course there are deadly consequences for such irresponsible News and Muckraking. Same thing goes for fundamentalist type ¨preachers¨ who exclude, demonize/slander and discriminate against LGBT people or people of different colors or other relgious denominations.

There is no way to ¨cover¨ such ugliness with gallons of hair bleach, teeth whitener, plunging necklines and/or prancing about in tennis shoes nor by featuring a smoozie old Presidential candidate/Preacher who calmly pasturizes vileness in order to make it appear ¨fair and balanced¨ and Christlike palatable.

We have dangerous pollution all around us, especially with Faux News offerings and often available at SELECTIVE Scriptural driven places of worship(?)...dangerous attempts to endanger ones character and REAL morals and honorable convictions of knowing right vs. wrong, good vs. bad...all in the name of self-rigteousness and bigotry and ¨defending a God who needs no defense.¨

Posted by Leonardo Ricardo [TypeKey Profile Page] | July 28, 2010 10:25 AM

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