I was disheartened to read in the Recorder City Council President John Bottomley’s sharing his experience at a council meeting of being accosted by a member of the GCET board in a way that was hostile, intending to shame by name-calling, and outright aggressive [“Words matter,” Sept, 28].

This is no way for anyone to behave towards our public servants, let alone someone who has been on the City Council in the past. This behavior is unacceptable in our community, at all times and in all relations, no matter if there is disagreement over decisions made. We are a community that strives to see each other with the eyes of a shared humanity.

We are all perfectly imperfect human beings here on Planet Earth to learn to love better. Playing a win/lose game where money and territory are at stake, as in Israel and Gaza, or city contracts won or lost, only leads to a dead-end war, whether that is in international affairs or locally in our community.

It is not easy to take on a leadership role. Our job is to learn how to be honest, but with love and respect. I attended an event last week at which two Israeli women and two Palestinian women showed us how it’s done. We have to first make peace with ourselves and find that center that holds a larger picture than the ego’s wants and defense mechanisms. What do we really want? Win/lose or win/win?

In AA 12-step programs we learn that when you point a finger of blame at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you. Living in a privileged society comes with power, yes, but also responsibilities for the collective good that I am glad to see John Bottomley representing.

May peace return to our community of neighbors caring more for how we relate than who is right or wrong.

Becca King

Greenfield