Hyannis News is surprised by this morning's heat directed at our site from a high ranking member of the No Place for Hate committee… especially since many individuals involved in the recent debate regarding local hate crimes have expressed a sincere desire to move forward on these issues in a constructive and positive way.
Hyannis News was shocked to receive this following email conversation from Hilary Greene, Committee Head, No Place for Hate special sub-committee for response to hate crime:
Hilary Greene:
Why don’t you take her [Taryn Thoman's] nasty editorial off your site then? She is running rampant and spewing her hateful words everywhere. Click to Read Taryn’s Article
Bastille:
I don't necessarily agree with you. Taryn got everyone to look at this. What is your problem?
Hilary Greene:
Ok, then I am the confused one. Are you the same Robert Bastille that sent this email to us all?
Hello All- It just has come to my attention that Ms. Taryn Thoman, a person who occasionally shares her opinions with Hyannis News may have misrepresented myself and HyannisNews.com...
PLEASE NOTE: That the opinions expressed by Ms. Taryn Thoman do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hyannis News. Furthermore, they also do not reflect my own opinions.
I have sent an email to Ms. Thoman to advise her to speak for herself in the future. Sincerely,
Robert J. Bastille, Editor and Publisher, Hyannis News
Bastille:
Yes, I sent that to you and read it carefully- and what do you mean "by all of us?"
Hilary Greene:
Whoever the heck you sent it to! Please refrain from continuing this inane correspondence and take me off your email list. I am very much done with you and Ms. Truly Thoman.
Bastille:
Dear Ms. Greene-
I'm very concerned about your last email. It took me by complete surprise and I'm not clear on the nature of your comments. Please explain... What is your problem with me and Hyannis News? I do not know you and it appears you are very angry...
Feel free to express your thoughts and I will happily consider publishing them.
Once again, thank you for your involvement in dealing with these recent actions of hatred perpetrated on our sacred buildings.
Sincerely,
Rob
.
Hilary Greene:
Please stop. I am so unclear as to the purpose of your news site.
[signed] hilary
Hilary V. Greene
Director, Resource Development
Housing Assistance Corporation
*****
Hyannis News has been told by Ms. Greene to stop and thus we are unable to attempt to resolve this issue.
But to answer Ms. Greene on her uncertainty about our site I feel we must respond.
Hyannis News is a positive productive community oriented news source with the mission of informing citizens about what really is going on in the city of Hyannis and surrounding areas. Our goal is to help the community through objective reporting. Once the community is informed, we can all address the important issues (ie. Crime) in a knowledgeable way...
Hyannis New provides timely news and information to all members of the community. All citizens, from those who labor to the owners of private business are encouraged to get involved, respond, and have a voice in a positive productive way.
When I received the biting emails from Ms. Greene this morning I was initially intimidated and concerned. Here is a very powerful town leader criticizing the benign intentions of our news site. Ms. Greene, according to her email is Director of Resource Development for the Housing Assistance Corporation. Ms. Greene is also the Head for the No Place for Hate sub-committee. She was accusing one of our editorial pieces as “spewing… hateful words.”
Was Ms. Greene also accusing Hyannis News of disseminating Hate Speech? Her emails came from an official HAC address and she used her title as “Director.”
I immediately checked Ms. Thoman’s editorial and did not find her opinions to be hateful. I, in fact, found it to be very enlightening.
Members of Hyannis News were also placed in fear when Ms. Greene angrily phoned the News Desk several times making various demands and threats.
Ms. Greene also just recently phoned my parent's house and was apparently rude to my mom.
Ms. Greene just told me, via email, "to stop," and thus any further interaction may be harmful, and is ill advised... yet Ms. Greene today continues to call and harass my elder friends and family members!
Hyannis News is now seriously concerned about her behavior and will provide updates as they become available.
*****
One Town Leader Writes:
Here is a suggestion: the members of the NPFH Committee should spend a few minutes at the beginning of their next meeting discussing the recent spray painting (vandalism) by a punk or punks on a number of buildings in Hyannis. They should discuss what the follow up was and how it might be improved as a result of the NPFH Committees involvement. There is nothing like a peaceful exchange between reasonable people to clear the air of lingering issues.
It seems to me that HyannisNews (directly or indirectly) has helped fuel the fires of emotion with these incidents of vandalism against our town by encouraging a forum - "Developing Story...... " etc. These incidents are not just relegated to a couple of religious buildings. There are numerous other properties that suffered similar damage as a result of the stupid acts of vandals. That action is what the committee should be concerned with- helping catch the perpetrators and making them accountable for their actions- publicly. And please, there does not need to be a response to this note, we have all had too much exposure to this story.
Hyannis News:
Here is a response: thank you for your comments…
I agree that the NPFH Committee should discuss this next meeting- and perhaps much sooner…
I agree that there is nothing like a peaceful exchange between reasonable people to clear the air of lingering issues…
I agree that it does seem like Hyannis News (directly or indirectly) helped fuel the fires of emotion…
I agree that these incidents are not just relegated to a couple of religious buildings…
I agree that the committee should be concerned with helping catch the perpetrators…
I would also like to add that these crimes became “Hate Crimes” when the perpetrators included the religious buildings with threats, and hate language. I have information as to what was written regarding the Pope and fellow Catholics…I cannot print the threats and language used against people of our faith... I will be patrolling our church grounds in order to assist in stopping this- you are certainly welcome to join me...
At least two serious hate crimes have occurred.
In today’s day and age we take aggressive crimes of hate very seriously, as we should. That’s why we have special committees, while police agencies take extra care investigating…
It’s hard to admit that this is actually happening in our own back yard, but it is. I’m sorry if Hyannis News has raised emotions by reporting this, we do not like to make people feel uncomfortable; we simply want the public to know so the community can help put an end to these acts.
. (People who get overly emotional reading Hyannis News should perhaps read other publications that do not deal with local crime)
Thanks again for your respectful correspondence and feedback.
Hyannis News would like to call your attention to the new feedback/comment section- SEE BELOW
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(Posted by David MacGuire, 16 July, 2007 21:57:24)