Sidney, NY (Part 2)

[H2O Man]

Yesterday I wrote an O.P., in regard to some of the history of Sidney, NY, the small town that Keith Olbermann spoke of two nights ago. The controversy in the rural, Delaware County town is getting more publicity today. It involves a Town Supervisor who, upon the request of some local “Tea Party” activists, is leading an effort to force a small Sufi settlement to remove the bodies from their tiny cemetery. For more information, see:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/28/new.york.muslim.cemetery/

or

http://thedailystar.com/localnews/x1560863187/Local-Muslim-cemetery-draws-national-attention

Decades ago, I lived on Wheat Hill Road, a mile away from where the Islamic community is now. Most of the property on that road was part of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's “Dream Street Farms.” There were local residents who were mighty upset by the thought of John and Yoko being in the neighborhood.

I can remember around that time, when I hosted some friends from AIM, a few local residents were jittery. Indians made them nervous. I'd find things such as a dead woodchuck shoved into my mail box, which I interpreted as signals of disapproval. (I'd find it odd if it was intended as a sign of support.)

The current controversy is a response to the non-crisis involving a proposed Muslim community center near the site of the 9/11 attack. There is, in my opinion, a far more serious problem with ignorant and hateful people believing that they have license to engage in public attacks on citizens who are simply attempting to live a peaceful life, that harms no one.

I spoke with a friend at a high school soccer game yesterday. He still owns some land on Wheat Hill, although he lives about 40 miles away. He has had some contact with the people from the Sufi homestead, and said that they tend to keep to themselves, but are very friendly when he encountered them. Of all the problems that Sidney has to deal with, he said, this seems like a silly distraction.

Reports indicate that this topic will be addressed at the next Sidney Town Board Meeting. I am confident that a reporter from the Democratic Underground will make the drive to Sidney that evening, to attend the meeting and file a report on this forum.

[KoKo]

1. Thanks for the update...

looking forward to the "reporter's" update. :D

:hi:

[AlinPA]

2. I saw this on Colbert or Stewart last night and thought it was a joke.

[hanshass]

3. sidney cemetery

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim,
My name is Abdul Hamid Hans Hass. I'm a member of the Sufi community in Sidney Center and have been dealing with the press about the matter. I was very interested to read what you wrote about Sidney's past. Shameful. We have friends from the Lakota Nation, some of them former AIM members, who we meet with every year in Washington DC for a prayer vigil. I'd like to know more about what happened back then. Certainly the past lives with us. Please contact me at [e-mail], or call 607-369-4816, and to know that you are always welcome to visit us at 1663 Wheat Hill Rd. in Sidney Center.

[hanshass]

4. please someone send above post as PM to H20 man

i don't have enough posts to be able to PM

[Dennis Donovan]

5. i'm sure he'll see it right here....

Welcome to DU!!!!!:hi:

[H2O Man]

7. Hello!

I just got in, and found your posts. I'll be calling you later today.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Welcome to DU

And it's great to have someone here who's local, when it comes to this extremely disturbing story. However, just be careful what you post on the internets. Even here on DU, we get a lot of disruptors and so not everyone here is a kindred spirit. :scared: :hi:

[mmonk]

8. I missed your op yesterday.

Thanks for this. I cannot believe the lack of basic humanity that leads one to do this.

[H2O Man]

9. Most of the residents

of the town are good and decent people. Even in the hamlet of Sidney Center, from what I've heard, the farmers are all on very good terms with the Muslim people. I know those farmers -- I worked on a number of those farms -- and they are good judges of character. It's a tiny minority of Tea Party/ rabid republicans attempting to stir up trouble. I know for sure that a heck of a lot of residents are upset by the Town Supervisor's actions. A few of the local democrats have approached me about helping their candidates. I'm thinking that something good can come from this.

[mmonk]

10. I hope so.

Like you, I think it will. Being mean spirited has its limits with decent minded people. I look forward to hearing about it.