As we all reel from the atrocities in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the cowardly words coming from Bedminster, New Jersey, I received a rude reminder that prejudice exists right here in the Valley.
Earlier this week I stopped at a gasoline station in Northampton to fill my tank and buy a gallon of milk. As I waited in line to pay for my purchases, there was a group of people at the next register — two young women and a middle-aged man — who appeared to be pooling their cash to buy something.
“You trying to Jew me?” one of the women said to the man. I couldn’t let that go. I asked the woman to repeat what she said, and she did, though rather sheepishly. “That’s lovely,” I responded, and asked her where she learned to speak like that. “My parents,” she replied.
I countered that they sounded like fine, upstanding people. Sarcastic, I know, and perhaps not the most appropriate response, but I was hopping mad. I told her there are lots of Jewish people in the community, and I was one of them. I didn’t wait for an apology before leaving the store, but none appeared forthcoming.
It is disheartening to realize there are those among us who think nothing of tossing out offensive statements that perpetuate hateful ethnic stereotypes. We can’t let them get away with it. If you hear something, say something.
Peter Steinberg
Easthampton