MH: >>>And, since I am not a person charged with making policy or creating solutions for the City of Mpls, it probably would be more appropriate for people to contact our elected officials to give them a piece of your mind and demands solutions from them.<<
JP: Very interesting point Margaret, I wrote you that I disagreed with it the first time it was made when Jim Graham said it off list to both of us, is this part of your "simple 'plan' for pointing things out", regurgitating other people's assertions? And since you put it, I'll reaffirm what I said before, that in a very general sense I believe that dealing with social justice and social issues are everyone's responsibility, we all simply have different priorities and thus focus our efforts on different problems. The passion that you bring to homelessness, someone else may bring to AIDs or domestic violence, each very important, and each worthwhile. But the moment that you call yourself a "political activist" you become charged with making policy and creating solutions. You have taken on the mantle and thus it is your responsibility. It is not enough to complain that things are not good enough, if you want to elevate yourself beyond complainer to advocate and activist, then you must be willing to create solutions and work towards them. Since you have stated that you refuse to get together and work on solutions (outside of inviting me and now the List to your "forum"), I am still unclear as to what you are trying to accomplish with these methods. The post that you forwarded from Lydia Howell stated that: "The work that Margaret Hastings continues to do is not only morally RIGHT, it's the BEST of what REAL democracy looks like. The most basic decency (in even middle class folks) OUGHT to mean supporting the solutions that exist to end homelessness." And I guess I'm just unclear how you reconcile that with refusing to work with people who offer you resources and support and work that amounts to pointing things out. You don't seem to be supporting solutions, but rather chasing the Mayor to find out his feelings on bridge rods. Isn't the best of democracy listening to all opinions and then working to find common grounds and solutions? Isn't the best of democracy giving as many people as possible a voice and then following the will of the people as best you can? Since you've already stated that you expect a low turn out because of the weather, I'll again offer to get together with you and anyone else serious on homelessness, and I can provide an indoor meeting space that will be warm. I'll even provide coffee. We can discuss the solutions that Jim and I suggested and many more. We could even plan a Summit on Homelessness. Think of it, a couple of days with experts and advocates, bringing together public officials, citizens and leaders to work and develop solutions. Much harder to ignore than one person standing outside a fundraiser asking about someone's feelings on bridge rods, and the potential to create real sustainable solutions. So how about it Margaret? Another solution offered, another opportunity with resources, that you may turn down like the other offers, but it's out there, ready for the taking if you're serious about this. Jonathan Palmer Victory REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
