[Peace-discuss] AWARE and racism

[Bob Illyes]

I see the "is AWARE a racist organization" debate is going on again. It is 
brought forward, generally, by people who are not adequately familiar with 
the workings of AWARE. I want to make 3 points:

1) Some of our members prefer that we not dilute our anti-war efforts by 
addressing other issues. Carl Estabrook, for example, is strongly of this 
opinion. This is a perfectly legitimate position, although it is one that I 
don't agree with. The solution is working groups, which can specialize as 
they like.

2) AWARE has an active anti-racism working group that is strongly linked to 
CUCPJ. Bob Wahlfeld, Durl Kruse and I were heavily involved in this at its 
founding. Randall is now taking an active role, as are others in AWARE.

3) I've asked some of the activists in CUCPJ why they don't work with AWARE 
more closely, and the answer is consistently that although they are 
anti-war, they see racism as the more serious problem. This also a 
completely reasonable position, with me once more in the middle on this.

There is no rule that every activist or organization be concerned with 
every good cause. Stop the stone throwing, you stone throwers out there. Or 
even better, look at yourself and ask if you are really in a position the 
cast the first stone.

Bob