Patriots Can Support DEI Efforts
To the Editor:
There was a recent Newtown Bee article discussing how public participation guidelines have been changed at Board of Education meetings. The Bee reports on “loud and disruptive clapping.”
But those that have been at all the meetings know this is false. Have there been some inappropriate behaviors and comments recently at meetings that might be considered disruptive? Yes. Was it the supportive clapping? No.
Let me paint a picture for all of you who were not at these meetings.
Local students came to speak — about ten of them showed up with very well-written and personal speeches. It is challenging for anyone to address the Board, but these were just kids! Everyone except for one person in the entire audience respectfully clapped and supported these students after they spoke.
Let me paint another picture. A man who was told by the Board to wrap up his anti-DEI speech at three minutes gets angry, takes his mask off and yells at the Board that they are disgusting as he storms out. Another man suggest that transgender girls would sexually abuse other girls at school (with absolutely zero data to prove it). A speaker ends his public comment with “Let’s go Brandon,” code for the F-word.
Only one of the above incidents was addressed in the article. Only one of them was seen as “disruptive” and making people feel uncomfortable. Can you guess which one? Not the swearing, not the yelling, not the guy rambling about sexual abuse. It was the supportive clapping that was reprimanded. Can you guess why? Let me give you a few vocab words to help you figure this puzzle out.
Tone policing: “A tactic used by those who have privilege to silence those who do not by focusing on the tone of what is being said rather than the actual content”.
Censorship: “When someone examines in order to suppress or delete anything that becomes questionable”.
Gaslighting: “A form of manipulation where the bully or abuser misleads the target, creating a false narrative”.
There is a recent narrative across America that DEI is too political, and I fear this Board and this town are getting sucked into it.
The recent article in The Bee is extremely alarming, but not surprising as it fits this nationwide narrative. There is an idea that one cannot be patriotic and still support DEI efforts.
We heard Wes Johnson, Newtown’s DEI coordinator, questioned by the Board about this very thing. Social justice and patriotism CAN coexist because they are one and the same.
If you love your country, you love everyone in it — even minorities — and you fight for them to have the same opportunities as everyone else. That makes you a patriot. Racism is not patriotism, and this is a narrative we need to get away from in our country, and keep out of our schools, out of the Board of Ed, and out of our local newspapers.
Kate McGrady
Sandy Hook
Editor’s Note: A January 28 article “BOE Chair Changes Public Participation Guidelines For Meetings” did not report on “loud and disruptive clapping.” The report includes text from the Board of Education Chair’s modified public participation preamble that incorporates the phrase “It is my responsibility as chair to facilitate communication between the public and the board within that space. Behaviors — such as loud and disruptive clapping, yelling, or incendiary comments...” That article also does not report on specific incidents or disruptions at school board meetings. The Newtown Bee covered the school board chair’s change to the preamble and the reasons given for it, and a Bee reporter has been virtually attending all of the latest meetings.
DEI does not espouse ‘same opportunities’ for all. DEI champions ‘guaranteed results’ (or equity) for some at the expense of others. This is not the American way and true patriots know this.
Respectfully I have to disagree on some points. I think “Lets Go Brandon” as a euphemism for the, F word is brilliant. It is no different than saying “Oh Fudge” or “shoot” for other words, dadgum it !
The late Justice William O. Douglas said free speech is for all speech, even odious thoughts.
I have no problem with clapping and displays of support or approbation for speakers. Look no further than the British Parliament, the Mother of all Deliberative Bodies. Question time is shown on CSPAN. They catcall, heckle and generally shout at politicians (especially the Prime Minister) during debate. In fact the two parties are separated by exactly two and a half sword lengths to prevent members fighting. You want decorum ? Lets go bck to the days when a woman Senator would not be recognized to speak if they dared to wear a pantsuit onto the floor, and men had to have a jacket and tie.
Being toldt to wrap it up is not rudeness. Appear before an Appellate Court and there are three lights, green, yellow, and red. Green you talk, Yellow you are on notice your time is up. Red the mike is cut off and your turn is over.
Editor’s note: The Associated Press reports that “Let’s Go Brandon” is a line has become conservative code for “F—- Joe Biden.”
Absolutely correct Mr. Voket. I was inarticulate in my response. I think it is brilliant that they have created a euphemism for a phrase using the “F” word. SNAFU and FUBAR have become accepted phrases. We all knew what Ralphie really said when youheard “O Fudge” in Christmas Story. Please keep up the good work.