Submitted by Mary Henderson, Riverside
The savage massacre in Israel over the weekend was the work of a terrorist group that should be dealt with as such, swiftly, and without mercy. But the vast majority of people caught up in this terror – Israelis and Palestinians alike – are innocent. They all deserve a safe homeland, dignity, justice and freedom.
On Sunday, the Republican Town Committee Vice-Chair, Joe Montanaro, disgorged a statement* (below) that attempts to exploit this crime against humanity to gin up political advantage in our upcoming municipal election.
The statement is filled with ignorance, lies and wild-eyed accusations and descriptions of Democrats, and it is yet another reminder of the deterioration of sanity and civility in our town.
He claims that “current elected/appointed officials are creating a worldwide environment of hate and destruction,” and calls on voters to “shield” Greenwich from “the radical ideals of modern-day Democrats” (say what?).
He notes that evil exists in the world and implies that Democrats are somehow responsible for this evil, in the face of the pure evil that Hamas represents and perpetrates.
His ham-fisted attempt to draw spurious associations between a brutal terrorist slaughter and admiration for President Biden hurts all of us, and his suggestion that any of this is a reason to vote for one slate of candidates over another in our upcoming municipal election is preposterous, if not simply despicable. And then he tosses in for good measure references to “open” borders (they’re not), and broad Democratic support for Hamas and the Iranian regime (false), along with other misleading and inaccurate nonsense. Ironically, he also calls for humility to prevail.
Enough. Montanaro’s statement on behalf of the RTC is divisive and shameful. It should be condemned by First Selectman Fred Camillo and all Republican candidates who truly believe in their campaign theme of “unity.”
If you would like to help, here are some organizations bringing life-saving medical assistance to the victims in Israel and Gaza.
Doctors Without Borders Palestine https://www.msf.org/palestine
Magen David Adom https://afmda.org/
Mary Henderson, Riverside
