Published with permission
Vigil in remembrance of those murdered in New Zealand
St. James Episcopal Church
March 16, 2019
Salaam aleikum.
Our entire city is heartbroken and our prayers and thoughts are with those killed and injured and their families.
A quick personal aside… As Mayor of Austin, I’ve had the great honor and privilege, and solemn duty, to represent our community at too many vigils after horrible events, too many hospital rooms, too many saddened homes. At each, I’m left with the feeling that my effort is far too deficient, that nothing I can do or say rises to the moment or provides any real solace or comfort.
And then, just a few months ago, my Jewish community and I were the recipients of our community’s focus following the shootings in Pittsburgh. I now know, personally, how much each embrace comforts, individually and independently, and how impactful it is when they all add up. Thank you.
Why is it important that our community gathers together?
…to make sure that no part of our community feels afraid, or for even a moment questions whether the rest of us will stand together in support of each other if any of us is threatened because of who we are…
…so we all feel that we are not alone…
…so we are surrounded by the power and safety found in our collective strength
and resolve…
But it’s even more important that our community gathers together…
…We gather to hold each other accountable…
It is not enough, as important as it is, merely to rally against hate.
The direct, obvious and clear hate of the extremists is not our greatest enemy.
Danger begins when societal and cultural norms get blurred and regular people begin to lose sight of the line between what is right and what is wrong. When accepted messages, and our trusted messengers, become ambiguous, our greatest threat is our silence. Our silence in the face of false and hateful hyperbole tills the ground for hate to grow. Our silence sounds to some like acquiescence. It is our silence that allows the hate of extremists to move into the mainstream.
Regardless of our political party or our policy beliefs, it’s when political and populist rhetoric hides hate in otherwise accepted speech, stoking fears in a manner designed to drive agendas and to organize people and with our silence we just let it happen.
Please accept that I am not intending to be partisan when I note that our President said, just a couple days ago, that “Crimes of all kinds are coming through our southern border.” He added: “People hate the word invasion, but that’s what it is…”
Now, we should engage in a healthy debate over immigration policy and practice.
…we may need more judges at the border to more quickly adjudicate asylum pleas;
…people may need to be turned away more quickly after getting due process;
…and, while I disagree, some can argue for walls.
But, to be clear, people arriving at our border with the legal and constitutional right to seek asylum, whether granted or not, are not invaders.
Today is not a day to argue policy. But I want you to look at the words that are used.
Not everyone hates the word “invasion.”
The New Zealand shooter launched the attack, he said, “to show the invaders that our lands will never be their lands…”
There is great power in that word.
…Where it’s used, and
…how it’s used, and
…who uses it — are all important…
When last week’s mass murderer writes that he supports the President of the United States as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose…”
…we each bear direct responsibility.
Not because it’s a direct expression of hate.
Not because it’s a call to violence
Regardless of intent.
Intent is irrelevant, if the words are ambiguous.
Our biggest threat is that we allow any ambiguity, anywhere, to blur the line between good and evil.
We are collectively the trustees, the keepers of our cultural and societal norms.
Collectively, we decide what is acceptable… what is allowed… and what is not.
Who speaks out if we don’t? Our silence is our greatest threat.
We gather to hold each other accountable.
Why is it important that our community gathers together?
…because a community, like a family, should, every once in a while, give each other a big hug — just because…
