Greg Luce said: "Rather than endlessly debating Michael Atherton's abstention and/or whether he exhibited hypocrisy in his public statements, I'd rather hear about the arguments--pro and con--about trying to get more people engaged in PPERRIA, particularly students."
I'll go for that. First of all, I need to say that I was in favor of admitting students. I was in favor of admitting students because I believe that we need to admit anyone to the organization who wishes the PPERR neighborhood well. I also believe that there is much that can be done for the joint benefit of both students and the other residents. The reasons for opposition were varied. (And, since I opposed all those reasons, perhaps someone who accepted the arguments would be a better one to relate them.) I would say that the expressed arguments are able to belong to numerous organizations that already represent their interests and none of the other residents of the neighborhood may join any of the student's organizations. So, if everyone has their own affinity groups, why must students also participate in one that has primarily been for permanent residents of the neighborhood? Others felt that PPERRIA as a 103-year-old affinity group for the permanent residents has the right to maintain that affinity relationship. An organization of permanent residents is NOT one of the suspect affinity groups based on race, color, creed, etc. And, as long as it's not one of the suspect classes, people are entitled to belong to any affinity group that they choose. It may be that some of the opposition is based on fear of the take-over of the organization by those who do not share the same interests as the current members. The majority of the members do not share that concern but, unfortunately, it is not yet a super-majority of the membership. Hopefully, someday that will change. Steve Cross Prospect Park 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
