[Peace-discuss] re: approaching local churches

[Phil Stinard]

John,

Thanks for your cogent explanation and concrete example.  I couldn't have 
put it more eloquently.  I hope that AWARE will put in the extra effort 
needed to try dialogue--it will be more productive in the long-run.

--Phil


>From: "John W." <jbw292002 at gmail.com>
>To: "Phil Stinard" <pstinard at hotmail.com>, Peace-discuss 
><peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
>Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] re: approaching local churches Date: Sun, 06 
>Nov 2005 21:41:44 -0600
>
>At 08:59 PM 11/6/2005, you wrote:
>
>>Mort,
>>
>>I'm puzzled by your comments.  For me, the bottom line is that until you 
>>approach and talk to ministers and members of the churches you plan to 
>>target and find out what their views are, you have absolutely nothing to 
>>go on regarding the views held by said individual churches, and any 
>>protest of perceived views will NOT be well-received or constructive in 
>>the least.
>
>I'm with you 110% on this one, Phil, if it matters.
>
>I've been active for 4.5 years in the effort to get Citizen Police Review 
>Boards in the cities of Champaign and Urbana.  Our tiny coalition has had 
>to laboriously at least try to dialogue with EVERYONE even remotely 
>involved - to date, the Human Rights Commissions of both Champaign and 
>Urbana; the mayor of Urbana, present and past; the Urbana city council 
>members, present and past; the Urbana police chief and his assistant; the 
>Urbana police officers union; and various community and civic 
>organizations.  It's been a long and tedious process, but arguably well 
>worth it as we now, finally, have a task force appointed by the current 
>Mayor of Urbana that is seriously considering the issue.  When we start our 
>campaign in Champaign in earnest we'll have to do the exact same thing all 
>over again.
>
>Surely the principles are similar here.  It is the height of arrogance to 
>presume what someone believes without so much as asking them.  NO ONE wants 
>to be placed in an adversarial position when their views/opinions have not 
>even been solicited.  They want to feel valued as individuals.  And those 
>we are attempting to win over to our point of view need to see that we 
>(whatever cause we may be advocating) are mature individuals, both 
>responsible and responsive, worthy of their trust.  The old adage, that you 
>can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, could not be 
>more a propos.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>John Wason
>