[adcom] Re: [statecom-discuss] gr response to the recent round of terror

[Mike Heichman]

The 10 Key Values are values--they are not commandments. Non-violence is 
a value-we in the GRP have different beliefs about this principle.

I suggest that we say both of these things--something like "The GRP 
supports nonviolence... and The GRP supports the right to resist against 
racism and colonialism." I believe that both statements are accurate and 
reflect the diversity in our party about the interpretation of both of 
the above statements.

Mike


Colby E. Peterson wrote:

> I won't participate in allowing this party to continue to be victims  
> of Zionist media destruction because we aren't willing to broadly  
> condemn violence.
>
> The reason we are on the defensive all the time is because we are not  
> willing to apply equal principles to opposing parties. I am tired of  
> fighting with outsiders (who are definitely reading all of this right  
> now) about how a "peace party" is not readily prepared to criticize  
> all violence. We are not criticizing anyone when we "call all parties  
> to end violence and come about to a solution peacefully." How can you  
> not support that? I'm tired of doing what everyone else does-  
> romanticizing some or any movement when we know that peace and  
> diplomacy is the only ultimate solution to this problem. We can state  
> who's right and who's wrong based on our platform, but I am not going  
> to sit by and let us become known as "the party that supports  
> terrorism."
>
> - Colby
>
>
>
> On Jul 20, 2006, at 9:54 PM, david rolde wrote:
>
>> The resistance are defending the people using the
>> means they believe are necessary. I won't participate
>> in criticizing Palestinian or Lebanese resistance
>> movements. - David
>>
>> --- "Colby E. Peterson" <saphron at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Yo, just one more thing!
>>>
>>>> Most importantly I object to us placing any
>>>
>>> demands on
>>>
>>>> Hizballah or the Palestinians such as Colby's
>>>> sentence: "We call on all parties to reopen
>>>> discussions  immediately and to stop escalating
>>>> violence in the region." The violence is entirely
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>> fault of the Zionist entity. We cannot place any
>>>
>>> blame
>>>
>>>> on people for defending themselves from brutal
>>>
>>> racist
>>>
>>>> colonial expansionist occupation.
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes, we all know how brutal and racist Israel is,
>>> that's what this
>>> statement is about. But we don't place the same
>>> demands (or "calls",
>>> as Bill put it better) on all parties, then we are
>>> not being fair,
>>> and we are implicitly aligning ourselves with those
>>> who would use
>>> violence to achieve their goals. That is a bad
>>> situation for us to be
>>> in. I urge us to reinsert the language that calls
>>> for a "non-violent"
>>> solution to this war- that's what we really care
>>> about, right, the
>>> end of fatalities?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 20, 2006, at 6:17 PM, david rolde wrote:
>>>
>>>> annie's statement isn't perfect. But in some ways
>>>
>>> I
>>>
>>>> like it better than Colby's. I have serious
>>>
>>> concerns
>>>
>>>> with parts of Colby's statement.
>>>>
>>>> Most importantly I object to us placing any
>>>
>>> demands on
>>>
>>>> Hizballah or the Palestinians such as Colby's
>>>> sentence: "We call on all parties to reopen
>>>> discussions  immediately and to stop escalating
>>>> violence in the region." The violence is entirely
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>> fault of the Zionist entity. We cannot place any
>>>
>>> blame
>>>
>>>> on people for defending themselves from brutal
>>>
>>> racist
>>>
>>>> colonial expansionist occupation.
>>>>
>>>> The reason for using quotes on the word "Israel"
>>>
>>> is
>>>
>>>> because the word "Israel" and the word "Palestine"
>>>> refer to the same location. The nation of
>>>
>>> Palestine is
>>>
>>>> occupied by a colonial power that is trying to
>>>
>>> wipe
>>>
>>>> out the indigenous population and change the very
>>>
>>> name
>>>
>>>> of the country to reflect the identiy of the
>>>> colonizers. It is offensive to use the word
>>>
>>> "Israel"
>>>
>>>> to refer to all or part of the nation of Palestine
>>>> without some sort of disclaimer or explanation.
>>>
>>> Using
>>>
>>>> quotation marks around the word "Israel" is an
>>>
>>> easy
>>>
>>>> way to avoid the racist mislabelling of the
>>>
>>> country.
>>>
>>>> But perhaps the reason for the use of the
>>>
>>> quotation
>>>
>>>> marks is not clear to all readers, and an
>>>
>>> explanation
>>>
>>>> of the situation may be a necessary addition to
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>> statement.
>>>>
>>>> As to the dismantling of "Israel". Our statement
>>>
>>> on
>>>
>>>> Palestine says, "The Green-Rainbow Party of
>>>> Massachusetts rejects all apartheid-based
>>>
>>> governmental
>>>
>>>> systems and calls for a secular, democratic
>>>
>>> governing
>>>
>>>> entity for all people in the geographic region of
>>>> historic Palestine (today referred to by some
>>>
>>> people
>>>
>>>> as Israel, the West Bank and Gaza). We support a
>>>> democratic system with equal rights for all in
>>>
>>> which
>>>
>>>> the peoples of the region democratically decide
>>>
>>> their
>>>
>>>> future." Clearly "Israel" is a racist apartheid
>>>
>>> state
>>>
>>>> whose laws are based on one interpretation of the
>>>> Jewish religion (anti-Zionist Jews consider it to
>>>
>>> be a
>>>
>>>> terrible misinterpretation). So "Israel" as it
>>>
>>> exists
>>>
>>>> now needs to be dismantled in order for a truly
>>>> democratic government to come into existence in
>>>> Palestine. For clarity this could be explained in
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>> statement rather than just saying "dismantle
>>>
>>> 'Israel'"
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, I started writing this email on Tuesday
>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>>> stopped in the middle because I had to leave to go
>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>>> the Communications Committee meeting. I hadn't
>>>> finished stating all my concerns with Colby's
>>>
>>> draft.
>>>
>>>> But in the meantime I have written another draft
>>>> statement based on Colby and annie's statements
>>>
>>> with a
>>>
>>>> lot of changes and additions.  I  honored the
>>>
>>> request
>>>
>>>> to not put "Israel" in quotes all the time and to
>>>
>>> make
>>>
>>>> specific demands for justice in all of Palestine
>>>> rather than simply calling for the state of Israel
>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>>> be dismantled. And I guess I wrote a draft without
>>>> using the word terror or terrorism or terrorist.
>>>
>>> Maybe
>>>
>>>> we should add something about state terrorism as
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>>> suggests. Actually I'll quickly add that in and we
>>>
>>> can
>>>
>>>> see if Colby has concerns about it. I'll send my
>>>
>>> draft
>>>
>>>> in the next email.  - David
>>>>
>>>> --- BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I agree with Colby's point 2.
>>>>>
>>>>> As to point 1, a terrorist act is not hard to
>>>>> define. We should find some way to say how Israel
>>>>> and the US are twisting words to justify a policy
>>>>
>>> of
>>>
>>>>> State terror in the strictest sense of the word.
>>>>>
>>>>> As to point 3, it is true that this would be a
>>>>
>>> new
>>>
>>>>> position. But to dismantle Israel clearly refers
>>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>>>> a State. I don't see that we have ever said
>>>>
>>> anything
>>>
>>>>> about a secular State.
>>>>>
>>>>> We must find some way to respond to events more
>>>>> quickly. Our process is not very inspiring for
>>>>> people who might otherwise rally to our banner.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>
>>>>>> From: "Colby E. Peterson" <saphron at verizon.net>
>>>>>> Sent: Jul 15, 2006 11:14 PM
>>>>>> To: BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net>,
>>>>>
>>>>> Discussion List for StateCom members
>>>>> <statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] gr response to
>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>>> recent round of terror
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My disagreements with Annie's text (which I did
>>>>>
>>> use
>>>
>>>>> some parts from
>>>>>
>>>>>> since I think some of it was good):
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. I disagree with the use of the word
>>>>>
>>> "terrorist."
>>>
>>>>> Us labeling
>>>>>
>>>>>> anyone a terrorist is just as bad as our
>>>>>
>>> opponents
>>>
>>>>> labeling anyone
>>>>>
>>>>>> terrorists, which is a term that is used to
>>>>>
>>> inflame
>>>
>>>>> emotions due to
>>>>>
>>>>>> its all too vague definition at this point.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. I disagree with the use of quotations marks
>>>>>
>>> when
>>>
>>>>> referring to
>>>>>
>>>>>> Israel. Israel is not an idea, it is a place
>>>>>
>>> where
>>>
>>>>> real people live.
>>>>>
>>>>>> Some of us may disagree with its existence, what
>>>>>
>>> we
>>>
>>>>> cannot credibly
>>>>>
>>>>>> deny its very existence. It also changes the
>>>>>
>>> tone
>>>
>>>>> of the statement
>>>>>
>>>>>> and makes it less professional-reading against
>>>>>
>>> our
>>>
>>>>> advantage.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3. I do not agree with the specific call to
>>>>>
>>>>> "dismantle Israel," as
>>>>>
>>>>>> our goal has not specifically been to dismantle
>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>>> people that make
>>>>>
>>>>>> a nation, but our ultimate goal is for ALL
>>>>>
>>> peoples
>>>
>>>>> in the historic
>>>>>
>>>>>> Palestine region to be treated equally and not
>>>>>
>>>>> under an oppressed
>>>>>
>>>>>> system of apartheid, which we have defined as a
>>>>>
>>>>> secular government.
>>>>>
>>>>>> This may mean that Israel is inadvertently
>>>>>
>>>>> disassembled, but it may
>>>>>
>>>>>> follow a different scenario to equal rights and
>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>>> end of oppression
>>>>>
>>>>>> similar to South Africa where the country stayed
>>>>>
>>>>> but the groups were
>>>>>
>>>>>> effectively integrated, but I do not think we
>>>>>
>>>>> should state that
>>>>>
>>>>>> Israel be disassembled at this time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Those are my concerns.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Colby
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 15, 2006, at 5:46 PM, BillCunningham
>>>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> These two responses don't seem so different to
>>>>>>
>>>>> me. Would Colby
>>>>>
>>>>>>> explain why he doesn't agree with annie's text?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mike sent out a series of statements by
>>>>>>
>>> Democrat
>>>
>>>>> politicians in
>>>>>
>>>>>>> support of Israel. I think that annie's
>>>>>>
>>> statement
>>>
>>>>> shows a point-by-
>>>>>
>>>>>>> point refutation of those Democrat statements,
>>>>>>
>>>>> showing that the
>>>>>
>>>>>>> truth of the matter is the exact reverse of the
>>>>>>
>>>>> Israel/Democrat
>>>>>
>>>>>>> position.... Would annie agree to have us quote
>>>>>>
>>>>> each Dem statement
>>>>>
>>>>>>> and follow it by her corresponding statement?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> From: "Colby E. Peterson"
>>>>>>>
>>> <saphron at verizon.net>
>>>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Jul 15, 2006 9:59 AM
>>>>>>>> To: "Green-Rainbow Party (GRP) Administrative
>>>>>>>
>>>>> Committee"
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> <adcom at green-rainbow.org>, Discussion List for
>>>>>>>
>>>>> StateCom members
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> <statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org>
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] gr response to
>>>>>>>
>>>>> the recent round of
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> terror
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My proposed language for a response:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>     The Green-Rainbow Party has in the past
>>>>>>>
>>>>> affirmed in Palestine's
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> right to defend itself from an illegal
>>>>>>>
>>>>> occupation and the illegal
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> actions of Israel. We today reaffirm that
>>>>>>>
>>>>> Palestine has that right,
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> and we stand with the oppressed. We find
>>>>>>>
>>>>> Israel's actions to be out
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> of line with international law and, in terms
>>>>>>>
>>> of
>>>
>>>>> a response to the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> capture of a handful of soldiers, completely
>>>>>>>
>>>>> disproportionate in
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> scale. We find the deliberate bombing of
>>>>>>>
>>>>> civilian infrastructure and
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> the death of civilians to be war crimes, and
>>>>>>>
>>>>> call on Israel to cease
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> any and all offensives immediately and leave
>>>>>>>
>>>>> Palestinian and Lebanese
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> territory forever. We call on all parties to
>>>>>>>
>>>>> reopen discussions
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> immediately and to stop escalating violence in
>>>>>>>
>>>>> the region.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>     The Green-Rainbow Party repeats its call on
>>>>>>>
>>> all
>>>
>>>>> invested parties,
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> including the United States, to divest from or
>>>>>>>
>>>>> cease foreign aid to
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Israel immediately to stop funding of the
>>>>>>>
>>>>> killing of civilians, the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> destruction of property, and the perpetuation
>>>>>>>
>>> of
>>>
>>>>> an apartheid
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> society.
>>>>>>>>     Those who finance, direct, or otherwise
>>>>>>>
>>> support
>>>
>>>>> acts like these
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> need to understand that they have produced an
>>>>>>>
>>>>> extremely dangerous
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> situation and that they are responsible for
>>>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>>> consequences. We call
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> on the UN and international community to take
>>>>>>>
>>>>> action to stop the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> bloodshed and condemn and then sanction Israel
>>>>>>>
>>>>> for its illegal
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> actions.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Jul 15, 2006, at 8:37 AM, annie butler
>>>>>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> and now for our response.  i hope it sounds
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> familiar since i used
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> the words our duly elected as the outline for
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> the text below.  does
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> statecom respond, ad com, mrgra...all of us?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> annie
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> At a time when Palestine finds itself under
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> occupation and attack
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> by forces funded and supplied by the United
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> States, the Green
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Rainbow Party of Massachusettes  stands
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> shoulder-to-shoulder with
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Palestinians in support of its right to
>>>>>>>>
>>> defend
>>>
>>>>> itself and people
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> from terrorist and militant attacks.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The Green Rainbow leadership strongly
>>>>>>>>
>>> condemns
>>>
>>>>> the bombing of the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Lebonese airport  by soldiers bought and paid
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> for with our tax
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> dollars.  Countries with influence over
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> "Israel", particularly the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> United States, must move quickly to bring
>>>>>>>>
>>> about
>>>
>>>>> the end of the
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> current round of rocket attacks in Gaza and
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> positions in Lebanon.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Those who finance, direct, or otherwise
>>>>>>>>
>>> support
>>>
>>>>> acts like these
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> need to understand that they have produced an
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> extremely dangerous
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> situation and that they are responsible for
>>>>>>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>>>> consequences.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Palestine, and now Lebanon, have an inherent
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> right to self defense.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Today's attacks by "Israel" into Lebanese
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> territory were
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> disgraceful and unwarranted acts of violence
>>>>>>>>
>>> by
>>>
>>>>> a terrorist
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> organization. "Israel" must release any
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> captured civilians or
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> soldiers immediately. "Israel" must be
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> dismantled, and all nations
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> have an obligation to
>>>>>>>>> cease any and all assistance to this
>>>>>>>>
>>> terrorist
>>>
>>>>> organization.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If the world is serious about peace in the
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> Middle East, then
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "Israel" needs to be held accountable for
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> feeding, fostering, and
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> unleashing, rabid, blood-spattered killers.
>>>>>>>>
>>> The
>>>
>>>>> money, weapons and
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> political support "Israel" receives the
>>>>>>>>
>>> United
>>>
>>>>> States is  not
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> uncontrollable or a natural phenomena and the
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> international
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> community must demand that they stop.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> Cross-border attacks on any
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> country by "Israel" should result in tough
>>>>>>>>
>>>>> international sanctions,
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> and the UN Security Council should
>>>>>>>>
>>> immediately
>>>
>>>>> pursue this option.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>>>>>>> statecom-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>>> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>>>>>> statecom-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bill Cunningham
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> statecom-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Cunningham
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> statecom-discuss mailing list
>>>>> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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