[adcom] (More responses to our endorsement) Fwd: CONCERNS

[Ron Francis]

On supporting fundamental human rights of Palestinians:
   
  There is no conclusive evidence that we are losing numbers because of our Palestine position.  Who knows how many people now support us because of our clear position.  We can't let a few random pro-aparthied folks scare us into thinking that we are losing support. 
   
  Also we are not in this to win a popularity contest.  If we are principled then we need to take positions consistent with our core values regardless of public opinion.
   
  ron

"Colby E. Peterson" <saphron at verizon.net> wrote:
  I have argued that our statement would be a PR problem from its 
inception. (I expressed concerns and did not step aside when we made 
the decision.)

Unfortunately for me as Communications Director, I have to deal with 
the consequences of the fact that our opinion of a one-state solution 
in that region is very unpopular to vast majority. I would say that 
this is due to lack of education on the subject, but most people 
believe that Israel and the Palestinian territories should not be 
disassembled or converted into a single country called Palestine.

Additionally, we continue to not say enough about the violence that 
the Palestinians are directly responsible for, which is often 
misconstrued or justified on our side as "self-defense." Many Green- 
Rainbows do not see a distinction between "resistance violence" and 
terrorism. Violence is violence to most Greens and we are supposed to 
be explicitly non-violent.

I'm not interested in getting into a shouting match or argument with 
ANYONE on this right now, so please do not try to convince me that I 
am somehow a racist or uneducated on this subject- frankly, I don't 
even have time to be typing this right now. So please just understand 
that people are upset about our endorsement. Everytime we do 
something based on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, we lose members. 
If we are to keep up the rhetoric, we better start educating people 
on what is happening over there, or else I will be reposting more 
negative messages like the ones we've received.

Peace,
Colby


On Jun 19, 2006, at 1:50 PM, Owen Broadhurst wrote:

> The GRP has never supported terrorism. I do not yet quite 
> understand, and
> doubt that I shall ever comprehend, how deploring apartheid equates to
> support for terrorism.
>
> OB
>
>
> On 6/19/06, Colby E. Peterson wrote:
>>
>> Yet another negative response to our endorsement.
>>
>> - Colby
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> > From: Tennis Lilly 
>> > Date: June 19, 2006 12:23:46 PM EDT
>> > To: saphron at verizon.net
>> > Subject: CONCERNS
>> >
>> > I have been following the debate over the protests
>> > against Israel. I am deeply concerned that our
>> > endorsement appears to support the New England
>> > Committee to Defend Palestine (www.onepalestine.org)
>> >
>> > Do we really want to align ourselves with such an
>> > organization? This isn't the first time I have brought
>> > this issue up to GRP leadership. I honestly believe
>> > that we (Greens, the left in general) have a real
>> > problem recognizing the anti-semitism in our midst.
>> >
>> > How can we follow the 10 Key Values while supporting
>> > terrorism against innocent people? If terrorism is
>> > wrong its ALWAYS wrong for EVERYONE. If innocent
>> > civilians are not legitimate targets in war then they
>> > are NEVER legitimate targets ANYWHERE by ANYONE.
>> >
>> > I would like someone to clarify exactly what the GRP
>> > position is on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict?
>> >
>> > ~~~\|/~~~~~\|/~~~~~~~~~\|/~~~~~\|/~~~
>> > Tennis W. Lilly
>> > Lawrence Conservation Commission
>> > Lawrence, MA
>> > (508) 451-2967
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Owen R. Broadhurst
> Candidate for State Representative
> Third Hampden District
> http://www.owenbroadhurst.org
> _______________________________________________
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> To email Administration Committee members: adcom.members AT green- 
> rainbow DOT org

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