Community Editorials

The Brown lady who rang a doorbell in Gig Harbor

My name is Thelma Brown.  My husband and I are retired educators from Los Angeles and moved to Gig Harbor seven years ago. We have developed many wonderful friendships and have become very involved in several community activities. We bought a home in the Bellesara development where we had wonderful neighbors, but in October 2022 we moved to the other side of the harbor.

Once we moved to this peaceful community, we were immediately welcomed by numerous neighbors, some of whom brought flowers, cookies, and baked bread. OMG, how wonderful was this?

However, we have a neighbor in relatively close proximity to us whom we have not met. One day, during the week of April 23, 2023, as I was coming home from shopping, I decided to stop by this neighbor’s house to introduce myself and let her know if she ever needed anything I would be happy to assist if I could.

As I pulled up to her home, a car was parked in front.  I thought, “Oh good, maybe we can finally meet each other.”  I rang the doorbell once.  I heard something and decided to wait a few seconds.  No one answered the door, so I left.  I thought later, “Oh maybe I will try again or take a card by and leave it.”

I am one of those people who say hi and speak to strangers.  Some people return my greeting and some don’t.  Within a week something awful happened that broke my heart.  A 16-year-old was shot after ringing a doorbell looking for his younger siblings.  Then there was another incident where two teens were shot after driving into someone’s driveway.

I thought to myself, “Thelma, you are an African American woman who rang an unknown neighbor’s doorbell in order to introduce yourself.”  Within a week, that kindly gesture turned into a nightmare for me.

We all have choices when we have a decision to make.  However, the man who made the decision to open his door and to shoot a teen, as well as the other shooter who shot the two teens, did not consider their best choices.

To everyone who reads this, I ask you, “Please, before you make a final decision, consider the best and appropriate choice, which includes compassion, politeness, and respectfulness towards others.”

Our country is deeply divided.  There is much animosity towards the different sides, and as a result our society suffers.  We must come together because we are better together.  We must stand together for what is right with the goodness that’s inside of each and every one of us.  We must fight to hold onto our decency and kindness towards each other and stand by this saying: “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You.”

We must decide to allow our goodness that is within us to guide us through our day to day living.  We must stand up for kindness for the sake of our humanity. As for my neighbor, I will try again. As I stated before, we are better together and we need to be respectful and kind to each other.

Thelma Brown 

Gig Harbor

To submit a letter to the editor, email it to [email protected].