Dear Editor,

I am glad that so many people are speaking against disgusting bigoted graffiti and heckling. Such abuse makes me angry also. But I have heard of no violence, and the graffiti is reported as derogatory, not threatening, and I have heard no explanation about why some are so actively afraid in addition to angry. But then I realized I did not grow up in an era of school shootings, and I was never indoctrinated by active-shooter drills. So, I never acquired the reflex to conflate perceived potential for violence (such as from violent opinion), with actual violence.

In the early 1960s, the nuclear bomb threat prompted duck-and-cover school drills which left emotional scars on lots of kids. I started first grade in 1961 but fortunately, I never went to a school that did duck-and-cover drills. I begin to worry that young people who have been subjected to active shooter drills have been indoctrinated to panic upon perception, without the occurrence yet of any injury or weapon display or other overt threat, a variation of what in my youth was termed “launch on warning.”

It is saddening if past news coverage of manifestos then violence has created the illusion that the release of manifestos (or graffiti as “mini-manifestos”) necessarily imply impending violence. However, the venting of prejudice is an ancient phenomenon. Just because somebody verbalizes bigoted delusions does not mean that they are on the verge of imminent action. I am sorry for the people who are afraid. But comments after September 11th have both justice and wisdom, letting terrorists change our lives “gives” terrorists what they want.

If I still am not understanding correctly why some people are so afraid despite no precedent of actual violence here, then please write to The Daily Orange, so that everyone may better understand what the fear is about.

The folks whose visual and auditory environments have been appallingly defaced with graffiti and heckling have my sympathy. I hope the cruel, unjustified abusers can be called to account. But I am satisfied that authorities are doing what they can to identify the anonymous perpetrators. I hope the people who have been traumatized by the hateful injustices can recover equanimity and can feel confident that the vast majority of us view everyone as global citizens, all deserving equal fairness, respect and a peaceable environment.

Sincerely,

david louis jensen
Library Technician
Syracuse University Libraries

Published on December 3, 2019 at 8:37 pm