Submitted by Gina Gladstein, Old Greenwich
For the people who know me, I am rarely at a loss for words. But truthfully, I am speechless. The Republicans are using the term “globalist” to describe one of the Democratic Board of Estimate and Taxation candidates. What does that have to do with a municipal election?
Let’s not forget the strong Republican response to the Democrats calling the Republicans Trumpists several years ago. The Republican response was this is a municipal election and national politics have no place in our discussion as to the functioning of town government. So Republicans, heed your own words.
As to whether globalist is antisemitic, here are my thoughts. When the word globalist entered into our political discourse I believe many people did not realize its Nazi origins. But that was then and this is now.
As a Jewish member of this community, I will tell you I find it offensive. The defense that the RTC has Jewish members, or even if they can come up with Jews who do not take offense does NOT matter. I am offended and so are all my non-Jewish and Jewish friends.
If the RTC had responded that they had used the term unwittingly, and had apologized to those they may have offended, I would not be writing this letter.
Going forward, let’s concentrate on the issues at hand. How are we going to solve the fiscal mess our town finds itself in. I want leadership and vision. Not this nonsense.
Gina Gladstein
Old Greenwich