My first reaction to this was surprise. It seems out of character for something like this to happen in the Hastings community. My second reaction was anger. How dare someone do this sort of thing to so much personal property in a residential neighborhood. And then I simply felt sorrow for the people responsible. What had driven them to do this? Were they on drugs? Were they "just kids" who need attention? Or were they somehow driven to lash out against society in such a terrible way? What makes someone not only feel enough anger and hate to consider such vandalism, but then to actually take the time and effort to carry out such a pointless crime?

I can't imagine anyone feeling like this was an OK thing to do, as if painting a swastika on a stranger's house was going to solve any problem they were having. There must be some reason behind it. Or maybe it's just plain stupidity and I'm trying too hard to psychoanalyze these losers.

What I DO know, however, is that the actions of these losers does not typify what Hastings is all about. Hastings is a great community that has a special character. That's why I moved here 8 1/2 years ago when I could have moved anywhere else in the Twin Cities. We look out for each other here. We care about our friends and neighbors and stick together. Hastings has a community spirit that cannot be changed by such cowardly acts.

The Hastings community will rise above this incident. Love always conquers hate. Every single time.