[Peace-discuss] Talks about Israel/Palestine

Tue Feb 3 18:51:30 CST 2009

Thanks to Mort for attending and for relaying what occurred.

I think there would have been value in even a small organized group
attending and asking challenging questions of Consul General Gil, but only
if we were committed to following up on that to take full advantage of the
event. I agree there's not much use in attempting to change the minds of
the "faithful" in attendance. But if a group of us asked the more or less
obvious questions challenging the massacre in Gaza, recording the event,
it would no doubt provide ample compelling material for a letter to the
editor, NG Guest Commentary or a Public Square spot, not to mention an
AWARE on the Air segment.

In retrospect, I regret not spotting this opportunity and I'm grateful to
Mort for pointing it out.

We had 4 days notice of this event. If we were just a little on the ball,
we could have had half a dozen folks there to record the event and ask
suitable challenging questions. I hope we don't let opportunities like
this pass us by in the future.

R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "LAURIE SOLOMON" <LAURIE at ADVANCENET.NET>
To: "'Brussel Morton K.'" <mkbrussel at comcast.net>;
<peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: [Peace-discuss] Talks about Israel/Palestine

: And you believe that a large enough protest over this issue is possible
in
: this community, in this state, in this country?
:
: As for the educational function, I sincerely think that that is a lost
cause
: when one is dealing with an audience of "true believers" as contrasted
to
: "open minded" persons intent on serious discussion and debate rather
than
: catharsis, self validation, showing ideological support, and
propagandizing
: or prostylizing.
:
: -----Original Message-----
: From: Brussel Morton K. [mailto:mkbrussel at comcast.net]
: Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 11:11 AM
: To: LAURIE SOLOMON
: Cc: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
: Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Talks about Israel/Palestine
:
: No. But there is an educational function to be considered (especially
: on young minds), not to speak of showing that her story is
: unacceptable and that her government is "beyond the pale" to many,
: even here. Who knows, this could refract back to her bosses to some
: effect?
: Laurie, perhaps you do not believe in the efficacy of protest and
: contention, but a large enough protest could approximate revolution.
:
: On Feb 2, 2009, at 11:54 PM, LAURIE SOLOMON wrote:
:
: > Are you surprised at her comments?  Maybe many people did not attend
: > because
: > they figured that it was unproductive to engage in argument with true
: > believers, which most of the attendees were likely to be.
: >
: > -----Original Message-----
: > From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net
: > [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Brussel
: > Morton K.
: > Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:52 PM
: > To: peace at anti-war.net
: > Cc: peace discuss
: > Subject: [Peace-discuss] Talks about Israel/Palestine
: >
: > I attended the talk by the Israeli Consul General to the Midwest,Orli
: > Gil, this evening with roughly 200 others, and two policemen. Also
: > photographers of unknown origin.  As might be expected, this woman
: > told us how wonderful Israel is; its culture, its achievements in
: > science and the arts. She also told the audience of the terrible
: > hardships the Israelis have been living under due to all the rockets
: > and terrorists attacks on them. She also said that Israel wanted a two
: > state solution wherein everybody would live in peace and security,
: > that it was too bad that Israel had to defend itself, killing
: > innocents who were shielding terrorists in their midst. Lots of
: > crocodile tears. She said that Hamas was out to destroy Israel, and
: > that therefore Israel would have nothing to do with them (She didn't
: > quite say that they would all have to be annihilated, but that was the
: > inference).
: >
: > And so on, about the terrible dangers of a nuclear terrorist Iran,
: > etc..
: >
: > Of course, the audience was overwhelmingly receptive to this person
: > and her message, but at least there were a few (young students?) from
: > the Muslim community who attended and voiced their objections to her
: > narrative. Comments after the formal talk were welcome, but after a
: > comment there was invariably a long answering harangue and no possible
: > followup. After expressing myself a bit, I left early.
: >
: > But I am disappointed that no one else from AWARE and the progressive
: > community showed up. At least I didn't notice them. Here was an
: > opportunity to protest and show this character that we don't accept
: > the lies, distortions and omissions of the Israeli propaganda mill. It
: > could have happened.It could have been an opportunity to show that
: > there are many who are outraged about Israeli behavior against the
: > Palestinians-that we do not agree with our own administrations'
: > support of Israeli actions and that we'll try to turn the tide of
: > American support that has condoned if not encouraged that rogue state.
: >
: > I went afterwards to see what was going on In Gregory Hall about the
: > Crisis in Gaza, a talk by Eric Ruder. About 25 -30 were in the
: > audience, and there was extended discussion after his talk. Ruder was
: > very well informed and an excellent speaker. It was just too bad that
: > his talk was in conflict with the Israeli talk; it had been planned
: > well in advance.
: >
: > --mkb
: >
: > _______________________________________________
: > Peace-discuss mailing list
: > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
: > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
: >
: >
:
:
:
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