Rumors, Postings and A Little Sadness - Saturday, June 23, 2007

[My wife, Jodi Beder, posted this on the Mt. Rainier list-serve. I thought it was important enough to also post it on my web-site.]

Dear Mt Rainier/Brentwood neighbors -

It is with a heavy heart that I write this posting.

Last night, just as the Mt Rainier council meeting was to start, Chief Scott told Jimmy that it was under discussion that offense was taken at a statue hanging on our porch. The small figure, which had been there since last Halloween when I put it up as decoration, is a typical Mexican Day-of-the-Dead piece of art: a skeleton decked out as a man in a big hat drinking a beer. The problem is, apparently, that because it is painted mostly black and was hanging, it was taken to be a racist effigy of an African American.

So, first, a deep apology: The statue is part of a collection we have, skeletons of all materials and colors and dispositions, collected on our travels in Mexico. It was not carved as an effigy of an African American, and we are saddened, and horrified, that it was perceived that way by someone. We apologize for the offense we may have caused, however unintentional.

But what caused us further sorrow and disappointment is that apparently, there were people in town who know us and knew of this complaint before we did, and who did not approach us to tell us. Not only did this not allow us to correct the offense immediately; it also fostered an atmosphere of rumor and gossip, and it hurt us by its terrible false implication of our attitudes and values.

In my best view of the situation, I can only think that because racism is such a difficult topic, people were afraid to approach us, not knowing exactly what to say. To this I can only say, next time something needs to be said, please say it when and where it needs to be said.

We hope this makes people think. If my words can be of any help in raising the level of community in Mt Rainier, where Jimmy and I are so proud to make our home, I will at least feel better about it all.

It was difficult to write this posting. The issues are sensitive, to say the least, and the tone of postings on listservs have a way escalating very quickly, so I hope that anyone else who wants to post on this will take the time to reflect first. Thanks.

Jodi