I understand that WHT is supporting free speech rights by publishing all viewpoints in their opinion section, however, after reading Ella Rodriquez’s chilling letter in today’s newspaper I must say I thought WHT was taking it awfully close to the
I understand that WHT is supporting free speech rights by publishing all viewpoints in their opinion section, however, after reading Ella Rodriquez’s chilling letter in today’s newspaper I must say I thought WHT was taking it awfully close to the edge by publishing that level of hatred, ignorance, bigotry, paranoia, and obvious personal discontent, all wrapped up in one short letter.
It is a strange human phenomena that when one is unhappy with their life for any number of reasons, it is often a natural instinct to cast blame on outside forces and persons. I suppose this is a way of attempting to regain control of one’s life by attaching causes to one’s discontent. We have seen this played out in the extreme throughout history, including 1930s Germany, Rwanda in the ’90s, South Sudan today, and countless other places around the world.
The fact that this level of intolerance, ignorance, and hatred still exists in today’s world saddens me but does not surprise me. I was surprised however, that Mrs. Rodriquez would use Germany as an example to support her bigoted beliefs. She argues that immigrants are destroying that country when in reality Germany has a world class education system, the strongest economy in Europe, free college for those who want it, a world class health care system with cutting edge medicine, health insurance for all it’s citizens, and a fraction of the homeless that exists in the US. As for the “16 lives” lost in Germany she keeps referring to, the facts show that the murder rate in the US is six times that of Germany, and sexual assault rates are three times higher in our country versus Germany. This despite the fact the US takes in a fraction of the refugees as does Germany. Who would have guessed?
I have spent a fair amount of time in Germany over the years visiting family there so I am somewhat familiar with that country. Have you ever been to Germany, Mrs. Rodriquez, or is your entire diatribe regarding that country taken directly from Breitbart News?
Allow me to let you in on a little secret, Mrs. Rodriquez. If you woke up tomorrow, and every single American citizen had blue eyes, blonde hair, white skin, and only followed the Christian faith, the problems, anxieties, fears, anger, and discontent you obviously feel would not magically disappear. This does not make me a “traitor,” Mrs. Rodriquez, it makes me realistic. It also makes me compassionate for those who simply need a little help, which I understand is a laughable concept to you and all those who live in fear of that which is different, but I can live with that and will continue to sleep quite well at night.
Eric Garrett is a resident of Kailua-Kona
