“No one is born hating another person because of the color of [their] skin, or [their] background, or [their] religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
— Nelson Mandela.
I built the sign in this photo back in June of 2020.
I was enraged, heartbroken, disgusted, and ashamed of police who murdered or allowed George Floyd to be murdered.
When I built my sign, I recommitted to social justice causes and reaffirmed who I was as an anti-racist, in deed and spirit.
The sign was out for a couple of days. It was set back from the driveway and my road, maybe 25 feet.
It was a Tuesday. I remember because Tuesday is trash day. I was rolling my two trash cans out to the street when a red pickup, with a loud exhaust and several American flags flapping in the breeze came to a screeching halt about 5 feet from me as I was leaving my trash cans and embarking on a walk down the street.
The drivers window rolled down, a guy with a MAGA cap said “you make that sign?”
I turned to talk. “Yep.”
Driver said, “You a fuckin Jew?”
This was old stuff for me. My eyes squinted, I balled my fist, my heart raced…
“Watch your step,” he said.
Driver’s window rolls up, truck burns rubber, engine roars. He goes.
Like I said, this was old stuff, this hate, this antisemitism, this mentality.
Also old stuff was knowing, had I been black, it would’a been worse.
I was shaking. Not fear. Anger.
That rage turned to sadness.
I’ve seen this truck around. This was a neighbor.
How the fuck did he know I was Jewish?
I looked down on my chest.
Earlier, I had put on a sweatshirt to go for my walk. My Star of David necklace was out from inside my shirt.
Back in the day, with other incidents of antisemitism, I reacted by making sure I hid my Jewishness, like my star necklace. Not this day.
We, who are not haters, need to align with others who espouse our compassionate and accepting values. As Mandela said, people who learn to hate can be taught to love. But only if we teach by example. We have to hold our heads up high and bring goodness forward.
That’s why, albeit a bit shaken, I went on my walk.
Star out.
Hi Steve!
I remember when you told me about that incident and I am still so saddened by it. I hope you are doing well & know that we ALL have to keep hanging on to HOPE! We are facing a scary horizon – we need to stick together!!! ♥️🕊️
Poignant story, Steve. Thank you for remembering George Floyd, for Nelson Mandela’s words, and for sharing your direct anti-semitic experience (in your own home–truly scary) May all these serve as a beacon for all of us to remember and persevere beyond the darkness, towards the light, no matter what.