"Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." - Mahatma Gandhi

Boys this morning: 
"Why has the flag been stuck halfway up the flag pole this week?"

Dear boys,

The American flag isn't stuck. When it is only raised halfway up the pole it is called being raised at half staff.

There are many reasons that a flag could be flying at half staff, but today it flies due to a very sad thing that happened on Saturday.

A man with a lot of hate in his heart used a gun to kill people - people who had not done anything wrong - people who were simply worshipping God.

He had hate in his heart for a group of people - for Jewish people. And he had hate in his heart for no good reason.

Know that there are people in this world who are working hard to stop this hate.

In fact, your Papa and his dear friends, like Mr. Leventhal and Mr. Lee, sat together in a living room 25 years ago, deciding how to organize a group that would eradicate hate and would, instead, unite different faiths so that people would gain a better understanding of each other. 

Papa and his friends called this organization the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews. The organization still exists today. Some people wonder why Papa and his friends do what they do. But it's clear - we need the presence of the Fellowship, now, more than ever. 

Hate does not have to exist. It's all about what you're taught, boys. It's up to the mommies and daddies and teachers, like Mommy, to teach children that hate is NOT acceptable. 

I'm lucky enough to have the support of our school and groups like Facing History and Ourselves and the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) to support me in my teaching. All teachers need this support. 

There is no reason to be scared as a result of this event, boys. We do not live our lives in fear. If we do, we are not living, and we miss out on everything.

Also, there are so many beautiful things that people do for each other on a daily basis. Those good deeds outweigh the bad ones. There is always more good than evil in this world. Just like the superhero movies that you watch, evil does not win. The good does. 

Finally, you must always do two things for your mama.

Do NOT ever allow hate to build in your heart over anything. There is no room in our lives for hate.

Boys: "Promise, Mama. I never will."

And NEVER, EVER stand by and watch someone become the victim of unkind words or actions. You stand up for that person, even if the group you are with is a group of your very best friends. You stand up and tell them that what they are saying or doing is wrong.

Promise?

Boys: Silence..."Promise, Mama."

All right. Don't ever forget that. I love you three so much.

Boys: "We love you, Mom."