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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j5evj3u wrote

Reply to comment by raz0rsnak3 in Highgate town council rescinds inclusion and diversity statement by amoebashephard

My comment above was a question, not a statement and intended as a challenge to the Highgate select board.

The article made a reference to the Highgate select board suggesting people check the website from the group promoting the inclusion declaration, as if you would find some terrible, awful, no good, very bad info there (some kind of scandal) that would explain why it is so very important for the Highgate town council to pull a 180 even when 50% of Vermont towns support this.

According to Vice Chair Vern Brosky: “I invite all of you to go on their website and research for yourself. And don't just go on the front page, go through the whole website. It's eye-opening. They say don't judge a book by its cover — in this case, you definitely don't want to do that. Read the whole thing.” And, Bousquet declined to say what specific issues board members had with the website.

So… I went to the website of the group promoting the inclusion declaration. Did I find anything terrible, awful, no good, very bad? Anything scandalous? No. I found a story of an honorable black man on which this movement is based, a black man who is highly respected. And also found the mission statement: “to make Vermont a welcoming and safe place for all.” This I support fully and enjoyed learning about Ernie Royal as well.

So I asked here above, is that who the Highgate select board doesn’t want to associate with? Because that is what the Highgate select board implied and I find that discriminatory and sickening. And (I hope) illegal.

How about you? Do you agree with me?

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j5f0ksm wrote

More of a statement/question than question but that's fine.

Do I agree with you? Probably not. Seems that your statement/question makes some assumptions and your stating what the Highgate Select Boards are implying...ao you're drawing your own conclusion rather than seeking truth.

And you state that you "hope it's illegal" that they decided not to align themselves with a special interest group. I certainly don't agree with that.

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j5f3fj1 wrote

If it is proven that this was an act of discrimination, I hope that’s illegal.

🙄

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j5f3net wrote

When you serve on a select board and make a move like this, and give no clear basis, yes, that does imply things. You serve and represent the town residents and owe them clarity, transparency, and inclusion.

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raz0rsnak3 t1_j5fd0ym wrote

They honestly don't need to give a reason, and in today's political climate, it's in their best interest not to.

And you're hoping that they get in legal trouble for NOT signing a document, because if they do not, they are being discriminatory????

Sounds like you've made up your mind: if you don't buy into this declaration and champion it then you're racist and discriminatory. Accurate?

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j5fdwqq wrote

That’s fair. I do feel strongly. Yes.

That image of George Floyd’s death is etched not just in my brain but in my heart and it changed me so that I am now more of an advocate.

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amoebashephard OP t1_j5fjpr0 wrote

The problem is that they already signed it and then rescinded it, right? That's where the questions come up.

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