[Peace-discuss] Letter to DI

[C. G. Estabrook]

Nicely put.  (And perhaps a step towards expanding AWARE's
membership...)  --CGE

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 17:31:17 -0800 (PST)
>From: David Green <davegreen84 at yahoo.com>  
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Letter to DI  
>To: Peace Discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
>
>     John Bambenek (3/15) accuses the Anti-War
>Anti-Racism Effort of anti-Semitism and having a
>“critical view”
>on Christians. He adds that those in AWARE are not
>“against hate speech or war, they just want make sure
>the right people are on the business end of them.”
>
>	I have been active in AWARE since it’s founding in
>2001. Our primary effort has been in opposition to
>U.S. wars since then, in Afghanistan and Iraq. I can
>assure Bambenek that we have not endorsed violence of
>any kind. We do, however, take seriously the question
>“Why do they hate us?” Given George Bush’s recent
>endorsement of nuclear weapons for India while
>threatening to invade Iran on the same count, that
>question would seem more relevant than ever.
>
>	One of the answers to that question leads to the
>occupation of Palestine by Israel. As a Jew, I have
>worked against that for the past nine years, including
>in AWARE and Jewish-identified groups like Not In My
>Name (Chicago). I can assure Bambenek that criticisms
>AWARE makes of Israeli policies, and U.S. policies in
>its support, are not inspired by hatred of Jews, but
>by same spirit of anti-war, pro-human rights
>positions. My criticism of Israel comes partly from
>the values of universalism and social justice that are
>inseparable from my Jewish identity.
>
>	Likewise, Christian members of AWARE promote partly
>what they understand as the teachings of Jesus, to
>which Bambenek apparently takes exception and makes
>exceptions. I would invite Bambenek—or anyone else—to
>attend our weekly meeting, Sunday at 5, at the
>Independent Media Center at the Urbana Post Office,
>Broadway & Elm. There is too much work to be done
>against the hatred incited around the world by our
>current administration to allow that hatred to be
>re-enacted in our community.
>
>David Green
>
>
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