| Dan Ellingson: Letter to the Editor |
I’d like to commend the DEI committee for their good work on important issues. I think they’ve done a great job working together and treating each other with goodwill and respect. I’m sure each of them volunteered because they want the very best for New Gloucester.
The vast majority of people I interact with in town are also considerate, empathetic, embrace difference, and desire to include people of all backgrounds – even someone from away, like me. At the same time, I don’t think anyone wants to live in a world where they live in fear of saying the current “wrong” thing, having motives questioned or being ostracized. We have a fantastic town with the best frozen custard and brick-oven pizza, and we all enjoy the great fortune and incredible privilege of living in America – the greatest and freest country in the world. Might I suggest that we all avoid having a victim mentality, being envious of those that appear to have some advantage, or taking offense at perceived insults, but rather maintain an attitude of thankfulness and neighborliness. If someone espouses what we consider to be ignorant or offensive, well that’s just the price of living and speaking freely.
There appears to be a narrowly defined dogma for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in some circles. Hopefully we can be open-minded, and thankfully, we have a diverse group on the committee representing various ideologies and freely expressing their views.
My grandparents fled an oppressive country because they lost the right to live and speak according to the dictates of their consciences, so I hold our freedoms especially dear. Their government had a structural equality in place to supposedly guarantee similar outcomes for all. My grandmother resorted to making bread out of acorns due to everyone sharing an equal amount of no food, and as a schoolteacher was told to teach children to pray to Lenin instead of God. Due to this actual oppression, my grandparents left Ukraine 100 years ago this October with the clothes on their backs and gold coins in the heel of my grandfather’s shoe. Oh, and did I mention that America is the greatest and freest country in the world?
Thank you to this committee as they continue their painstaking efforts to comb through town policies. My hope is that they formulate a simple statement that the entire community can give full-throated endorsement to. And also, may Hodgmans be open both now and forevermore. Amen
Dan Ellingson
Editor’s note: Dan Ellingson shared his letter at the DEI Committee’s August 18 meeting as well as with NGX.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this opinion piece are solely those of the author. Publication does not reflect endorsement by the NGXchange or its volunteers. NGX welcomes diverse viewpoints and invites your submissions. Learn more here.
