I was sitting here listening to the Vashon Hum when I got (yet another) unsettling call from Havurat Ee Shalom, where I am the “handyman.” There was another burglary there in the last few days, one of several over the last few years. 

Apparently nothing was stolen, and there was no racist graffiti sprayed on the walls, but this place of worship continues to be a target for vandals. This time they forced the front door open and exited through a window in the basement.

The last time (just about a year ago), horrible things were painted on the walls. In my opinion, the perpetrators must be misinformed youngsters doing this, because they attempted, but could not reproduce an accurate swastika in spray paint beside the Torah.

I’ll tolerate people who display their opinions and stand by them, like the folks who paint suggestive mustaches on the president in front of the Post Office, but I have no patience with anyone who will defile any church, temple, synagogue, enclave, stone circle or whatever.

It pains my heart to fortify a church, but I guess it happens all over the world. I just didn’t expect to have to do it on Vashon. So a word of warning to any would-be burglars: “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.” A hate crime charge will really impress everyone on your Facebook page.

— Tab Tabscott