Thank-you Ms. Heiser and Mr. Bradley for your posts. Of course, no one is asking the City Council or Mayor to form an international relations committee. This is absurd and disingenuous. All of these politicos know that politics is mainly a medium of image; and this vote on the war would be about sending a message, not analyzing satellite data. No one is asking the City Council or the Mayor to weigh-in on Lumber tariffs or E.U. ag. quotas. This is war. The decision and ability to construct war connects human rights and democratic priviledge at it's most basic core. You don't get to opt out. You don't get to segregate your "official " position from your personal position. You were elected to lead.
City Councils--like Berkeley's-- added momentum to ending the Vitnam war; Hubert H Humpherey--while he was mayor--spoke out against Jim Crow in '48; many great cities--like ours, I believe--voted against apartheid in the 80's. Hiding behind the important mountian of local problems, just doesn't cut it. If you are afraid of offending your pro-intervention constituents, just say so. If you don't want to take stands on the difficult issues of war and peace, step aside. But saying it isn't your business is poppycock. Silence is Complicity. Official Silence is Official Complicity. john kremer Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
