I write this letter on behalf of Ellen Birnbaum who I am informed is being asked to resign from her elected position because of a remark that has been interpreted as being racist or bigoted or deeply inappropriate or all of the “above.”
Full disclosure: I only know what Mrs. Birnbaum said from what I have read in the local newspaper and it’s not much to go on.
However, my personality directs me not to judge people unfavorably unless, I know facts that lead me to believe otherwise. Therefore, I am unable to render a “guilty” verdict to Ellen Birnbaum because the facts are unclear.
What is a fact however and what is clear to me based on my personal association with Ellen is that Ellen Birnbaum is not a bigot, is not a racist and has no negative feelings toward African-Americans.
How can I make this statement?
Because I have known Ellen for many, many years. When you know someone for many years “things” come out. In my entire relationship with Ellen no “things” have ever even come out within the diameter of an atom as being bigoted in any way.
Then what has now happened to create the horrific storm around Ellen Birnbaum? The answer my friend are the times we now live in.
We are living in an era where the contents of private and public speech are not only attacked by those who disagree but public speakers are in danger when expressing their point of view for fear of being accused of political blasphemy. Both private and public speech are currently under attack.
The freedom of speech we have cherished since the founding of our country is in danger of being compromised.
How I well I remember going to Madison Square Garden sometime in the ‘60s to hear the racist Gov. George Wallace who was then running for president of the United States.
I despised what he said and represented.
But he was allowed to speak as an American. So was the racist and anti-Semite David Duke. So were the anti-Semites, defended correctly by the ACLU, who marched in Skokie, Illinois. That is freedom.
What is now happening? We are not allowing people to speak contrary points of view. Innocent slippages of phrases or sentences said in private go publicly viral.
Our leaders are being forced not to speak what they think because others disagree.
To wit: Haverford College cancelled their scheduled commencement speaker recently because of student protests. So did Brandeis University (Ayaan Hirsi Ali), Brown University (Raymond Kelly former distinguished New York City Police Commissioner) , Azusa Pacific University (Charles Murray), Rutgers University (Condoleezza Rice) and others.
Ellen Birnbaum is a victim of this political, social atmosphere. Maybe Mrs. Birnbaum said something racial in tone. Maybe and probably, what she said was stupid, even though Ellen is a very smart woman.
But let’s not lynch her. That’s what is going on. What’s happening is a social, political, lynching.
Neither African-Americans nor the political world need not seek an apology from Ellen.
You know why? Because she immediately apologized! She is sorry, very sorry for the stupid and inappropriate words she said.
She understands that what she said was interpreted far differently than she meant. She made an error. She knows it. She deserves another chance to be better.
I ask members of the Democratic Party not to be over politically religious. Don’t become fanatics.
Racists and bigots have no place in American politics. Ellen Birnbaum is neither.
Mrs. Birnbaum should not be politically “run out of town.” She has clearly gotten the message. Give her another chance. It’s the decent thing to do.
Martin H. Sokol
Great Neck
