Swastika painted on sign at Newton temple

I read this story just moments after reading, with shock and horror, the article on the increase of racist incidents and hate crimes in the wake of Mr. Obama's election. I am sickened and disturbed.

I'm a high school teacher and feel so fortunate to work adolescents, the vast majority of whom show tolerance, acceptance, and a deep, abiding belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table.

Let's all make sure to instill in our kids the values of empathy, compassion, and acceptance, and model the courage to stand up to expressions of hate.

I read this story just moments after reading, with shock and horror, the article on the increase of racist incidents and hate crimes in the wake of Mr. Obama's election. I am sickened and disturbed.

I'm a high school teacher and feel so fortunate to work adolescents, the vast majority of whom show tolerance, acceptance, and a deep, abiding belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table.

Let's all make sure to instill in our kids the values of empathy, compassion, and acceptance, and model the courage to stand up to expressions of hate.

Sadly, hate and bigotry are still alive in America. Obama's victory only proves that some, but not all by any means, have moved past this stain on the Stars and Stripes. The longer I watched McCain and Palin rallies, the more I realized that their lies and vitriol were ignighting fires that needed only a small spark to burn wildly. Clearly, it will take many more years before America overcomes ignorance and hatred.

Five years ago, a vandal or someone painted a swastika and a lynched body on the steps of a synagogue in brighton as well. these incidents happen more often than we hear in the news.. i imagine it's just crazy ppl..

Five years ago, a vandal or someone painted a swastika and a lynched body on the steps of a synagogue in brighton as well. these incidents happen more often than we hear in the news.. i imagine it's just crazy ppl..

i think its great

Sadly, hate and bigotry are still alive in America. Obama's victory only proves that some, but not all by any means, have moved past this stain on the Stars and Stripes. The longer I watched McCain and Palin rallies, the more I realized that their lies and vitriol were ignighting fires that needed only a small spark to burn wildly. Clearly, it will take many more years before America overcomes ignorance and hatred.

Sadly, hate and bigotry are still alive in America. Obama's victory only proves that some, but not all by any means, have moved past this stain on the Stars and Stripes. The longer I watched McCain and Palin rallies, the more I realized that their lies and vitriol were ignighting fires that needed only a small spark to burn wildly. Clearly, it will take many more years before America overcomes ignorance and hatred.

It's backwards. Stupid nazis.

PaulM - Your comments are right on - thank you for being such a good teacher and all-around good person.

This seems to be a sick prank by some dim-minded disturbed adolescents. They also sprayed the swastika "wrong-sided"- evidence of their retardation?.

the truth is, all of this hate has been underground all along. awful as it is, a light must be shown on it and these kinds of people need to be dragged into the light. they need to be made to feel embarrassed for thinking and behaving so. the media needs to really look closely and report on hate and fascism in america as turning a blind eye won't make it go away.

Funny prank. I could see how a lot of high schoolers would get a kick outta this, in a predominantly Jewish town.

As a young adult from a Jewish family I take solace in the fact that the Swastika spray painted on that sign is backwards. There is a lesson in all this. Do some research before you vandalize.

Clearly this was not motivated by "hate". It was stupid kids who don't know what the Swastika means, it was stupid kids who don't understand what they did. It was stupid kids who don't care about this, and won't even remember it a few weeks from now.

it's not a prank to be associated with hate. people who find it wrong would not do that.

Only God can stop this.

I belong to this temple and today while i was T.A-ing in sunday school they talked to the children becuase alot of them didn't understand.
this is a hate crime as our rabbi said. truly sad.

OK,graffiti,especially of this nature is a nuisance.
That said people should get a grip and start reading between the lines.The first step is applying skepticism to the corporate media.They are the biggest distorters,liars and magicians there are.If you do that you'll realize that the so called "hate" groups constitute what portion of crime?Practically nil,they're media created boogiemen.There's real crime out there such as rape,murder,assault,theft...See that?REAL murder all the time.
A sense of context doesn't exist here.This "crisis" is up there with shark attacks and falling vending machines.

So what? Get over it.

obviously kids... these inept criminals painted the swastika left-facing. they are nazi-wannabes.

they sprayed the peace symbol not a swastika!

you know what s not funny .......... one it is taken so lightly ,. if this was a anti black or anti gay symblom people would march . i had this happen to me in lakeville ma and it was not considered a hate crime but a case of vandelism so i am told and even the A D L thought light of it .........wonderful world we live in,,

Oh stop...
Who put it there? We don't even know.
It could it have been a prank by some 12 year old, and this doesn't represent that: "Sadly, hate and bigotry are still alive in America."
Anybody can be buy a spray can for $2-$5 and be stupid, lets not make generalization without knowing exactly who it was.

Swastika was originally a buddhist symbol, why do Jews assume the worst possible meaning of it. Take a positive attitude, instead of scapegoating these young minds.

As long as there are people with immatured minds in the world regardless of their age, this type of thing will happen at all levels. The psychochological cause of discrimination and prejudice should be taught in all schools as part of the curriculum. It is based on bullying, which is prevalent in schools. Even to teach what bullying is at all levels in the schools would be a help. They need to be taught starting a t a young age concerning the effects of bullying and discrimination.

I teach Sunday school at a church in Maryland. The week before this mindless vandalism, I taught my class about Kristallnacht, which happened 70 years ago on November 9-10. It's chilling that people can still be so hateful. All good people of faith are in solidarity with those at Temple Shalom.

i see this being called a hate crime, but why is it when those kids spray painted anti christian slurs on a church they were only charged with vandalism? why the double standard?

What is funny is that when Hitler's youth program began, many thought - no worries, no problem, don't make a big deal out of it. Hindsight is a funny thing isn't it? Thinking that kids deciding to paint a swatstika on the sign of a Jewish temple is just a stupid prank is just a "stupid prank" is setting a dangerour precident. We continue to brush aside these obvious signs that our young children are growing up ignorant, lacking respect of others, and insensitive to the tragic history that has occurred because of hatred.

It is indeed sad to see these things happen.

it's a backwards swastika which means peace... though probably not what they aiming for... idiots.

HATE crime?! Its a crime... there is no need to attach the word hate to it. Whether or not its against a 'protected' group, its a crime. If someone called me a 'so and so' and I'm NOT one of the protected groups, would the punishment against my attacker be different because I'm not Jewish, Black or Gay? If you think it should be, you need to examine your motivation. Realize that HATE legislation is thought crime legislation. If you beat somebody up because the are Jewish, is that different than beating me up because i was at the wrong place at the wrong time? I dont think so. Same action, different motivation makes it worse? Only in a police state!