There is a saying, sometimes thought of as a curse, that goes like this: “May you live in interesting times.” This is one of those times.
Racism and bigotry are the art of supreme ignorance. Why art? Because art comes in a multitude of forms — poetry, prose, music, dance and painting, to name a few. Some art forms are subtle, like the smile of the Mona Lisa. Some are more deliberate, like a painting that shreds into pieces once the auction sale concludes. Hence, racism and bigotry. Subtle, sublime and deliberate.
Whatever form racism and bigotry take, they are the height of ignorance. They are wrong. They are abhorrent. They are personal. They are professional. They go against everything a civil society stands for. They are, and should not be.
The Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society Inc. does not tolerate racism, bigotry, hate speech, physical violence, property violence, bullying and any other form of anti-social behavior. All individuals are welcome through our doors — to shop, to work, to meet neighbors and friends. We accept and believe that all individuals are created equal, add to the collective fabric of society and have the same equal rights of free speech and freedom of movement. Without hesitation or reservation.
It is our considered hope that society at large comes to realize, understand, listen to and implement the same value system as our Co-op. Then, and only then, will people, all people, enjoy true freedom.
We are you. You are us. Diverse. Equal. Respected. Welcome. Wanted. Needed.
PAUL GUIDONE
Hanover
ALLENE SWIENCKOWSKI
Quechee
The writers are the interim general manager of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society and the president of the Hanover Co-op board of directors, respectively.
Alex Hanson’s article “History in the Making: Historical societies gather materials so future generations can understand pandemic,” (June 8) was excellent. We would like the community to know that the Hanover Historical Society is also collecting pandemic-related history.
Katie Stannard, a rising high school senior, contacted the Hanover Historical Society in April and asked if she could collect stories and images around town. The board of directors decided to create a website for the Hanover Historical Society so we could collect these stories and create digital history for the town. With Webster Cottage closed due to the pandemic, providing digital history has become important.
Katie is collecting pandemic stories at hanoverhistoricalsociety03755@gmail.com. As she states, “Our goal is to see how people’s lives have changed due to the pandemic.” So please contact the historical society with your stories and photos to help us document our time period. This is a life-changing experience and your stories will provide future generations with a first-hand account.
CYNDY BITTINGER
Hanover
The writer is the president of the Hanover Historical Society.
Among its many consequences, the COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed longstanding inequities in income, education, housing and health care in our country.
New Hampshire is not immune — either to the effects of the coronavirus or to fundamental injustices, particularly when it comes to education. Indeed, people living in property-poor towns, such as Claremont and Newport, have long faced higher property tax rates and pay more for education than those in property-rich towns, like Moultonborough, Hanover and New London.
People living in property-poor towns in New Hampshire are likely to be the same people who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to the pandemic. As a result, they will have difficulty paying taxes, and in turn, these property-poor towns will struggle to raise the revenue needed to stay above water.
Local school districts have been educating and feeding children throughout the pandemic. Now is not the time for the state to make cuts in education. We must assure that marginalized children and communities do not continue to suffer inequities in education by taking a second hit in the form of budget cuts as the state responds to the fiscal challenges created by the pandemic.
Now is not the time to be passive. Instead, we must take courageous and constructive steps to protect those around us who are suffering disproportionately. Now more than ever, the governor and the Legislature must protect property-poor towns and the small gains in school funding fairness made over the past 10 months.
MAUREEN F. PROHL
Elkins
I bet you’re thinking of a sand trap on a golf course when you heard of President Donald Trump’s new nickname: “Bunker Boy.” It’s fitting for Trump, given his lack of focus and inability to hit the greens.
The bunker at the White House, the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, stands at the ready under the East Wing. It is designed to protect White House occupants when a threat is imminent. It needs no “inspection.” I have a civil engineering background and helped maintain the mechanical aspects of the White House bunker for 3½ years during my Air Force career. The bunker provides a place to plan, not hide.
RICH ROBINSON
Lebanon