Kenoli: I agree whole-heartedly with your comments, and feel that my heart is in your pen. If Rumsfeld and Ashcroft get their way, then America will indeed have lost our reason for being, and the world will be poorer.
I believe, as always, that the answer is talk, courageous talk. Jim Metcalf -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of kenoli Oleari Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 12:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Concerns and Tactics Dear Friends -- I am listening to Rumsfeld on NPR and realizing that the clear logic of the strategy the government has embarked on is to repeat the Afghanistan tactic in numerous other parts of the world while supporting the suppression of political "enemies" in the countries of "allies" (as is happening in Indonesia and other places already using unsupported charges of association with Al Qaeda or "terrorism"). A repeat of the "cold war". I just heard a taped speech by William Kunstler (given before 1995) describing the amazing extent to which the bill of rights had already (even by then) been eroded by the Supreme Court. Ashcroft is asking for the re-instatement of the cointelpro program, with the intention of infiltrating and interrogating domestic political religious and social groups (among other equally draconian measures). This is all stuff we lived through, fought, and thought we had seen the Congress acknowledge as unconstitutional, passing prohibitions which are all now being reversed. Congress and the population in general seem oblivious to any concerns these actions may raise (even if there does seem to be an increase in interest in being more aware about larger global issues). I am increasingly feeling that we are reaching the point of needing to take extraordinary action regarding all of this, and truly not sure how to respond. In the 60s I would have assumed without hesitation that these events would call for mass demonstrations and civil disobedience. I am not driven in this direction immediately and don't see the energy for it in society at large. I am interested in hearing from others about how they are feeling and thinking regarding the need for action and what is appropriate action. I am aware of the wonderful efforts that many are doing holding "world cafe" type conversations in the wake of 911. On various listservs people have suggested Future Search, Open Space and other similar interventions. Is it important to respond specifically to the war tactics and erosion of civil liberties? If so, what is the the best form with which to do this? Is it too early to respond specifically? Is broad conversation the best tactic for now? Is the best approach to take this opportunity to provide people with "new" experiences in the form of these other process approaches? It seems like we are in an era when a shift in tactics (from those we used in the 60s and 70s) may be critical and possible. I am still not fully clear about the most appropriate way to approach these developing realities. I would love to hear from you regarding these questions. In (a new version of) "solidarity" (can we avoid polarization this time?), Kenoli -- Kenoli Oleari, Horizons of Change, http://www.horizonsofchange.com 1801 Fairview Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 Voice Phone: 510-601-8217, Fax: 510-595-8369, Email: [email protected] (or click on: mailto://[email protected]) * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
