Your even having to think this way is so sad. I would love to have you be my neighbor!

Dear OP
 

Dear OP,

Hello. I’m glad to *meet* you neighbor. I hope you feel safe here. I believe you are safe. You certainly deserve to enjoy the community. I hope we run into each other at some activity and have a laugh and enjoy some live music that’s what this place is about. Hopefully soon.

NOW I’m a little worried that Villagers state [here] they are walking around with concealed guns that they’ve named, to “protect” themselves. Shaking my head... Covid has cooped us up making us all a little stir-crazy certainly we are all amped-up. An old confused person perceiving some threat and pulling out “Gertrude”. Now I’m scared too friend.

My personal experience, When I arrived as a visitor evaluating TV, I met a lovely, very cheerful and happy African American lady on the Trolley who was already a resident. Maybe it was you. Later I ran into her on square and we had a fun chat and she showed me around a bit which was really helpful. I liked the lady! What a fun spirit she has. Meeting that Lady reiterated TV is a friendly communal atmosphere. She was a great Ambassador for our community. I wish I’d gotten her name and number.

About that guy on the golf cart... he is probably not an active white supremacist. Shaking my head... He’s an amped-up old guy, challenged, he got disoriented, confused and spouted the opposing words that came to his brain in retaliation and anger at a lady who was also acting act like an aggressive foul-mouthed provocateur. Old people behaving badly. Covid has added a level of stress and anxiety that isn’t helping anyone behave any better I’ve noticed. That was an unfortunate incident all Villagers are suffering the embarrassment. That golfcart guy and the lady from NH that was so horrid at the event, both of them should be feeling shame for themselves. If our children acted that way, we would discipline them knowing that behavior is unacceptable. Both parties at that incident should discipline themselves like they’d discipline their own kids. Shameful behavior on both sides of that one.

Let’s all be More aware of the comforts of our neighbors in TV. We chose this happy place for a reason. Let’s live up to it.

Happy days friend. Hope to make new friends soon when square opens up and we can jam with a cocktail. Love neighbor. Stay safe.

Been here 8 years. Had security and cameras installed right at the start, old habit from previous experiences. I now feel much safer here than anywhere else I’ve lived, but can’t quite resolve to remove the security system. The cameras are now more useful for watching wildlife, seeing when we have a delivery van pull up, or when the lawn care people are here. I am hispanic, but I look white and my wife is white so I cannot identify with the issues you have likely faced nor completely understand why the incident you refer to concerns you, but I do believe you are still safe here.

Dear Oranginauk,
No worries. Your post has brought a lot of responses. As you must see the great majority are showing support for you or are trying to put things in perspective. Others are trying to calm any fears you have. Let me be one more voice of support and reassurance that you are most welcome here and among friends. You are as safe or more safe than any place I can think of.
You have made friends and enjoyed many activities and should be enjoying your life here exactly like the rest of us. Thank You for choosing to become part of our Villages family.

How sad that one man’s inexcusable rant made you feel unsafe. The Villagers that I know would welcome you into our circle. I think the media has made many people feel insecure about their personal safety. COVID-19 has certainly added to the stressors we all live with every single day. I believe that you are just as safe today as you were before the outrageous ranting of one individual. I pray that you can feel that way again very soon.

This was a terrible comment brought on intentionally by one filming to get this kind of response to the comment they did. I have never heard any racial comments of others. I only hope it continues to be an inclusive community.

Yes, we see different colors, but love them all. To say we don’t see a persons color is an insult IMO.

Windguy, apparently you do not see.

Am I safe
 

[QUOTE=oranginauk;1799204]I had heard of The Villages, America’s Friendliest Hometown. With wonderful homes and great facilities and activities. Surely a place to make new friends, to smile, laugh and enjoy. A retirement I always dreamed of. So I checked it out and moved here four years ago.

As a single woman of color, I felt safe. I have made friends, joined in activities, volunteered and indeed I felt safe in America’s Friendliest Hometown. Then it happened, one group against the other. Videos going viral, a man yelling “white power”, faces and voices full of hate. I began to question .... Has this incident invited white supremacists to The Villages? People seek out to live where there are like minded people.

The country is frantic now and I am afraid. All it takes is a single fuse to light a fire. I urge you to think before you speak.

A couple bad apples dont spoil the whole bunch. Keep on laughing and smiling please have fun. Dont let the boo birds turn your smile up side down.

Sorry for your experience
 

IMO, the "man yelling “white power”" was likely an agitator or a kook - not your average conservative. Sadly, there are such people everywhere. Try to ignore them, and remember the kind of person YOU are instead. Of course it's possible that he actually WAS a "white supremacist." In that case I'd still ignore him, and pray for him.

I'm SO SORRY people who aren't white may still feel unfairly judged or harassed. I was quite shocked to see the lack of diversity when I arrived in TV, but please, please stay. Like many have said, the vast majority of us are tolerant and welcoming of all people.

Feeling Safe
 

We feel very safe here, we have some wonderful friends, great things to do and people to help! The news media distorted what happened with that event. Think positive smile and people will smile at you!

you've lived here longer than i, but i welcome you with open arms. we are VERY safe here, no need too worry. :welcome:

Fear not my friend. The white power guy bus one crazy guy and is not a movement. The others merely hate trump regardless of what he does. You are just fine. 5. Bad people out of 125000 are pretty safe odds.

I learned a long time ago to avoid making assumptions. Of course just because I learned it doesn’t mean I always do it. The sad thing is because of the situation that is currently going on it’s easy to make assumptions. Let me tell you a little story. My wife, who is Hispanic, wanted to learn to play water volleyball (WVB) when we came to TV. She went to the pool and was pretty much ignored. She came home and was pretty upset. “I guess they don’t like Hispanics”, she said. Anyway, a neighbor who played WVB heard about it an insisted she come and play with her. My wife played a few times and got much better. She now plays intermediate and is one of the first picked when she goes to the pool. So, what about the Hispanic part? That was not why she was ignored in the first place. My wife is 5’0”. So, they didn’t know if she could play and she was short. What they didn’t know is she’s extremely athletic. She’s into Crossfit, 9 Rounds and Pilates. For some reason WVB is a competitive sport here – why? I have no idea. But it is and they’re not going to take a chance on a short person who they have no idea whether or she can play. It was never about color. In the Bubble there are lots of people who may ignore you for any number of reasons but color is probably one of the lowest on the list. There will always be some that are morons. So, if you find yourself questioning someone’s motives try not to jump to worst possible assumption. They might just be cranky old people – believe it or not there are a couple of those in TV.