No Better Neighbor

To the Editor:

How sad that here in Newtown we have people rising up against their neighbors, a congregation that wants to enlarge their place of worship. That place happens to be a synagogue, one that has existed in that neighborhood for nearly 100 years.

I don’t seem to recall such uproar in the neighborhood when the Congregational church moved from Main Street to West Street. However, I do recall the problems the Buddhists had on Boggs Hill. Hopefully Newtowners aren’t guilty of religious bias!

In a world so full of greed, hatred, and outright disregard for one’s fellow human beings, I can’t imagine a better neighbor than a church, temple, or synagogue.

Traffic? To be sure, but from cars, not trucks belching smoke. Chances are that traffic to the proposed synagogue would not be significantly more than it is now.

Noise? Yes, but it’s the joyful, praising variety, the happy sound of people praising God.

As Newtown approaches its 300th anniversary perhaps there is no better time to resurrect that old slogan “Nicer in Newtown,” and for all Newtowners to practice the Golden Rule.

Betty Guarino

167 Walnut Tree Hill, Sandy Hook                             August 2, 2004