In a letter to residents, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik cites a recent rash of “hate based” crimes that, according to him, occurred immediately after the Nov. 8 election.
Although the mayor sees an obligation to bring these crimes to the attention of the residents of Marlboro, he also has an obligation to tell the whole story.
Instead, although he maintains that a hate crime occurred, he cannot comment further because the police are investigating the incidents. This leaves us to infer that the election of Donald Trump was the reason for these “demonstrations of hate.”
I was not a supporter of Mr. Trump, but in fairness, the mayor should have waited until he was free to tell the whole story before writing his email.
I also would like to point out that people are becoming frustrated with this constant alluding to bias, intolerance and diversity in the township, or for that matter in the nation.
There is a certain element in our town and nation who will always despise people who are different from themselves, so no amount of letters from the mayor will change this situation.
However, the majority of ordinary folks (do I dare say Americans, who are the subject here) are “tolerant” of all groups. They have become discouraged and resentful, therefore, of constantly being called to task for their lack of forbearance.
In the end, this constant harping on the correct approach to ethnicity is more hurtful than helpful. Let me also point out that although it is never spoken of in the mayor’s emails, disdain for Americans by ethnic groups is also rampant.
So, Mr. Mayor, I would suggest that until the police have completed their investigation and you are free to disclose all the details of what actually happened, you not be so quick to send emails on hate based crimes.
Jacquelin Duffy
Marlboro
