Must stand in solidarity
No home for hate
Regarding “Police investigating antiSemitic flyers distributed in Missouri City neighborhood,” (Dec. 2): The Fort Bend Interfaith Council was dismayed at reports that a number of Missouri City residents found anti-Semitic flyers in their driveways. It is disturbing that such hateful materials are being spread in our community. Religious leaders from across the county feel compelled to speak out about those acts of evil. The spread of hate-filled propaganda against any religious community is heinous. The Fort Bend interfaith community stands together in the belief that religiously motivated hatred and violence have no home in our community. As residents and leaders in this, the most diverse county in the country, we denounce the spread of these vile materials and stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors.
Hanukkah, in part, remembers the miraculous persistence of light in a time of deep darkness. As our community wrestles with the darkness of hatred and fear, we are called to let our light shine. What unites us will always be stronger than what divides us. Our varied faith traditions all call us to speak truth, to seek right and to care for our neighbor. We must be leaders in this world so fraught with tension and division in standing firm that religiously motivated hatred will not be tolerated. Even as there are some in our community who would anonymously seek to drive us apart, we must boldly, publicly, profess solidarity and compassion. We must work together to overcome hateful stereotypes and hurtful lies. We must shine a light of hope in times when the world seems darkest.
Hate has no home in Fort Bend County. May we come together in a spirit of Shalom.
The Rev. Will Starkweather, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church; Geetha Ravula, Ashirwad A Blessing Temple; and Farha Ahmed, The
Minaret Foundation