Editor’s Note: While A&E focuses on the art, music, and theater of the USM community, it is also important for one to be aware of lectures and other community events in order to be a informed citizen and student.
The Attorney General of Maine Steven Rowe has one plea for the Maine community: “Quit hating one another. There’s no time for it.”
Rowe spoke at Luther Bonney Auditorium for a discussion called “The State of Hate in Maine.” Rowe spoke about the racism and hate crimes in Maine.
The discussion was led by panelists from the Center for Hate Violence and other community members. Panelist Nasir Shir, an Afghani, came to the U.S. when he was 14 years old. His family has spread out throughout the world, yet Shir chose Maine as his home for the past 18 years. He spoke of his love of the U.S and how grateful he is to be able to live freely.
“I can speak my opinion and voice it,” Shir said. After Sept. 11 Shir has been educating the public on Islam and the racism that permeated America after the terrorist attacks. He feels strongly about educating and teaching the public in an effort to diffuse the types of hate.
Shir told the audience of a recent trip to the grocery store. Shir’s youngest daughter had touched a women’s cart while in the aisle’s. The women had become upset at Shir’s wife who was wearing her traditional dress. The women spouted at Shir’s wife saying “they,” meaning Arabs, have too many children and told her to go back where she and her daughter came from. Shir later had to explain to his American-born daughter why the woman was so upset.
“I cannot show this racism to my children,” Shir said.
Often times, the Attorney General’s office only hears about cases after an arrest has taken place. Rowe feels he often “deals with the problem after it occurs,” meaning he prosecutes the offender after the harm has been done. As Attorney General, Rowe is responsible for enforcing the laws of the state, when instead there could be a pre-emptive move to prevent hate crimes.
Assistant Attorney General Thomas Barnett is working on the pre-emptive move. “Enforcement takes a backseat to education,” Barnett said of his philosophy. Barnett believes once a crime has taken place he can do nothing to help the victim.
“I can’t eliminate what happened to them.” But what is more important for Barnett is reaching the community and students to educate and enlighten.
“There is a need for less tolerance and more acceptance.” Barnett spoke in his speech that no one wants to be tolerated because of their race, gender, religion or ethnicity, but want to be accepted into the world community.
Barnett believes there needs to be a group effort to eliminate hate. “There needs to be a community response for a community problem.” He encourages citizens to talk with their children, neighbors and friends to create a safe dialogue. Barnett also spoke of the newly organized groups called Civil Rights teams in elementary, middle, and high school. These teams of students come together for conferences and team building exercises to change the climate in their school for students to feel safe.
The biggest hateful act that happens in schools today according to Barnett is anti-gay language. “Either kids don’t know what their saying or they don’t realize the impact it has on other gay or questioning kids.” Barnett said.
Attorney General Rowe said, “I think this was an important dialogue to have. Though there are a lot of people who are involved in this dialogue that should have been here.” Rowe said referring to the lack of student attendance.
Rowe said hate crimes happen everyday. He believes his job is not done until “Maine is a state that truly does not have hate.”