Marc's brilliant letter inspired me to take it from a different perspective. But where should I send it?
The knowledge that we cannot have peace without justice is the wellspring of the Peace & Justice Center�s mission. You have been a loyal supporter of the Center, so I assume you have shared this wisdom. Presuming a bit further, you probably also understood the danger of forsaking one of these goals for the other. Justice without peace is revenge, and peace without justice is oppression.
The Peace & Justice Center, faithfully pursuing its stated mission, has presented a bill of particulars on an issue that is near and dear to your heart. In response you have thrown the whole thing over. Rather than debate the points with your fellows in the Peace & Justice community or issue a factual rebuttal, you have withdrawn all your support from the Peace & Justice Center and encouraged others to do the same. One cannot escape the impression that in this instance the Peace & Justice Center may have "struck a nerve", a common enough event in the struggle for justice and peace.
Many of us have become committed to the struggle for that very reason. Something "struck a nerve" somewhere deep inside us, often a particular violent injustice paid for with our taxes. Becoming aware of it challenged our root assumptions and excuses. It made us think hard about what we thought we knew, and whether our sources had been telling us the real story. It made us consider again what it means to be a decent human being, an honest American. It �hurt our eyes open.�
Perhaps you are dealing with something akin to that now. It can be very difficult to acknowledge the depth of injustice and misery wrought by policies we have long thought to be just and wise. Although it deeply offended you, the Peace & Justice Center�s statement on the 'Israel-Palestine Conflict' is an accurate reflection of the current situation and the world�s legal consensus for its solution. It correctly identifies the victims and the dire need for justice in this thoroughly illegal war. I suspect it�s this interpretation of justice that is, if you�ll pardon the _expression_, striking your nerve.
I�m sure you�ll agree that the global movement for peace and justice is committed to respect for international law and the Geneva Conventions. Wherever we struggle against violence and injustice, we try to restore international law, which we regard as fundamental to peace. We also bear witness to the crimes we are trying to stop, in order to inform the public, press for justice, and honor the victims.
These are the essentials. And they are the points covered by the Peace & Justice Center�s statement on Israel and Palestine. If you feel there is an error of legal interpretation, I think we all would welcome your presentation. If you feel that the statement bore false witness, I would have to flatly disagree. A mountain of public evidence supports every point, and I can provide it. If you feel the statement should include additional points, why not submit your emendations for public consideration? Why quit and influence others to withdraw from the Peace & Justice Center? Will you damage all of the Center�s good work because it is hard for you to face the injustice in a single peace and justice issue?
I hope not. I hope you will rejoin us in the effort to bear honest witness and seek impartial justice, no matter how uncomfortable the facts may be. It is a hard road to peace, but it appears to be the only way.
Sincerely,
James Brooks
Worcester,
etc.
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