[Peace] Fwd: Anti-Semitism

Tue Oct 22 16:33:57 CDT 2002

I would like to support David's comments.  If we have to address this 
issue, I would support an AWARE panel of representatives from 
progressive anti-occupation and pro-peace organizations, preferably 
with American Jewish or Israeli speakers.  I would want ALL the 
panelists to represent our views.  The point is that the Zionist view 
is in the mainstream and represented every day in every way in the 
mass media.  It is our role to represent the alternative.  I would be 
happy to then invite all the local Jewish groups to attend and submit 
questions for discussion by the panelists.

At 4:47 PM -0400 10/22/02, R Braun wrote:
>Hi, everyone.  I'd like to echo what Charlotte has said; I've had
>conversations like hers, and I have a dear friend who has expressed 
>discomfort about events where Israeli divestment has become tied to the
>issue at hand.
>
>And despite the fact that I -agree- with those who hold that the Israeli
>gov't is deeply in the wrong in their oppression of Palestinians,
>there have been times when -I've- wondered too (I'm Israeli by birth,
>Jewish by descent, and an agnostic American by choice and chance).
>Any concerns I've had about latent anti-Semitism have been allayed,
>again and again and without my needing to have said anything, by the
>strength of this community.  Dialogue makes obvious to me that it's
>-not- anti-Semitism at play; and it would do so to others, as well --
>when those conversations happen.
>
>I like Charlotte's ideas a lot.  I think a forum may accomplish
>something that flyer text can't.  If it's at all possible, it might be
>good to get a speaker from the Shalom Center (http://www.shalomctr.org)
>who would be able to offer a pro-peace commentary from a traditional
>Jewish standpoint.  Also, the Jewish community here -might- be open to
>producing a flyer with AWARE that approaches Middle East issues in the
>same way that the Shalom Ctr essays do; I suspect a jointly-produced
>flyer would be powerful symbol that AWARE isn't anti-Semitic.
>
>Idle thoughts.
>Peace,
>rosemary
>
>>  From chgreen48 at yahoo.com Tue Oct 22 09:50:32 -0700
>>
>>  Note: forwarded message attached.
>>  I originally sent this letter to Lisa Chason, and she
>>  suggested that I forward it to the rest of the group.
>>  Lisa said that there is a highly respected group,
>>  which has been meeting for years in Amsterdam, called
>>  'The Arab-Israeli Dialogue'--so there is a precedent
>>  for the idea outlined in the following letter.
>>
>>  __________________________________________________
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>>HTTP; Mon, 21 Oct 2002 20:19:22 PDT
>>  Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 20:19:22 -0700 (PDT)
>>  From: Charlotte Green <chgreen48 at yahoo.com>
>>  Subject: Anti-Semitism
>>  To: Lisa Chason <chason at shout.net>
>>  MIME-Version: 1.0
>>  Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>  Content-Length: 1300
>>
>>  Hi Lisa,
>>  I just had a conversation with a young, Jewish man as
>>  I was posting a flier re the Palestinian Truth Tour at
>>  the Red Herring Restaurant.  He felt that Israel is
>>  unfairly being blamed for the plight of the
>>  Palestinians, and that sympathy for their situation is
>>  causing strong anti-Semitic feelings in this
>>  community.  He told me about a murder about a year ago
>>  of a Jewish man close to campus.  He also thought that
>>  people involved in the divestment campaign condoned
>>  violence, including suicide bombers.  We had a decent
>>  conversation--I think he got frustrated because he
>>  didn't change my mind (and I didn't change his), but
>>  we listened to each other, and the conversation was
>>  respectful.  After talking to him, I thought that it
>>  is important that AWARE make a plain statement that we
>>  are not anti-Semitic.  It is not the Jewish people we
>>  are opposed to; it is Israel's policies toward the
>>  Palestinians.  Also, I feel that we must stress that
>  > we don't support the suicide bombers or terrorism of
>>  any kind. 
>>
>>  I'm writing this to you because I know you are one of
>>  the folks that is working on literature.  What do you
>>  think about incorportating these ideas in the pamphlet
>>  about Israel?
>>
>>  Another thought--I wish we could somehow open a
>>  respectful dialogue with people of the Jewish faith,
>>  who have a differing view from ours.  This is probably
>>  a wild idea, but what if we invited people from the
>>  local synagogue and/or Hillel to our meeting for a
>>  program?  A representative in support of Israel's
>>  policies could present his/her position on the
>>  Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and one of the AWARE
>>  members (David Green?) could present the Palestinian
>>  side.  We could have a question and answer period.  It
>>  would all have to be done carefully--we would insist
>>  on everyone respecting the opinions of those we
>>  disagree with.  Our goal would be to understand the
>>  needs, concerns, and viewpoints of both the Israelis
>>  and the Palestinians.  If we could pull it off, I
>>  think it would help us AWARE folks understand the
>>  issues that concern the Jews.  (I think we have to
>>  acknowledge that they do have real concerns.)  As a
>>  result, we should be able to better argue our case.
>>  Also, it may help to defuse the fear of anti-Semitism
>>  in the Jewish community.  It's a way we could do a
>>  little peacemaking here in our own backyard.  I'd
>>  value your opinion on this.
>>  Thanks, Charlotte    
>>
>>  __________________________________________________
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>
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-- 

Al Kagan
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