A display of bias in Newport Beach

As a parent, my instinct is to shield my son from hate. I watched

Tuesday night’s Newport Beach City Council meeting in horror as

speaker after speaker advocated for Newport Beach City Councilman

Dick Nichols’ right to free speech. Most of the speakers in defense

of Nichols were not from Newport Beach. I felt a sense of urgency to

go to the meeting to see for myself what was really taking place; my

16-year-old son came along in support.

When I entered the building, I immediately felt the hatred. I

thought I had gone back in time 40 years ago when people openly

discussed their bias, prejudice and hatred toward others. It was

truly us against them. There was no “politically correct,” with

people pretending they were tolerant toward others. In this case, the

topic was Nichols derogatory comments about “Mexicans.”

People that espoused comments condemning Mexicans as illegals were

cheered. The worst part was standing in line waiting to have a voice

and hearing the whispers of hatred in the crowd. My son that has

never witnessed this type of prejudice and discrimination was

sickened. We both felt despair and hopelessness. What could we

possibly do or say to combat such ingrained intolerance?

I spoke that night in a direct dialogue with Nichols. However, in

later reflection, I realize Nichols has no clue how inflammatory his

comments are to this community. My understanding that Nichols was a

lost soul came to me Tuesday night standing in line. It occurred to

me, how did all these people from Laguna Niguel, Anaheim, Huntington

Beach and Santa Ana know to come to this meeting saying they were

there to support Nichols their friend? I figured they were invited by

Nichols himself. If I had to measure Nichols character by the choice

he had in friends, I am sorry to say he would be considered a

failure. I still wonder today, councilman, why you did not renounce

these people that spoke on your behalf? They did not anyway help your

case in proclaiming you are not a bigot. They mostly asserted your

right to free speech no matter how biased your comments were.

This makes me recall another case in history about another

Dick/Richard. I am referring to Richard Nixon. As he proclaimed

during the Watergate “I am not a crook,” I can’t help but think of

you asserting “I am not a bigot”.

Today, I don’t have too many answers to say to my son about the

hatred he witnessed. I did feel a little hopeful when I watched his

two classmates, Andrea and Florencia from the Tolerance Among People

Club at Corona del Mar High School, speak at the council meeting

about tolerance and respect. Perhaps the war on hatred can be won in

their generation.

CYNDIE BORCOMAN

Newport Beach