To the editor:

Tolerance, peace and compassion for our fellow humans – divisive ideas? 

I read with sadness the letter to the editor from last week’s paper entitled “Put away your ‘Hate’ signs and your contempt”.

According to the FBI, hate crimes – defined as offenses motivated at least in part by bias against the victims’ race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity — have reached the highest level in the United States in more than a decade. Experts say the true number is undoubtedly higher than the official count.

It doesn’t take the FBI to tell us that hate is spreading like a cancer in our world. All we have to do is turn on the news. I trust we can agree that this is a horrible trend, and one that we should all be working to end in whatever big or small ways we can. 

My family put a “Hate Has No Home Here” sign in our yard for a few reasons, none of which are rooted in feelings of contempt or superiority towards our neighbors: it reinforces to our children what they are taught in our home and in their wonderful school community; it reminds anyone who passes by that they are worthy of dignity and respect; and it publicly expresses our commitment to tolerance, peace and compassion for our fellow humans – foundational values for a healthy, vibrant society. 

Divisive? I pray not.

In any case, I propose we stop wasting precious time imagining the worst possible intentions of our neighbors and instead rededicate ourselves to the work of creating the world we all deserve.  

Annie Watkins

Barrington