We Get Letters: I “Saw” Something – Now What??!!?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably watched a sincere somebody on the screen or in person say this often-used phrase “If you see something, say something.” Well I saw something.

In December 2021 during the cloak of darkness, cowards deliberately scattered 200 anti-Semitic flyers in neighborhoods close to my home in Pasadena, California. The cowards’ aim was to cause harm, division, and mislead and influence my neighbors’ and others’ opinions of Jewish people and COVID-19. I was outraged and deeply emotionally harmed by their actions. Intentionally causing harm is a crime.

So who do I say something to?

We are told to report any suspicious and harmful activity by calling 9-1-1. This is fortunate because most often Pasadena’s fine Police Department responds and opens investigations. It is unfortunate because investigations (like people) must get in long lines and most often fall hopelessly into the deep dark investigation black hole. An investigation can continue endlessly on and on until the crime is solved. Unfortunately, If the crime is not solved there is no resolution.

No matter because I will continue to report harmful actions to the police. But I’m also going to take other simply steps while I wait on long-term solutions.

First Step – I’m going to “Stop, Think, and Evaluate” information on all forms of media or that I receive from others.

Step 2 – If I determine it to be deliberately harmful “dis” information or unintentional misleading information, I will never ever repeat the false information. I will treat it like gossip. Misinformation is primarily spread by people just like gossip.

Step 3 – I will speak only the truth when I say something to the media and other organizations fighting disinformation (as they say just the facts) – I will say something like “someone deliberately spread false or made-up information to harm me or my neighbors, and mislead, and influence public opinion.”

I’m still hurt and deeply affected by what happened and deeply frustrated that the cowards appear to have gotten away with their crime. However, I will continue to “say” something (the truth) until disinformation that is deliberately spread to cause harm stops.

Wilhelmina Robertson