[O29] We should vote monday on this demand; we need real closure

[DAVID KEIL]

I'm sorry to hear of this decision to take a divisive approach Monday.
The issues are complex and can't be decided democratically after only
two speakers for and against. I suggest that a committee form (I
suggested some names -- Chris Desir, Elisabeth Leonard, Julie Keefe,
Amee Chew, Chrystie Hopkins, Karen Slater, Judith Roderick, and would
add Reem Abou-Samra) to discuss this question by email and phone
before the Monday meeting. This committee should try to work out a
consensus or at least an acceptable committee majority that
acknowledges in a friendly way whatever is the minority position. The
last thing we need is a mutually aggressive atmosphere at a work
meeting. I feel as if the choice offered is, "Back off or we slug it
out now." I don't like that choice.

On 10/6/05, Keith Rosenthal <keithmr81 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hey all,
>    After further discussion on and off this listserve, it is clear that this
> debate is really important and that the space available at last monday's
> meeting was insufficient for all sides to clearly air their ideas on the
> question of adding a demand against anti-arab racism.  Moreover, after
> further discussion with organizations of color and other concerned activists
> (including District 7 activists, and Muslim and Arab student and community
> groups), it is clear that the vote we took on Monday was (to say the least)
> inconclusive and needs to be revisited.  Because it was a tie vote, and not
> a clear win or lose either way, it is clear that we needed this discussion
> and our now in a better position to take an informed vote again.
>    In light of Bush's speech today declaring the necessity of war on Islam
> as the "prime reason" for continuing the war on Iraq.  And in light of the
> mounting anger amongst people of color and the rest of the population about
> the government's racist neglect of people in New Orleans as a direct
> connection with the US war on Iraq; it is important that we vote again, and
> pass a demand against racism.
>    This need not be a long-drawn out process, but can be a simple vote with
> maybe one or two speakers for and against so that our group can have some
> real closure on this question.
>    One thing, however: this is not about "process" and it is wrong for
> anyone to base a "no" vote on "process."  If you are for adding a demand
> against racism to the flyer because you think it will be crucial in helping
> to broaden the protest and draw in larger numbers of people, then vote for
> it.  If you are against adding a demand on racism because you think that it
> will be a liability, or lead to a smaller turn-out, then vote against it.
> Period.  It's as simple as that and need not be more complex.
>    Oh yeah, and to those who would like to hurl insults and jokes at people
> like myself for trying to raise a demand against racism (Suren): I wonder
> how much of a joke you think the attacks on Arabs and Muslims in this
> country and in Iraq have been and I hope we are not teaching children to
> laugh at the ease with which we can brush aside the importance of dealing
> openly with the oppression of people victimized by this war.
>
>    At this Monday's meeting, therefore, we should re-vote on a demand
> against racism.  And, in order to hopefully make the demand more ammenable
> to some people's objections, I am proposing that it be worded as such: "Stop
> the Racist Attacks on the Black, Latin@, Arab & Muslim Communities".
>
>    Whichever way this turns out, we should all be united in building this
> protest and building a collective movement that can stop this war.  However,
> I recommend that in order to do this most effectively, we should pass this
> demand, or at the very least, get some clear closure on this one way or the
> other, and not leave things at last week's tie vote.
>
>
> Solidarity,
> Keith Rosenthal
>
>
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>
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