[CIMC-work] IMC process: anti-semitism, question to collectives.

Fri Dec 12 17:48:38 PST 2003

Hi gang, 

in a short, can people respond to this question: do  individuals in your collective feel there is anti-semitism within the 
collective?

in long, a dc person has brought up the question of anti-semitism existing in his collective and posed the question to the 
rest of the collectives on imc-process if they have experienced such.  Somewhere a proposal seems to have been made to 
form an anti-semitism list.  Houston ariculated a very good (IMO) response that no, not a specific anti-semitism list, but 
perhaps an anti-oppression list would be suitable.

for longest, keep reading....

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From: Eric <freedom at riseup.net>
Sent: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 18:57:36 -0500
To: <imc-process at indymedia.org>
CC: imc-us-process at lists.indymedia.org
Subject: [imc-us-process] Re: [IMC-Process] Anti-semitism and the IMC

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En inglés y español

The anti-semitism discussion seems to have moved to us-process.  I wish to 
respond here that my read of John Windmueller's original inquiry is that it 
was personal, heartfelt, and much more a question than a condemnation or 
accusation.  He said he had felt something, wondered if others in other IMCs 
had felt anything similar.  The response to his post been rather hostile, I 
believe.  I think anyone writing as thoughtful and reserved a post as John 
did diserved much more sensitive responses than some of the responses have 
been.  Perhaps John desereved even more consideration because of how much he 
has given of himself to Indymedia.  We can and must treat each other better 
if we are to carry out our mission.  John asked a simple question, do 
individuals in your collective feel there is anti-semitism within the 
collective.  Please bring the question to your collective.  Except for 
Houston, I am not sure this has been done.  It is a question I would like to 
know the answer to.

Eric (speaking for himself)

Here is the Houston Response:
> In response to the calls for an anti-semitism listserv, Houston has
> consensed on the following statement:
>
> Houston recommends that no "anti-semitism" list be created and that those
> interested in such a list consider instead an "anti-racism" or an
> "anti-oppression" list.
>
> The Principles of Unity stress equality, sharing of resources and building
> diversity. Instead of isolating individual oppressed groups discussing
> discrimination against them, the matter should be dealt with collectively
> as a dynamic between privilege and oppression.
>
> Creation of an anti-semitism list would imply that anti-semitism is either
> greater than, or different from other forms of racial, ethnic and/or
> religious discrimination, or at least that it is best dealt with separately
> from other struggles against oppression.  These ideas are themselves
> oppressive, isolating and inconsistent with the Principles of Unity.
>
> We find the term "anti-semitism" not only inaccurate because all Jews are
> not semites and all semites are not Jews, but also elitist because only
> this one racial / religious group has it's own word for its oppression.
>
> None of the members of our collective have witnessed enough racial, ethnic
> or religious oppression in the IMC to be inspired to start up an
> anti-oppression list right now.  In saying this, we are not implying that
> racial and religious oppression doesn't exist in the indymedia network, or
> that we are unconcerned with oppression; clearly, it is a central focus of
> our participants' activism and journalism.
>
> If there is a need for an anti-racism/oppression IMC group, it should not
> be oppressive itself by disregarding the needs of smaller or less empowered
> groups.  Those who undertake such work should do so for the benefit of all
> racial / ethnic/ religious groups.
>
> To give a concrete example: imagine an Somali American who feels that she
> has been discriminated against in her local collective in Montana.  Would
> it make more sense for her to reach out and try to find other Somali IMC
> people who feel discrimination and want to form a support group with her or
> instead have a group which would be welcoming and useful to her just
> because she feels she is experiencing racial / religious oppression?
>
> Peace,
> Nick, Karla and Tom (and consensed on by the Houston IMC collective)

On Sunday 30 November 2003 05:31 am, John Windmueller wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm writing this as just an individual.
>
> I've been having increasingly horrible experiences trying to deal with
> what I perceive to be anti-semitic treatment and attitudes at the my
> local IMC collective (the DC IMC).  It's frustrating, disheartening,
> exhausting, and has reached the point that it's led me to question
> whether or not I can stay involved with Indymedia.
>
> I know from discussions that many women in the IMC must have faced a
> somewhat similar dilemma... loving the project with all their heart and
> labor, but wondering if they can or should stay a part of a group where
> there is sexism and raising an issue is ignored, discounted, or even
> ridiculed.  I don't mean to overly equate anti-semitism with sexism, but
> it did get me thinking...
>
> It seems like the women's list has been a powerful and constructive way
> for women who are part of indymedia to share their experiences in a safe
> forum and to work together to raise issues in constructive ways that
> helps them be heard.
>
> I'd be happy to learn that my experience was a rare oddity.  But if it's
> not, and there are other IMC members in the global network that would
> like to create a list to discuss and work on issues of anti-semitism
> collectively, then I'd like to see what can be done to help make that
> happen.
>
> Thanks,
> John
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> imc-process mailing list
> imc-process at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-process
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