Thursday, May 28, 2009

Key West should feel proud today. Protesters arrived on shore last Friday carrying imported wares that were neither requested nor wanted. Their goal: to infest our island with hatred, bigotry, anti-patriotism, anti-Semitism and homophobia. Their message: to shame us and our children, and to taunt and shock us with epithets and hate speech. Their method: to ridicule and attack deeply held principles of fellowship and diversity. Their hope: to dash our spirits and crush our dreams.

Why, in God's name, would rational people, especially so-called people of faith, want to disrupt our peaceful island? Why, in God's name, indeed!

In contrast, Key West showed its mettle. We gathered weeks ago, held a community meeting (as we are wont to do) and shared our fears, our concerns, and our heartfelt ideas as to how to engage the coming menace. Ultimately, we did what we do so well -- we agreed to move beyond personal self-interest by addressing the greater good by asking and answering this question: What is best for the whole community, and most importantly, the welfare of our children?

We can be proud that our community leaders worked tirelessly despite the many directions in which our heartstrings were pulled. (It is well-documented that for every Key West resident, there are at least three opinions!) We achieved the impossible. We united with one voice; we created a simple plan to keep our children and citizens safe: Ignore the aggressors and show them (and people throughout the Keys) what One Human Family really means.

We can be proud of Chief Donie Lee and the Key West Police Department for their diligence in monitoring the few counter-protesters who appeared. They were treated with courtesy and understanding, even as restraint was requested in return. Simultaneously, the KWPD offered protection and civility to the protesters themselves.

We can be proud of Superintendent Randy Acevedo and the Key West High School administration and staff for implementing a plan to minimize student exposure to the protesters. They personally stood shoulder to shoulder, creating a visual barrier between the protesters and the school.

We can be proud of the students who were model citizens that day. We can only hope that their parents, friends and neighbors offer as mature a response to similar challenges when required to face them. These were the classiest of all -- leaving in an orderly manner and offering support to school administrators and police officials who stood as the wall of protection around them. Even the few who understandably registered their pride in Key West diversity did so with dignity and aplomb.

And we can be proud of ourselves. The vast majority followed the wishes of city leaders and went about their business as usual. Our expansive plea for "no response" was heeded, and those who came to frighten, intimidate and separate us from that which we hold dear went away empty-handed. We preserved our integrity by preserving our belief in free speech, non-violence, non-engagement, human dignity, diversity, and our deep respect for all our citizens, including those who put their lives on the line in service to our country.

Few among us did not have a personal ax to grind. When hatred appears, it is our natural instinct to respond. This instinct is a gift of which we should be very proud. Everyone wanted to do something tangible to highlight the human dignity and mutual respect to which we so deeply subscribe.

Instead, we offered a new approach and refused to sell ourselves short. We withheld from the protesters that which they wanted: a media circus, credibility, a large audience, and the opportunity to create spiritual and/or physical violence. I was never so proud to stand with a community as I was that day.

Don't let anyone convince you that choosing not to react was in some way a weak or passive choice. It was not. It took courage to ignore the hateful signs, hate speech and degrading epithets that were hurled at us. It took stamina to allow hatemongers to come here, do their thing, and just let them go. It took fortitude to remain at peace, resisting the urge to respond with hatred and become what we despise most. And it took unselfishness to put our own personal ax aside for the good of the entire community.

Make no mistake. Key West has a long way to go -- we are far from a perfect community. We still must search for answers to issues we have not adequately addressed, including ongoing poverty and homelessness.

But for now, a hearty bravo to the citizens and leaders of Key West! One day we will serve as the model for unconditional acceptance, love and peace for all the world!

The Rev. Joe McMurray is pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church in Key West.