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Promote Mutual Understanding

We in Guilford are fortunate to live in a community that values social inclusion, acceptance, and diversity. Yet with increasing diversity comes the potential for misunderstanding and conflict, as has recently been demonstrated in a number of widely reported incidents of hate speech, harassment, and vandalism. For this and other compelling reasons, we warmly support the proposed creation of an official Guilford human rights commission (HRC).

Eleven Connecticut towns have already established volunteer, citizen-led HRCs charged with helping local officials, agencies, and community organizations to promote mutual understanding and respect among all racial, religious, ethnic, and other groups, and among individuals of differing abilities, genders, and sexual orientations. On rare occasions, commissions may review specific complaints involving alleged human rights violations and make recommendations for action to elected officials.

Among the commissions’ most important missions is to provide community education through school programs and public engagement—such as the recent presentation on women in Islam at Guilford’s Women & Family Life Center—to further intergroup understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. Additionally, the creation of a commission will show federal or state funding agencies or courts that Guilford has an official body empowered to address issues involving compliance with laws and ordinances concerning human rights.

the group Guilford Human Rights Advocates is currently circulating a petition (www.ipetitions.com/petition/guilford-human-rights) to demonstrate community support as the Board of Selectmen considers its proposal. More information about this worthy project is available online at www.Facebook.com/GuilfordHumanRights.

Ellen Cordes and Harry Haskell

Guilford