Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

I was happy to go to the Peace Walk on Sunday.  There was indeed a rainbow gathered.  There was a genuine good vibe.  People were relaxed, friendly, and seemed quite sincere in “sending a clear message that Manteca is about what the four laps Sunday symbolized — peace, love, respect, and unity.”

I suggest the community support similar grassroots-type gatherings in the future: starting with one in Library Park recognizing tolerance for the unhoused.  As people celebrate the positives of ethnic diversity, so can they acknowledge the negatives of economic disparity.  Never forget that serious numbers of the working poor are just one small paycheck, just one strained relative, away from joining the legions of the less fortunate. 

The unhoused (who even the Bulletin admits constitute a tiny, tiny minority of Mantecans) are regularly and relentlessly vilified here for every community ill imaginable  — except, so far, reckless driving, and my guess is that they would be blamed for that too if they owned automobiles.

Can you imagine the speculation about the identity of Mr. Singh’s attackers if the incident hadn’t been caught on tape?  As a regular reader of the newspaper, I can, and I sincerely doubt anyone’s first (or second, or third) guess would have been two teenagers. Espousing tolerance is just making hollow noise unless it is tolerance of all differences — including differences of economic circumstance.  Embracing uplifting slogans only elevates us all when everyone is included in the group hug.

 Sarah deRochemont

Manteca