[Peace-discuss] NFN

[Karen Aram]

The most recent NFN was quite good as usual. Many things covered. I always enjoy the discussions delving deeper than mere surface provided. 

I’m still not as clear on BDS as I would like to be, I like Carl’s suggestion that we support it, whether a tactic/strategy or movement. Sometimes we have to ignore the flaws for the greater good, though discourse is always important.

When BDS was used against South Africa, the Indians were unfairly targeted, as they too had been victims of apartheid, there is always a risk. Thus such sanctions as preventing medicines should never be applied given the harm to innocents imposed, as was the case in Iraq.

When calling for the implementation of sanctions against the Burmese regime in the 90’s, we clarified it as “business and investment.”  Thus doing no harm. 

I think applying “class” to the situation in Israel, maybe as necessary there as it is everywhere else in the world, just as it is so important here in the US, with all other issues being secondary. 

Not to diminish the other issues such as race or gender discrimination, but because only through eradication of poverty, and changing our system of “for profit” can we attempt to deal with all other issues that fall under capitalism. 

Thats not to say I support nationalism, in fact one should expect elimination of capitalism would result in a land without borders, or walls.