Thank you David. We are again playing that incredible divisive game. "Whose for and whose against the War". Each side so sure in their self righteousness that they do not even realize the incredible nasty and hurtful things they say to another person. Each calling up metaphors of Nazi, the Constitution, Gandhi, and what every "Good person knows". As if their side was the only place a good person could be. We have arguments about the numbers of people in a march as if it is a conspiracy one way or the other, or if someone not directly involved even gives a damn.
The Viet Nam War created a split in the country and in Minneapolis that is only now beginning to heal, and now we have another come along. I remember when middle class young adults working establishment jobs donned their mackinaws and jeans on Saturday for the political convention, went and preached anti-establishment, and required a litmus test of,"Where were you on Viet Nam?" as a litmus test for Minneapolis specific seats such as School and Park Board. As if one had anything to do with the other ten years after that silly war. Minneapolis has very real, pressing problems, with real pressing issues, right here in River City. Perhaps we need to back away from discussions of the "War" on Minneapolis Issues, so that we can treat each other gently enough to address and hopefully solve those issues. People need to realize that individuals from different political persuasions are just as hurt if their icon is attacked. Whether it is George Bush or Paul Wellstone. This morning I read that RT Rybak is, "Like George W. Bush, he's another privileged white boy holding office to preserve the status quo." Then Rybak is said to be less honest than a panhandler. What ever the race of the person saying this it is racism at best and also an attempt to define someone's motives. The true Minneapolis Issue in this is if we are going to allow ourselves to be so polarized that the litmus paper will again come out to define the "True orthodox" and attack the rest. I guess we will have to wait and see, if Minneapolis can be a little better than the rest of the country this time round. Jim Graham, Ventura Village >With calm eyes gauge your fellow men; >with a calm heart deal with all matters; >with a calm mind find the reason in things. >- Hong Yingming ----- Original Message ----- From: List Manager <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 8:47 AM Subject: [Mpls] War talk > Folks, it wasn't great timing on my part to post a notice asking to stop > general war talk the day BEFORE the big protest. > > But everyone has had the weekend to discuss, and now we're drifting back > into general stuff. > > Again, respectfully, let's end the thread and move back to > Minneapolis-specific issues. Please. > > David Brauer > List manager > > > on 2/17/03 8:15 AM, James E. Jacobsen at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > If it is fair for the anti wars to say the things they are saying > > then it is fair also to say that they are a treasonous bunch of idiots and > > liars; They are working against their own country and nation -and people, > > and in faver of a Saddam Hussien and his Hitlerian dreams of being King of > > the middle east, controlling the opec oil -and yes, taking the income for > > his own military-, annilating Isreal and exposing the very protesters > > , -through suicide bombers- ($25000 paid to the families) to their own death > > or dismemberment wherever people congregate. > > We have freedom of speech and opinion in this country. Others have > > their rights and I have mine. > > This is only partly a Minneapolis germane letter, though more > > germane than the letters saying nasty things about the President and etc. > > James Jacobsen // 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 > > > > > 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 > 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
