Discrimination and Prejudice’s Double Standard: More Education is Needed

Two ABG staffers were asked during a lunch break to comment on their discussion about the recent anti-semitic comments made by Fairview Fire Chief Anthony LoGuidice. They questioned if the comments were actually made by the Chief? We said they must have been as the Chief apologized for them. Did we think he was an anti-Semite or for that matter a prejudicial person? “No,” and we were in agreement that his actions over the course of his forty-plus years in public service spoke louder than words. But it doesn’t excuse what happened. Yes, words can hurt. Words can be used to destroy. At this point, we hope they can also be used to heal.

Some of the discussion centered on the philosophical meanings of words as well as the real world actions of discrimination, hate speech and what is considered acceptable or not. We’ve stated before that Mr Feiner is quick to accuse others of racism while he himself was actually found guilty of discrimination against the Fortress Bible Church from Mount Vernon. In fact, he was found guilty on seven counts, including lying under oath, destroying evidence and not being credible. How can we believe anything he says? We can’t. The passage of “let he who cast the first stone…” comes to mind.

It also begs the question of what other forms of derisive, hateful and insulting language might be used throughout our Town government? What of the other departments in the Town, such as the highway department? We already know Mr Feiner and his Town Board condone the use of this offensive language by Town Assessor Edie McCarthy when she used of the “N” word in Town Hall toward another employee as witnessed by employees and Town activist Hal Samis. Mr Samis asked at several Board meetings what they did to address it and never received an answer, solution, apology or even a shrug of the shoulders. Just the blank stare that is so often used when answers are not forthcoming. Where was Mr Feiner’s outrage during that entire episode? There was none! Why is one form of bad behavior acceptable and another is not? We’ve also seen Mr Feiner go out of his way to give a second chance to others, i.e., Alan Hochberg, a convicted felon who has worked for him and maintains an office at Town Hall. When Councilman Ken Jones shouted, “Sit down! Sit the f&^# down!” neither Mr Jones nor Mr Feiner apologized for his foul language of that night! Why is it that whatever Chief LoGuidice offers is not enough? Why the double standard?

According to reports, Fire Department Deputy Chief Howard Reiss confirmed past conversations of Chief LoGuidice’s comments. How has Mr Reiss had been treated by Chief LoGuidice during his tenure on the job? Was he unable to practice his religious beliefs while employed by the fire district? Did the Chief forbid him to observe any Sabbaths or religious functions? Has Reiss ever complained about LoGuidice’s behavior or any anti-Semitism in the Fire Department? Are there others guilty of this behavior as well? If he did, were his concerns addressed or dismissed? Similarly, Reiss claims he’d heard this and we wonder why he said nothing to either a superior, a union representative or commissioner? Isn’t he, as a Jewish firefighter, condoning the behavior and in fact exacerbating it? Its one thing if no one knew this was taking place and another to jump on the bandwagon later while its convenient to do so. We’re not saying he shouldn’t speak up, just questioning why he would wait until now?

We see many examples of discrimination in all sorts of ways each and every day and are expected to tolerate them as politically acceptable or humor and sometimes both. The media seems to have no problem bashing Christianity when it will provide a sensational story, but mass murders at Fort Hood are classified as “workplace violence” as opposed to jihad. You’re recall in Nov. 5, 2009, Muslim Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan murdered 13 people on the base and wounded 30 more while shouting in the name of Allah. How is this rationale a positive or acceptable argument about discrimination? It is not.

Examples abound with a few “passes” of what some choose to interpret as acceptable while others do not enjoy the same luxury. We recall when Vice President Joe Biden mocked Indian accents in a 2012 jobs speech in New Hampshire? Or, when he complained in 2008 on the campaign trail that “you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.” We can certainly keep going with Biden, but his behavior is typically compared to the embarrassing oaf everyone avoids and shrugs off. Another double standard.

How about when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now a leading 2016 Democratic Presidential contender, repeatedly employed a degrading Southern accent to pander to black voters? She said in a speech, “I ain’t noways tired.” Insulting? Demeaning? Excused. Or that Democrat Bob Beckel made fun of Louisiana GOP governor Bobby Jindal’s State of the Union response by comparing it to a “call-center ad in Mumbai.” Just last week on his Comedy Central show, Stephen Colbert revived his supposedly satirical “Ching-Chong Ding-Dong” skit. Here, he speaks in Pidgin English with a grossly exaggerated Asian accent. The reason he said and did what he did doesn’t matter. “Oh, I ruv tea. It’s so good for you. You so pretty, American girl.” Why are these statements considered acceptable? Humor? Hardly. Why does the media not hold these people to the same standards? When do we draw the line? Because they are said by favored leaders and comedians should not allow them to be conveniently dismissed and ignored.

It also begs the question of when is our disdain for language such as this considered hypersensitivity, when is it a private conversation, and when is it free speech? If it is free speech, our First Amendment rights, or whatever we choose to call it, to what extent should we allow it? Can we, or for that matter should we, even seek to control it? Examples of American Nazi’s protesting throughout our country and their right to not only rally and protest but their “right” to do so in pro-American events, such as Fourth of July parades seem to abound. Similarly, why do we allow anti-war protestors to protest and disrupt families in mourning during military funerals at plots they have purchased, both financially and with lives? When is your freedom of speech a violation of my rights? We don’t need to wait generations for things to change. We can change them now!

In the African American community, racist comments being made amongst each other with the use of the “N” word. Why is it still used and considered acceptable? We know that that language will not be tolerated in the Fire Department and rightfully so. In fact, deceased comedian Richard Prior made it a point to say he would stop using the word because it was wrong for a number of reasons. Good for him – unfortunately, we lost him too soon. To go beyond this one word, when do we stop calling overweight people “Fatso”, or redheads “Red”, or those of Italian decent “Guineas”? Unfortunately, the list is endless. Finally, African American actor Nick Cannon recently put on whiteface makeup and posted pictures of himself saying, “It’s official! I’m white!” claiming he was doing a character impression for his new movie. Doing the opposite of “blackface” as white actors did years ago, which is nowadays considered offensive, doesn’t justify his actions or make it any less prejudicial because he is an African American. If it’s not right for one, its not justifiable for another.  

No rational, thinking person would support hate speech. There are several organizations whose goal is to teach tolerance and acceptance to the ignorant. If you are not willing to accept an apology why should we bother to even do this? We need to get people educated to understand and believe there is a better way. Mr Feiner is always quick to throw stones while living in a glass house. Perhaps Mr Feiner should undergo this same sensitivity training so he can learn how offensive using the “N” word can be? What Chief LoGuidice did in the past was wrong. Mr Feiner asked for an apology and received it. It’s time to work together toward healing. 

We certainly need to ensure this won’t happen again, whether in Town Hall, the fire department’s TV room, on the playground and the entertainment industry or anywhere. We cannot stop in our quest. Education, acceptance and fairness are better than they used to be but we still need more. Lets work together toward eliminating all prejudice and discrimination in our Town and our lives. Only then can we have A Better Greenburgh.