Due to the snow storm and snow removal there will be no parking on Main Street Until Further Notice
The tendrils of hatred are far reaching; violence and racism in America has been manifested again in the shootings in Buffalo and now Texas.
Ruth Whitfield, former member of the Warwick Union, African, Methodist Episcopalian Church was a victim in the recent shooting in Buffalo, NY.
Sister Ruth was a long-term member of Union Warwick. The Whitfield’s had retired to California but returned to New York to be near family. Ruth was 86 years old and the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, Garner Whitfield. Sister Ruth was visiting her husband in a nursing home as she did each day and had stopped by the supermarket to buy some groceries – a simple act that ended in tragedy.
This is a moment of great sadness for the Whitfield family, the Union family and families victimized by this devastating act. We mourn as a Country; we mourn as a community.
In an email I received from Union Pastor Ann Marie Bensti-Addison Posey, she commented,
“… this storm has been going on too long. We are saturated to our microfibers. Though it seems at times to relent, it never recedes, it just pauses to reinvent itself for a more forceful attack… We must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to dismantle the very elements that continue to feed the storm. We must deconstruct this ideology at every turn, beginning with our own thoughts and ending with decisive actions. Until we are personally committed to the difficult conversation we will not move forward. For out of those conversations, begun with a mind to listen not just hear, we can develop an action plan that contributes to mutual understanding, cultural humility and change. “
I share these words because they are important to our role in developing change and to next steps. How do we emerge from the ashes of hatred, racism and violence and grow to find a new purpose? How do we not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and to forge a stronger, more determined and humane future. It starts here, with each of us. As Pastor Posey points out so clearly, that this is the time to begin a dialogue, to listen and to develop an action plan. We have heard of systemic racism which is regrettably real but if we could find a way to infiltrate our cultural fibers with the voice of equality, diversity and acceptance it might be a good beginning.
The events in Buffalo and Texas are heartbreaking and made poignant in the seasonal beauty of a Spring awakening. Let that help us, motivate us and empower us to find change.
On behalf of the Village Board of Trustees we send our sympathy and love to the Whitfield family and to all the families victimized in the event in Buffalo.
Our heartfelt condolences and sadness to the families of the school children and teachers of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas.
