(NAME-MCE) Pennies of Hate

[Blumenfeld, Warren [C I]]

Pennies of Hate

By Warren J. Blumenfeld

 

            The history and symbolism of the little copper penny transcends its face value. Musicians write songs about "Pennies from Heaven." Shinny new pennies are beautiful things to behold. Rare old collectable pennies bring high prices and pride for their owners. The symbolic history of the penny also possesses a down side.

            On the evening of Thursday, September 24, I was walking home after enjoying a wonderful meal on Main Street in Ames with my out-of-town friend who was passing through on his way back to New York State. As we walked west down Lincoln Way directly in front of the Iowa Department of Transportation building, a passing automobile slowed by our side and flung small objects at us hitting our right sides. Stunned, we looked on the ground and found pennies, as the cars rolled by us. 

            I do not believe that what occurred on Thursday evening was a random act, but rather, was a cowardly act of blatant anti-Semitism, for it is generally known on our campus and throughout the community that I am both Jewish and gay. As the passers by pelted pennies at us, I was transported back in time to my middle school years when students tossed pennies at me while yelling: "Go ahead Jew, pick them up, you cheap Jew." From these stereotypes also come the expression, "Don't Jew me down," which I often hear from others to this very day. 

A hate crime is one in which a person or group of people target others primarily based on their social identities - race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socioeconomic class, disability, linguistic background, age, and others - for the purpose of bullying, harassing, humiliating, intimidating, or physically injuring. These are referred to as "hate" or "bias-related" crimes since they stem from perpetrators' prejudice toward an entire group of people, and they target individuals who they perceive as representing that group. By targeting one, they in fact target a group, and add to the collective consciousness of a people. 

            If any person has concerns with my ideas and perspectives, I am willing to discuss these with anyone, any time and any place. If, however, anyone hates me because of my social identities, then I challenge you to do your homework, to do your personal work in overcoming your prejudices. For in the final analysis, your biased conditioning compromises your integrity and your basic humanity, and this hurts you more than it does me. 

In addition, whenever anyone of us is demeaned, we are all diminished. Therefore, we all have a responsibility, indeed, an opportunity to eradicate hate crimes in all of its forms, to speak up and end the silence against the hate. For there is no such thing here as an "innocent bystander."

 
Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-3192
Office Phone: (515) 294-5931
Office Fax:     (515) 294-6206
Home Phone: (515) 232-8230

 
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