Dear Town Meeting observers, It was hard to be in the room where it happened. I was sitting behind the speaker when the calling against her began, and noticed she remained kind, though confused, as she was heckled and berated. I thought it was wonderful when someone stood up for her publicly a short time later.
Before Town Meeting, when I first learned someone was offering a nature alternative to Article 3, I spoke with him directly. His proposal -- to replace the 6 acre housing development component with the same acres of a rewilding nature project, while maintaining Farrington conservation measures -- was true, genuine and achievable. To me, it would at least give Lincoln voters a choice. However, this individual was maligned; not in public, but rather through a behind-the-scenes campaign of phone calls and emails meant to discredit him. I know because those untrue rumors reached me, too, up until Town Meeting. Could we all show more kindness and consideration to people who offer different perspectives? -- > Dear Lincoln Town, > I left last night’s town meeting feeling deeply saddened and disturbed by > what I witnessed. A woman, new to our community and brave enough to stand > up and speak her truth in a room full of strangers, was met not with > respect—but with heckling, mockery, and disdain. > She may not have known the “two-minute rule,” but even so—what harm would > it have done to let her finish a heartfelt thought? What does it say about > us as a town when our response to someone’s vulnerability is to shut them > down and shout them out? > I felt compelled to speak—not because of the issue at hand, but because of > how we treat one another. This wasn’t about politics. It was about > kindness, humanity, and the kind of community we want to be. No one was in > danger. No lives were on the line. And yet we responded with cruelty, not > compassion. > When our local discourse starts to mirror the worst examples of public > behavior we see in national politics and on our screens, something is > broken. We can do better. We must do better. > To those who joined in the heckling: I ask you to reflect. Imagine yourself > or someone you love in that woman’s place. Would you want them to be met > with ridicule? > I am proud that I stood up for her. I hope next time more of you will, too. > Because this isn’t about a vote. It’s about decency. > Shame on what happened last night. But it’s not too late to change. > Be better, Lincoln! > Love, Kathryn Hawkins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara Peskin *My Moments in Nature Photo Gallery: barbarapeskin.com <http://barbarapeskin.com/>* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara Peskin *My Moments in Nature Photo Gallery: barbarapeskin.com <http://barbarapeskin.com>*
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