[O29] I think gus & gary have good points...

[Huibin Amelia Chew]

hi Amatul!

what up?  thanks for your post.

I think this "anti-war" movement has been defined way too narrowly, by
a white male america that then arrogantly can claim to lead it --
since "war" has been defined according to its own turns.  I object to
assuming such parameters for "the movement," which underlie various
people's arguments in this debate.  though fears of losing focus due
to Keith's proposal itself are moot becuz few progressives will claim
to be pro-racism against Arabs anyway.

still, I haven't chimed in on these *theoretics* because you were
right on: the organizing was done backwards in the first place.  how
is it we're a group of mostly white males arguing about the slogan
that best represents minorities who aren't even in the room?  how are
our abstract arguments in themselves building real bridges with
minority individuals and organizations, who aren't even part of the
discussion?  change will not come from the most well-worded position
paper, created behind closed doors, though it gives us something to
masturbate with.  change will come through the relationships and
political alliances we build by going *out* to people and inviting
them to represent.  but we've a ways to go at building relationships
and collaborating civilly and respectfully with each other.

yes, at meetings Roberts rules too often serve to intidimate and
badger out of participating those who don't know Roberts rules, while
those who do get to fight over who knows Roberts rules better, at
times stifling discussion over substance.  and there are other
incivilities and acts of dehumanization, and disrespect for each
other's emotions and experiences.  (I would be for consensus + vote
but at this point don't have the energy to fight for it.)

well, so I am out of meetings, for the above reasons and more.  as for
your proposal Amutal on contributing to women/people of color led
events, and Gary's sentiments -- yes, it's nice if the people who
don't get it could come around and start working out these problems
among themselves.  but no, they're not going to spontaneously --
meanwhile, it's a tactical drain to beat your head against the wall,
believe me.

so yes -- let's stop drifting in and out of disrespectful coalitions,
trying to push them as inviduals, but instead, let's organize
ourselves, form our own groups, and exercise our own power, because no
one else will.  I'm on!

let's withhold our energy until we have real voice and respect, and
use it more efficiently to contribute to movement we can truly claim.

love,
-Amee



--
"There are plenty of women in Fallujah who have testified they were
raped by American soldiers... They are nearby the secondary school for
girls inside Fallujah. When people came back to Fallujah the first
time they found so many girls who were totally naked and they had been
killed."

  -- Mohammed Abdulla, executive director of the Study Center for
Human Rights and Democracy in Fallujah, quoted in
http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/newscommentary/000251.php