As New York City and the nation try to understand what happened in Saturday's police ambush, I was reminded of a similarly horrific incident in Plainfield several years ago. It brought out the same mix of fear for the safety of police officers and concern for peace in the community that is now being discussed in all media. The scenario differs in that the officers survived, but the tear in social fabric is similar.
Having noticed an increase in the "us vs. them" rhetoric in Plainfield in recent years, I posted this plea in January 2014. It drew a lot of comments and the Human Relations Commission did receive some new members, though more needs to be known about their work.
Let me say the "us" could be based on race, class, heritage, ideology or membership in some group or another, with "them" being the perceived opposite or different ones. In the aftermath of Saturday's killings, many lines are being drawn and many harsh words have been spoken.
When I was writing in the early 1980s for the weekly "Plainfield Today," I once figured out there were at least a dozen constituencies in Plainfield. Today, there are likely even more. While diversity was (and still is) a draw for people to want to live here, sometimes individuals in one group clearly disdained another. Yet within groups, enough people agreed to be Plainfielders first that there was community in the Queen City. I decided the broadest distinction might be between people of good will and those of ill will, the latter preferring to stir the pot whenever possible.
In this season, at this time in history, it is most important to make the choice in words and deeds: Be of good will.
--Bernice
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