Anti-hate committee members blasted

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A city committee designed to promote education and

communication among various cultures was thrust head first this week into

a heated exchange about racism, homophobia, hatred and intolerance --

some of the very things it was designed to combat.

After about an hour of mundane discussion about essay contests, name

badges and who would operate the coffee station at an upcoming function,

the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee found itself in the middle of an

emotional, turbulent and heartfelt discussion that merely scratched the

surface of the diverse issues the city deals with daily.

The conversation came late in Wednesday’s meeting, during the public

comment portion, and was sparked by Costa Mesa resident Mira Ingram, who

expressed concern that committee members Allan Mansoor, Janice Davidson

and Joel Faris were promoting intolerant and hateful attitudes through

their posts on a popular local Web site.

Ingram quoted from posts by Faris, Davidson and Mansoor on the

Concerned Costa Mesa Citizens Web site, calling them blatantly racist and

homophobic.

“I find it very threatening and want to know why they are serving on a

committee that is supposed to be resolving these issues,” said Ingram,

who presented a handful of audience members.

Faris, Mansoor and Davidson vigorously denied the allegations, saying

the quotes were taken out of context. At one point during the public

comment portion of the meeting, Faris jumped from his seat and demanded a

stop to the frivolous allegations.

“Attack me on something better but the racism thing you are going to

lose on,” Faris said. “You can’t know this because you can’t read my

heart, but I do.”

Davidson left the meeting in tears, saying she felt personally

attacked, and Mansoor, who is running for City Council, delivered a

15-minute speech rebuking Ingram’s comments.

Other committee members listened intently to what Ingram and other

audience members had to say, and jotted down the exact address of the

Web site so they could read the posts for themselves.

“We feel that some of these people are doing the complete opposite of

[the mission of the committee],” Ingram said.

The mission of the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee, established

in 1987, is to “encourage the education about and communication between

the various cultures residing in Costa Mesa,” according to the city Web

site.

The committee is designed to “encourage interaction, sharing and

understanding of each culture’s riches and seeks to be a catalyst for the

resolution of issues that separate people in Costa Mesa,” the Web site

reads.

As a lesbian, Ingram said, she was especially offended by Mansoor’s

posting of articles from the Family Research Council and Focus on the

Family that condemn the homosexual lifestyle.

“Doesn’t sound like somebody who is trying to bring cultures

together,” Ingram said. “His posts actually encourage hatred and makes a

more dangerous and hostile atmosphere. And that is totally against what

someone on this committee should be doing.”

Mansoor was quick to defend his actions and said he did not harbor

hatred toward any group. His purpose on the committee is to foster

communication and dialogue between those who hold different opinions,

Mansoor said.

“People have a right to their opinions,” Mansoor said. “I stand by

what I say, and I have not said anything disrespectful or hateful. I

posted those links to encourage people to participate and read and have a

good discussion.”

Ingram was not the only person who called Mansoor’s posts into

question. Fellow committee members John Rule and Russ Ramirez, who openly

acknowledge they are gay, said they were bothered by Mansoor’s

contributions to the Web site.

“I think Allan is working against what we are all for,” Rule said. “He

is promoting hatred, and I’m not happy with it.”

Ramirez said he was not only offended by the anti-homosexual posts,

but also by the allegedly racist posts by Davidson in which she described

Latinos in a derogatory fashion. Both Mansoor and Davidson were appointed

to the council about two months ago.

“I had heard about the two of you before you came on, and now I get a

sense of what was being said,” Ramirez said. “To be in denial about [your

racism and homophobia] is just part of the sickness, and you are not

solving anything.”

Mansoor discounted Ramirez’s charges.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here next to you if I hated you,” Mansoor said

to Ramirez, who sat directly to his left.

Faris defended any accusations of being racist by explaining to the

audience that his two adopted sons are Mexican and that he and his wife

also host two Latino foster children. He teaches in Santa Ana, where most

of his students are Latino, and is trying hard to learn Spanish, Faris

said. Unlike some who may complain about Latinos playing soccer in their

neighborhood park, Faris joins them in the game, he said.

“Out of all these people,” Faris said, making a sweeping hand gesture

to his fellow committee members, “I am probably the one who doesn’t have

a problem going up to anybody in this community and just hanging out with

them.”

Faris admitted his religious views are very conservative but said that

is “just the way he is.” His views may be different, but he is not

intolerant, he said.

Various committee members jumped to Faris’ defense, calling him loving

and neighborly, but were still concerned about the postings on the Web

site.

“I think these are things that the community as a whole is fighting

very hard against, and I appreciate you bringing it to our attention,”

member Cindy Brenneman said.

Most of the members agreed, nodding their heads in unison.

Davidson said she felt as if she were being asked to defend her place

on the committee and felt unfairly singled out. She was deeply hurt by

Ingram’s accusations, she said, and resented the way Ingram approached

the issue.

“I don’t know why I have to defend myself to anyone,” Davidson said.

Staff liaison Howard Perkins comforted Davidson by reminding her that

she was appointed by the City Council, and if anyone needed to defend her

position on the committee it was the council members themselves.

Committee Chairman Al Alvarez shared Davidson’s disapproval with the

way Ingram approached the situation but said her concerns were still

valid. Member Sue Smith said she was deeply disturbed by the allegations

and said she would read the postings herself before forming an opinion.

In the meantime, she encouraged members to make sure they set a good

example for the community they have volunteered to serve.

“Being a member of this committee means being a little more

open-minded and tactful -- less likely to just spew our feelings,” Smith

said. “I am not just Sue Smith, I am Sue Smith, Human Relations Committee

member, and that brings a whole new level of responsibility.”

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .