By Christine Todd Whitman
December 11, 2019

When I was governor, our motto for one state was “Many Faces, One Family”. It reflected the diversity that makes our state strong. The horrific shooting in Jersey City flies in the face of all that is great in our state. Yet we are not alone. Hate crimes have risen around the country and, since language shapes behavior, our leaders have to speak out forcefully not just about these murders, but against all hate speech. It doesn’t matter if it targets Jews, Muslims, Mexicans, or protestors at a rally. It is all wrong. It doesn’t portray strength; rather, it reflects inferiority feelings and weakness. It is time for Americans to stand up and speak out. This is not who we are.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash