Globalize me, Zohran
Words have a power of their own (edited)
Dear Zohran:
Words can both encourage and discourage. There is always another word.
You have a great voice, a lot like your father's, and I know you are brilliant, just like your mother. That was easy. We are both Arsenal fans, that was easy, too. Here is the rub:
Kear turned 12 this week, and my duty to protect him is a choice beyond NYS Penal Law 242.05.
Where I go, Kear goes.
So, when a man who had chanted “Free Gaza” to me a week before, for no reason, then points toy weapons at my head in my lobby, while I am leashed to Kear on a Friday night after services, and says, "Kill All the Jews, Hitler had it right," it is the global intifada in my face. It was a year ago, but still, I want the video, more to publicly shame those who deny me access to the evidence (below) than to let the man holding the weapons earn his "third strike."
The stalking and harassment have continued for a year, even last Wednesday night, and my friend filmed it. It started last June with his “Free Gaza” rant in our lobby, in my silent face, which, of course, was harmless. Because words have no power?
I am a broken record and cannot walk away after several toy guns were pointed at my head, as one was on June 7th a year ago, so I remind you that Hanlon's Razor is a mental shortcut that teaches us, in the words of Robert J. Hanlon, “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
In other words, rather than questioning people's intentions, question their competence. So, choose between the lessons you learned at home, as HB did.
People survive things. I will survive without you, but will you let the HBs in our city thrive? He has and will continue to do the same to my trans neighbor, so his hatred is sociopathy.
And then he did it again, because words have power:
His harassment continues, even as recently as last Wednesday night.
I do nothing. I say nothing because silence has power, too.
I want the tapes to shame a non-profit entity that hides evidence of a hate crime solely to protect its reputation.
Remind me, with your elegant words, how you plan to make me safer.
This is the man your words empower. You will do nothing, even for this old Jew you know. Mir zayan do. I am still here.
Peace be unto you,
(((Philippe)))