By Carey Reynolds, Dana Point
I’m sure I’m not the only Dana Point resident who has felt some level of confusion over Measure H and Measure I. As I always do when it comes to elections, I’ve actively sought out information and attempted to sift through the rhetoric in order to make an educated decision on which measure to support. I can sum up my overall sentiment on what is going on here in our own community in one word—horrified.
I’m honestly shocked at the behavior being exhibited and encourage the residents of Dana Point to take a deep breath and remember that your neighbors will still be your neighbors after this election. It’s OK to have differing views, but it’s not OK to use hateful and divisive language and tactics to bully your neighbors. Just in the past few weeks I’ve seen evidence of the Measure H supporters calling for boycotts of local businesses who display a sign supporting Measure I. How can you possibly say you’re supportive of our community while actively hoping that local business owners—the heart and soul of our community—fail?
I know there are many well-intentioned residents on both sides of this issue who wouldn’t stoop to that low level of behavior. I encourage you to speak out and demand more mature behavior from the leadership of these organizations (to be clear, I am specifically referring to the leadership of Measure H supporters… those of you calling for boycotts of local businesses and who created the ridiculously obnoxious and certainly hateful Hitler video). Stop tearing this community apart. And to the individual who created the Hitler video (I pray that there are not multiple evil masterminds in our community who would dream up such a hateful tactic), you should be ashamed of yourself. You should identify yourself and publicly apologize.
Regardless of where you personally stand on Measure H and Measure I, your neighbors will still be your neighbors after this is over, and we should treat each other with grace and respect.
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