On Oct.18, I had the privilege of standing in peaceful protest on the Belchertown Commons. I stood with friends I hadn’t seen in years, and with friends newly made. We smiled and waved at passersby who waved back and honked their horns in support. It was a joyous day, filled with optimism and hope for the future of America. I’d have to say, it was the most American thing I’ve ever done.
I am a former educator. Our mission as educators is to support young people in questioning what they see and hear, and to support them in doing the right thing when something doesn’t seem right. We teach them that it is never right to be mean, or to make fun of others, or to be a bully. We teach them that being a bystander when someone is being bullied is not right. That’s why I can’t be a bystander anymore. I need to say something. On Oct. 18 I said something.
Christina Brownell
Belchertown