gender diversity, racial diversity Re: [CIMC-work] Proposal: A call for a unified IMC response toZionist solic...

Wed Jun 30 06:33:22 PDT 2004

[excerpt from below]

>Let me also note 
>that we should wholeheartedly support the push to expand gender diversity and 
>racial diversity in this collective. 

Chris G., CIMC,

I support this as an ongoing goal for the Chicago Independent Media
Center, and would welcome strategy proposals and assessment criteria
for seeing it realized.

Chris K.

___

Torture scandal becomes focus of political warfare within US government
circles 
wsws.org/articles/2004/jun2004/bush-j26.shtml

Iraq: Bush Looks for the Exit
www.truthout.org/docs_04/062604H.shtml

Lenin on the National Question
www.marxist.com/Theory/lenin_on_the_national_question.html

See the video from which Michael Moore borrowed "Fahrenheit 9/11:" that
video is Alex Jones' (infowars.com) "911: the Road to Tyranny,"
available now on the Internet Archive, along with its sequel, "Masters
of Terror."   infowars.com

Photoillustrations by Chris Kaihatsu
community.webshots.com/user/ckaihatsu/

ChrisGeovanis at aol.com wrote:
>I continue to support Chris K.'s proposal initiative. However, it seems 
>apparent from recent exchanges that this collective does not have complete 
>agreement or understanding of what Zionism is, let alone why it is problematic and why 
>a proposal re Zionist solicitations to global has merit. So: I propose that 
>we actually take up this proposal first for discussion and consensus within our 
>collective before we forward anything onto global.
>
>I am also perplexed by some of the language in recent posts, specifically:
>
>"I admire that the pink people take a stand on racial issues. It is useful to 
>talk to the colored people about what their positions actually are." Thomas 
>Yun, Tue Jun 29
>
>I'm not sure what this means. Thomas, do you mean to suggest that people of 
>color -- specifically Palestinians -- have not rallied in with an opinion on 
>Zionism? (You did mean people of color rather than 'colored people', right? 
>Because if you had used the latter term to refer to the people of color I know in 
>their presence, they would first think about punching you out, and then write 
>you off as an asshole not worthy of even dignifying that kind of crack with a 
>response. I'll assume that in your typing haste, you just got it wrong.) If 
>that's the case, you should know that among the many Palestinians with whom I 
>have worked over the years, I have yet to meet one who adopts a 'moderate' 
>stance on the issue of Zionism. Their understanding of zionism is quite simple: 
>zionism is racism. Or should your statement above be read instead as an assertion 
>that 'pink people' in the collective are out of pocket for publicly stating 
>their opposition to Zionism, a racist ideology, and that only people of color 
>should rally in with an opinion on this?  If the latter interpretation is more 
>accurate, that would then imply that any anti-racist solidarity work among 
>pink people lacks legitimacy. You didn't mean that, did you?
>
>"If there is some need for folks to pound their chests about how strongly 
>they feel about ethnic cleansing and racial violence... whatever. (Force 
>paragraph.) As far as Zionism goes, I am not intelligent enough nor informed enough as 
>others are to simply equate Zionism with ethnic cleansing and racial 
>violence." Thomas Yun, Tue Jun 29
>
>Hence my assertion that we should have a discussion within this collective to 
>clear up any confusion on this issue. I would be happy to propose a number of 
>Palestinians in Chicago that we could invite to a collective meeting to speak 
>to this issue. We already have other people -- including people of Jewish 
>heritage -- in this collective that can speak to the issue of Zionism, so I feel 
>confident that 'both sides' will be represented. Oh, wait, all the Jews in the 
>collective are anti-Zionist. Perhaps we should invite someone from the 
>Anti-Defamation League or AIPAC to speak to the issue instead. Or perhaps people 
>should just read some fucking books and talk to some Palestinians who've had the 
>misfortune to live under Israeli occupation to get a sense of how 'moderate' 
>our position on Zionism should be.
>
>While we're at it, why not take up the issue of our position on racism in 
>general? Perhaps people are also confused about that. We could invite Stan 
>Willis, Gwen Hogan, George Morris, Costella Cannon, Jose Lopez, Emma Lozano and May 
>Molina -- oops, sorry, racism's killed her already -- to speak on behalf of 
>people of color. And to make sure the other side is represented, we could invite 
>police superintendent Phil Cline and the local chapter of the KKK to present 
>their views. Oops, Cline IS a member of that chapter. We'll have to find 
>someone else. How about Terry Hillard, the former police superintendent, a man of 
>African heritage, and a person who turned a blind eye to rampant racism in his 
>own department while he was head of detectives -- and while his detective, 
>white boy Jon Burge, was running a torture ring that terrorized people of color. 
>That mix of folks ought to make for a healthy exchange of opinions on the 
>matter. Or, alternatively, people could again read some fucking books and actually 
>share struggle with people FROM AFFECTED COMMUNITIES who are working on 
>issues of racism, zionism, economic oppression, et al.
>
>Let me also point out that the last time I checked, the genetic 
>predisposition to the color of one's skin did not necessarily favorably impact a person's 
>political positions, even on critical issues that impact other people who share 
>their skin color or their heritage. Just ask J.C. Watts, Clarence Thomas, 
>Colin Powell or Condi Rice. 
>
>For the record, I can actually produce the people I named above as 
>anti-racists and anti-zionists, because I work with them, support them, break bread with 
>them, and do media work that advocates on issues of critical importance to 
>them. They are my comrades. I have credibility with them because I have earned 
>it. Don't take my word for it. Ask them. Why am I "pounding my chest about how 
>strongly I feel about ethnic cleansing and racial violence", to crib Thomas' 
>words in one of the posts cited above? Because there seems to be a lack of 
>clarity among some in this collective on some of these critical issues. And guess 
>what? One's skin color alone does not lend credibility to one's capacity to 
>pronounce opinions on these issues. One's track record of struggle and 
>commitment to principle does.
>
>We should take up Chris K.'s proposal -- reworded for clarity -- in this 
>collective first to clear this confusion up once and for all. Let me also note 
>that we should wholeheartedly support the push to expand gender diversity and 
>racial diversity in this collective. Let me also note that it's important for 
>people to know that many members of disenfranchised communities feel that they 
>are represented here -- because their comrades are here. We should redouble our 
>efforts to broaden our diversity -- and I would argue, along class lines as 
>well. What marks the condition of most people of color in this city is that they 
>also happen to be working class. The core constitencies of this collective 
>are not served by creeping bourgeois individualism -- a praxis opposed by 
>anarchists (at least the ones who know what anarchism means...don't take my word for 
>it, either; read Michael Bakunin and Peter Kropotkin, two of anarchism's best 
>known theorists), communists, and leftists across lines of tendency and 
>party.
>
>In preparation for these little study groups, I'd suggest that participants 
>take a look at Indymedia's evolving principles of unity. Language in those 
>principles which has NEVER been contentious clearly states: "All IMC's shall be 
>committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not discriminate, 
>including discrimination based upon race, gender, age, class or sexual orientation."
>
>Zionism is antithetical to that principle. 
>
>christine
>
>In a message dated 6/29/2004 1:55:51 PM Central Standard Time, 
>mayday at riseup.net writes:
>
>> Subj: Re: [CIMC-work] Proposal: A call for a unified IMC response to 
>> Zionist solicitations 
>>  Date: 6/29/2004 1:55:51 PM Central Standard Time
>>  From: mayday at riseup.net
>>  To: DickReilly at aol.com
>>  CC: imc-chicago-working at lists.indymedia.org
>>  Sent from the Internet 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks, Dick,
>> 
>> I don't like what you are implying about my position or lack thereof.  You
>> don't know what it is.  I admire that the pink people take a stand on
>> racial issues.  It is useful to talk to the colored people about what
>> their positions actually are.
>> 
>> paz,
>> t
>> y
>> 
>> DickReilly at aol.com said:
>> >Hi all.
>> >I agree as well with Chris K.s efforts and commend his work to date.
>> >
>> >BTW, my only concerns about 'language'of any proposal is not that it
>> >creates controversy or might be seen by some as 'polarizing', or
>> >uncomfortable,  but that it remains accurate and factual. I assuredly am
>> >not a 'moderate' on the issue of racist ideology and ethinic cleansing. I
>> >advocate a policy of zero tolerance for both.
>> >
>> >- Dick Reilly
>> >
>> >- Dick Reilly
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >Imc-chicago-working mailing list
>> >Imc-chicago-working at lists.indymedia.org
>> >http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-chicago-working
>> >
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> "The Day After Tomorrow" is rated Pg-13. Millions of people die, but
>> nobody swears, copulates, undresses or takes drugs.
>> 
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>
>
>
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