From jhminshall at mindspring.com Thu May 2 19:20:26 2002 From: jhminshall at mindspring.com (Janet Minshall) Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 19:20:26 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] "The Attack On Human Rights" Message-ID: -- Dear SAYMA Friends, The piece below is intended as a discussion starter. It is not my original thinking but is, rather, my condensation of an article cited in its first paragraph. I welcome any kind of discussion. My partner Free is very ill and so we may not make it to Yearly Meeting. So please let us hear from you with comments, questions or concerns now. Best Regards, Janet Minshall (I have copied the piece in the body of this e-mail and also attached it as a "Word" document for anyone who would prefer top read it properly formatted). "The Attack On Human Rights" I have recently read and thought about an article "The Attack On Human Rights" written by Michael Ignatieff, Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. The article is published in the periodical Foreign Affairs , Nov.-Dec. 2001. Ignatieff helped me put in perspective my intense concern for women and girl children living in traditional cultures such as those in Afghanistan. I will use his quotes here as an outline to address some specific issues. Ignatieff, in summing up the current discussion of human rights, indicates that the cultural challenge to the universality of human rights comes from three directions: 1. From resurgent Islam 2. From within the Western world 3. From East Asia "Taken together they have raised substantial questions about the cross-cultural validity - and hence the legitimacy - of human rights norms." THE ISLAMIST PERSPECTIVE In the process of drafting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1947, the Saudi Arabian delegation raised particular objection to the proposed sections on free marriage choice and freedom of religion. The Saudi delegate to the drafting committee made an argument which has resonated ever since in Islamic encounters with Western human rights activists. He said "the authors of the draft declaration had, for the most part, taken into consideration only the standards recognized by Western civilization and had ignored more ancient civilizations which were past the experimental stage, and the institutions of which, for example marriage, had proved their wisdom through the centuries. It was not for the committee (which produced the draft declaration) to proclaim the superiority of one civilization over all the others or to establish uniform standards for all the countries of the world." Ignatieff comments: "This was a defense of both the Islamic faith and patriarchal authority. The Saudi delegate , in effect, (further) argued that the exchange and control of women is the very (foundation) of traditional cultures, and that the restriction of female choice in marriage is central to the maintainance of patriarchal property relations." THE LEFT RESPONSE IN THE WEST For the last twenty years an influential current in Western political opinion has maintained that human rights are a "Western construct of limited applicability, a Twentieth Century fiction dependent on the rights traditions of the US, the UK and France and therefore inapplicable in cultures which do not share this historical matrix of liberal individualism. ŠHuman rights are seen from this perspective as an exercise in the cunning of Western reason: no longer able to dominate the world through direct imperial rule, the West now masks its own will to power in the impartial, universalizing language of human rights. ŠThis postmodernist relativism began as an intellectual fashion on Western university campuses but it has seeped slowly into Western human rights practice, causing all activists to pause and consider the intellectual warrant for the universality they once took for granted." THE ASIAN MODEL This approach puts family and community ahead of individual rights, and order ahead of democracy and individual freedoms. It is primarily a defense of patriarchy and hierarchy but does not posit the exchange and control of women as central to Asian culture. DISCUSSION It is simply not the case, as Islamic and Asian critics contend, that human rights forces the Western way of life on their societies. For all its individualism, human rights rhetoric does not require adherents to jettison their other cultural attachments. Women in Kabul who came to human rights agencies seeking protection from the Taliban did not wish to cease being Muslim wives and mothers; they wanted to combine their traditions with education and professional healthcare provided by women. And they hoped the agencies would defend them against being beaten and persecuted for claiming such rights. In Pakistan it is poor rural women who are criticizing the grotesque distortion of Islamic teaching that claims to justify "honor killings" in which women are burned alive when they disobey their husbands. Indeed Queen Noor, an American who married King Hussein and has lived in Jordan for more than twenty years, says that education for all Islamic women is the single highest priority as it becomes obvious when women can read that the Qur'an does not teach the attitudes and practices hostile to women that have come to prevail in some Islamic cultures. Traditional society is oppressive for individuals within it not because it fails to afford a Western way of life, but because it does not accord individuals a right to speak and be heard. "Indeed, what makes human rights demands legitimate is that they emanate from the bottom, from the powerless and voiceless. Instead of apologizing for the individualism of Western human rights standards, activists need to attend to another problem which is how to create conditions in which individuals on the bottom are free to avail themselves of such rights." "The doctrine of human rights is morally universal because it says that all human beings need certain specific freedoms "from"; it does not go on to define what their freedom "to" should comprise - it articulates standards of human decency without violating rights of cultural autonomy." "Rather than step back from human rights as a politically incorrect concept, as has been fashionable, it is time to step forward to assist those whose voices are presently silenced by brutality and the very real threat of death." We Feminist/Friends women in the West need to be engaged in finding ways to support all women held in bondage anywhere. We cannot speak for women in other cultures. We cannot set priorities for them. And we certainly cannot allow our brothers and sisters in the Western world to assist the men and the regimes which hold these women captive by arguing respect for "traditional values". To the extent that "traditional values" means a continuation of the status quo in the restriction of female choice - of the right to exchange and control women as property - then we will stand in objection. We will say "no". And some of us may even say "over my dead body". -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: The_Attack_On_Human_Rights_and. Type: application/msword Size: 73728 bytes Desc: not available URL: From freepolazzo at mindspring.com Fri May 3 02:24:08 2002 From: freepolazzo at mindspring.com (Free Polazzo) Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 02:24:08 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Well written Speech by a Jewish professor in Tel Aviv - A... Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20020503021838.039ba9d0@127.0.0.1> >Hi Friendsl A view of the ME conflict form an Israeli. > > Subject: [AL-AWDA] Speech by a Jewish professor in Tel Aviv - April > > 27th > > Reply-to: Al-Awda at yahoogroups.com > > > > > > Idan Landau’s speech at the 27th of April rally in Tel Aviv > > > > These are dark days, the darkest that we have seen since the Lebanon > > War. Twenty years have passed since that cursed war and we learned > > nothing and already forgot everything. We did not learn that blood > > and slaughter breed more blood and more slaughter. We did not learn > > that there is no force in the world that can break the spirit of > > destitute refugees ­ not a massacre, nor a semi-massacre, not tanks > > and not snipers. And we already forgot ­ forgot how callous and dark > > our leaders can be. We forgot how little value they attach to human > > life, how easily they send us to kill and be killed for the cause of > > “Our Sacred Land” and “National Honor”. Now, as then, twenty years > > ago, we begin to relearn, begin to remember, but it is so much more > > painful: a thick black and depressing line connects Zidon of 1982 to > > Jenin of 2002 and erases all that occurred between them. > > > > These are days shrouded in lies and deceit. An entire nation is > > involved in self-deception, entangled in its own lies, and the world > > watches in wonderment. The deception industry first moved into high > > gear at Camp David. A tight junta of politicians from the left and > > the right, generals and commentators, lied to us unabashedly and > > incessantly. They lied when they told us that Barak went to Camp > > David in good faith, they lied when they continued to briskly set up > > settlements while speaking in vain praise of peace, they lied in > > their announcement that they only want to destroy the infrastructure > > of terror when all their actions were intended to destroy completely > > the fabric of Palestinian life, education, health and welfare > > institutions. And above these lies is the biggest lie of all ­ the > > name “Defensive Shield”. We know this language. Neither “defense” nor > > “shield”; the “Peace of Galilee” war ­ neither “peace” nor “Galilee”; > > “targeted preventive procedures” ­ not “preventive” and certainly not > > “targeted”; “painful concessions” ­ neither ”painful” nor > > “concessions”. A heap of foul lies! > > > > Nor shall we believe the television correspondents, those obsequious > > panderers of stern-faced generals, who aim their cameras only at > > soldiers zealous with the spirit of battle, who never encountered a > > Palestinian, never a live Palestinian trembling with fear in his home > > which is devoid of food, never a dead one rotting among the ruins of > > his house. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are out there, crazed > > with despair and fear, and each and every one of them ­ it must be > > the Devil’s work ­ is invisible to our correspondents’ eyes. > > > > Bibi was right: the correspondents are scared ­ they are S-C-A-R-E-D. > > They are scared to reveal the truth, scared that we might know the > > truth, know the extent of the horror that is taking place in our > > name, here, not in Sabra and Shatila, but here! What would we do with > > such awful knowledge ­ how would we live and sleep and how would we > > know a minute of tranquility when we think of the hundreds of > > Palestinian civilians who were killed just like that, with a casual > > release of the trigger, in the collapse of the walls of their houses > > from a tank shell, in the over-extended delays at the road posts > > where the soldiers operated according to instructions ­ always > > according to instructions. They have the terror of suicides; we have > > the terror of instructions. > > > > These are forbidden words, forbidden thoughts, “it is inconceivable”, > > in the staged words of television. So the time has come for the truth > > to be conceived, to be raised and pronounced in a loud voice. There > > is a wonderful button in the remote control ­ it is called MUTE. We > > should start to use it mercilessly. You see Ron Ben Ishai on the > > screen? ­ MUTE. You see Ehud Yaari? ­ MUTE. Roni Daniel? ­ MUTE. This > > too is a form of Refusal. The MUTE Refusal. Instead, we should listen > > to the foreign networks, search the internet, contact friends, use > > the telephone ­ and let the Deception-Media talk to itself, report to > > itself, fabricate its own virtual reality ­ without us. > > > > These are dangerous days. Transfer-mongers are seated in the > > government. The IDF is led by a group of Major Generals who cannot > > distinguish between terrorist attacks and existential threats, > > between civilians and terrorists. The entire country is caught up in > > a dismal wave of racism and fascism. What more are they preparing for > > us, the deadly trio Sharon, Fuad and Mofaz? An invasion into Gaza? Is > > that what is being devised in the innermost chambers? A war of > > annihilation between the IDF and the million Palestinian refugees in > > the Gaza Strip? > > > > Jenin was child’s play compared to what might happen in the crowded > > camps of Jebbaliya and Shati. And how would it start? Will Sharon > > soberly announce that the attacks on Netzarim and Kfar Darom, the > > “rock of our existence”, cannot be tolerated any longer? Fuad will > > sigh and shrug his shoulders, Peres will mumble something about a > > political horizon, Meretz will stammer as always, the government > > legal advisor will pave the way for a Supreme Court approval, and we > > will charge ahead. > > > > These are dangerous days because the Israeli authorities have lost > > all restraint and it is impossible to know when and where the > > deterioration will stop. When the Supreme Court refrains from putting > > a halt to war crimes in the territories, when the legal advisor > > attacks the Organization for Human Rights ­ these are ominous signs. > > Maybe the beginning of the end of Israeli democracy. I don’t want to > > propagate false prophecies, don’t want to spread fear, but it is > > important that all of you in this big crowd who came here today > > understand this. The Israeli establishment has shrugged off its legal > > and moral obligation to protect human dignity and if we don’t protect > > it, no one else will. > > > > So maybe, maybe these are also days of a new beginning, of early > > signs of awakening. I say this cautiously, with the experience of > > past disappointments, and yet one cannot help sensing the strength of > > the protest rising from the left in the streets. My fellow > > conscientious objectors are growing in number ­ currently 45 are in > > prison, may they multiply. And there are demonstrations and petitions > > and food convoys. And there is a member of Knesset named Roman > > Bronfman, and even Yaffa Yarkoni is on our side. So maybe there is > > still hope. Let’s just continue doing all this, even more forcefully, > > until the machine of death and destruction is stopped. Let us refuse > > to serve in the territories, in greater numbers, let us fill prison 4 > > and prison 6, they will have to open prisons 8, 10 and 12 for us. > > Maybe they will even send us to Kziot for administrative detention. > > Why not? As far as they are concerned, half the country here deserves > > to live in closures or prisons - Palestinians, leftists, Bedouins, > > migrant workers, and anyone who insults the IDF. And let us continue > > to deluge the road posts with trucks of food and medicines, a tidal > > wave of solidarity, let us spread the truth and fight the deceit, and > > let us all be objectors to this apparatus of evil and stupidity, let > > us say NO and again NO until the day comes for us to say yes. > > > > Idan Landau > > Dept. of Foreign Literatures and Linguistics > > Ben Gurion University > > P.O. Box 653 Beer Sheva 84105 ISRAEL > > Tel: +972-8-6472324, Fax: +972-8-6472907 > > > > From moriah at preferred.com Sat May 4 10:06:00 2002 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun ) Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 07:06:00 -0700 Subject: [saymaListserv] An article from WorkingForChange.com Message-ID: <71636-NW2@mail.isisnewmedia.com> Mary Calhoun thought you would be interested in this article from WorkingForChange.com. Mary Calhoun wrote: Found at the Working Assets website, which now carries commentaries. Mary Calhoun Foxfire FM Sharon’s final solution By Alexander Cockburn http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=13248 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit WorkingForChange.com, a multifaceted, always-fresh resource center for people with progressive values. Speak out on urgent issues, read and listen to thought-provoking columnists and radio commentary, support nonprofit groups (both directly and through shopping at our online mall) and much more. http://www.workingforchange.com 2002 WorkingForChange.com From jhminshall at mindspring.com Sat May 11 13:22:22 2002 From: jhminshall at mindspring.com (Janet Minshall) Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 13:22:22 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Responses to "The Attack On Human Rights" Message-ID: -- Dear SAYMA Friends, Thanks so much for the responses to my condensation of an article from the publication Foreign Affairs sent out on 5-2-02. Your comments were quite interesting. Why is it, though, that you wouldn't write to the whole list? Janet Minshall From moriah at preferred.com Mon May 13 13:48:30 2002 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 13:48:30 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142a Appendix D - Israel/Palestine minute Message-ID: <013701c1faa6$a1b392e0$0500a8c0@oem> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142a Draft Israel/Palestine minute coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) ........................................................................ Appendix D (minute 10) - Spring Rep Meeting Minutes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (from the Administrative Assistant; Appendix D supplied by Carol Lamm, Recording Clerk, and Sharon Annis, Clerk) <|> The text below is from Appendix D, regarding Israel and Palestine, referred to by minute 10 from the 4-6-02 Rep Meeting. <|> In addition to the two minutes below, two earlier monthly meeting minutes on this concern have been presented to SAYMA -- -- Crossville FM (see minute 20, YM '01) -- Celo FM (see minute 14, Fall '01 Rep Mtg) <|> The contact for work on the draft minute is Sallie Prugh -- 3122 Monroe St, Columbia SC 29205 ingham123 at aol.com 803-254-0626 <|> West Knoxville Minute on Israeli-Palestinian Relations West Knoxville Friends are deeply disturbed by events in Palestine and Israel, especially the killing and maiming of people on both sides, the destruction of the social and economic infrastructure of Palestine, and attacks on Palestinian government officials. These actions have lost all sense of who is counter-attacking and impair the Palestinian Authority's capacity to restrain individually initiated violence against Israelis. We also strongly oppose the confiscation of land by Israeli troops and the violent ghettoization of Palestine. We are disappointed in the reporting of the American media including the press. While many Jewish people and other Israelis are peacefully protesting the government's use of force against Palestinians, the media fails to report this and instead focuses on sensationalizing the continuing violence of one side against the other. The flight of Palestinian refugees to other Arab nations puts undue economic pressure on those nations and results in those nations supporting insurgency among the Palestinians. We urge that Palestinians and Israelis acknowledge each other's humanity and recognize that continued violence will not resolve their conflicts. We call on the United States government to cease supplying weapons and intelligence to the Israeli government and instead encourage dialogue and put pressure on the Israeli government to return land to the Palestinians as required by United Nations resolutions 242 and 338, as agreed to in the 1967 accord. We demand that the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority stop the killing. We call upon them, with the support of the United States and the international community, to resume negotiations and to negotiate until they arrive at a resolution that respects the human rights of all the people of Israel and Palestine. <|> Columbia Minute on the Middle East We believe that there is that of God in the people of Israel and of Palestine, even those who are fighting and engaging in violent acts. We cherish both peoples and the lands in which they live. We believe that violence does nothing but create more violence and will never allow the people of this region to live next to each other in peace and the fullness of human joy. We acknowledge the centuries of conflict, oppression, discrimination, poverty and segregation that have led to the violence, ". . . visiting the sins of the fathers to the 3rd and 4th generations." Both sides of the conflict as well as many outside interests (groups, countries, and alliances) have caused or increased the violence. With such a weighty history, stopping the fighting and creating peace will be a long and arduous task, but it is imperative that we find ways to start. As Quakers we have struggled to suggest ways that this conflict might be resolved including economic sanctions, political pressure and supporting peace negotiations. Several Monthly Meetings have approved Minutes listing policies and activities that the international community or the United States Government should follow. This is a terrible crisis and one fraught with conflicting religious conviction, fear of retaliation and annihilation, redress of past wrongs, and struggle over power and economic control. Beyond the political responses that we as individuals may choose to make as Quakers we will continue to hold all of the people in the area in the light. We will find ways to support individuals and groups who are seeking peaceful solutions (the Israeli physicians who are going into the West Bank to treat the Palestinian people, the Israeli soldiers who are refusing to go to the West Bank to destroy homes, AFSC staff who are working on peace in the Middle East). We will actively support efforts such as the peace tax fund, which would allow us to live more fully the Quaker Peace Testimony. We will support the Quaker Meeting and School in Ramallah in their search for peaceful solutions. We will talk with our Jewish and Islamic friends, relatives and neighbors about this crisis and about our belief that there is a peaceful solution, which although difficult to achieve, will be better than violence. We will search for "ways that open" which will help lead the world to a time of peace. ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ _______________________________________ IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). Thank you! ^o^ ----------------------------------------------------- To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail message. You can also subscribe on the web at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. ------------------------------------------------------ From moriah at preferred.com Mon May 13 13:48:07 2002 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 13:48:07 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142 Minutes to discuss before YM Message-ID: <013601c1faa6$9d79b9c0$0500a8c0@oem> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142 Three "peace and social concern" minutes coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) ........................................................................ an excerpt from Spring Rep Meeting Minutes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (from the Administrative Assistant; excerpt supplied by Carol Lamm, Recording Clerk) <|> For the convenience of meetings wanting to discuss three "peace and social concern" minutes that will come before Yearly Meeting in June... <|> ...an advance excerpt from Spring '02 Rep Meeting Minutes. <|> The printed Minutes, in full (2 copies per meeting), will soon follow by postal-mail. <|> Following immediately below are minutes 10, 11 and 12 from the 4-6-02 Rep Meeting, concerned respectively with Israel/Palestine, population, and the death penalty. <|> Following in separate messages (IMP^o^ 142a, 142b,and 142c) are the texts referred to as Appendices D, E, and F. <|> Contact people for the first two minutes are -- -- Israel/Palestine: Sallie Prugh, 3122 Monroe St, Columbia SC 29205 ingham123 at aol.com 803-254-0626 -- Population: Bob McGahey, 1890 Hannah Branch Rd, Burnsville NC 28714 mcgahey2 at wnclink.com 828-675-5535 <|> If you have any questions, please contact the SAYMA office at AdminAsst at sayma.org or 276-628-5852 <|> Excerpts from Minutes of SAYMA Representative Meeting #102, April 6, 2002 <|> 10. Minute on Israel and Palestine Sallie Prugh reported on the discussion of an ad hoc committee that met to consider a possible SAYMA minute on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The committee reviewed minutes from West Knoxville and Columbia Monthly Meetings and believes that they can fruitfully be combined. The two minutes are attached as Appendix D. The committee would like to continue its work to prepare a minute to propose at yearly meeting and recommends placing the proposed minute on the agenda at yearly meeting. Friends approved. Friends discussed the need for clarity about the purpose, development and audience for minutes of concern. Friends noted that it would be valuable to discuss these issues at the monthly meeting level. Friends welcomed the clerk's offer to write a newsletter article on the use and significance of minutes of concern. <|> 11. Minute on Population A revised minute on population is ready for consideration at yearly meeting 2002. The draft minute is attached as Appendix E. Friends agreed to place the population minute on the yearly meeting agenda. <|> 12. Death Penalty Many monthly meetings have reported as requested on their actions on the death penalty. Their minutes and accounts of work on the death penalty were mailed to representatives in preparation for this meeting and are attached to these minutes as Appendix F. At yearly meeting 2001, a question arose of whether SAYMA has ever passed a minute on the death penalty. The clerk reported that a survey of the minutes of previous years has determined that SAYMA has never approved a minute on the death penalty. Friends agreed to put the creation of a committee to draft a minute on the death penalty on the agenda for yearly meeting. ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ _______________________________________ IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). Thank you! ^o^ ----------------------------------------------------- To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail message. You can also subscribe on the web at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. ------------------------------------------------------ From moriah at preferred.com Mon May 13 13:48:40 2002 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 13:48:40 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142b Appendix E - Population Minute Message-ID: <013801c1faa6$a69ce5e0$0500a8c0@oem> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142b Revised population minute coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) ........................................................................ Appendix E (minute 11) - Spring Rep Meeting Minutes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (from the Administrative Assistant; Appendix E supplied by Carol Lamm, Recording Clerk) <|> The text below is Appendix E, regarding population, referred to by minute 11 from the 4-6-02 Rep Meeting. <|> The contact for work on the draft minute is Bob McGahey -- 1890 Hannah Branch Rd, Burnsville NC 28714 mcgahey2 at wnclink.com 828-675-5535 <|> Population Minute from Celo Monthly Meeting and Cookeville Worship Group (seasoned and revised by Yearly Meeting 2001) In accordance with Friends testimonies of equality, simplicity, and harmony, we recognize the sacredness of all life, the interconnection of all living things, and the balance required to sustain an acceptable quality of life for all inhabitants of our planet. We are committed to providing all children with a safe, loving, nourishing, and habitable world in which to live. In October 1999, world human population surpassed 6 billion, having doubled since 1960. At the present rate of growth, it is likely to double again within the new century. The effects of this rapid population growth, exacerbated by excessive consumerism, threaten all of earth's creatures, placing insupportable demands on her finite resources, creating unmanageable problems of waste disposal, and intensifying environmental degradation. While remaining sensitive to the needs and values of all cultures, we acknowledge our responsibility to become informed about world population growth and the concerns it raises. Through our leadings and sharings, we will seek knowledgeable, loving, and creative ways of working towards effective and realistic solutions. These include providing education on and means of contraception for both sexes, encouragement of adoption as an alternative to having biological children, and open support for those who choose not to procreate. Recognizing that the more prosperous countries have caused and continue to cause the most serious environmental degradation, it is essential that we who have more than we need strive toward a simpler, less wasteful life-style. We offer this minute in a spirit of concern that while population stabilization may be less of an issue in our countries, we understand why larger families are important to others. We realize that for many countries without the safety network of social security and government aid programs, the large family is the primary care giver and protector of the poor. Special emphasis must be given to measures to reduce poverty, provide security for people as they age and empower women. Literacy, equal social status, and the general education of women to broaden their life choices are measures that not only improve their lives but help delay childbirth and limit family size. We will work towards a more equitable sharing of the world's resources and towards systems that will aid those in need with the assurance that this will reduce the need for large families. We urge meetings to consider using queries such as those adopted by Baltimore Yearly Meeting as an aid to the clearness for marriage process, specifically addressing the issue of family size and the consideration of adoption or foster care. Finally, we urge our government to renew contributions to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, a family planning lifeline for couples in poor countries. <|> Baltimore Yearly Meeting Queries referenced above: F. Marriage or Ceremony of Commitment under the Care of the Monthly Meeting 1. Questions to be considered by the Couple before Application to the Monthly Meeting for Marriage or Ceremony of Commitment under its Care. . . d. Have we explored our attitudes and vision for family life including: i) Our attitudes toward sexuality? ii) Whether we want children, and if so, how many? iii) How we might jointly plan and take responsibility for our family's growth in size? iv) Whether we might consider adoption or foster care? v) Our ideas about the sharing of family responsibilities? vi) The availability of family, meeting and community support? vii) How our family might reflect Friends' testimony of simplicity and concerns for the environment and world population? ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ _______________________________________ IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). Thank you! ^o^ ----------------------------------------------------- To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail message. You can also subscribe on the web at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. ------------------------------------------------------ From moriah at preferred.com Mon May 13 13:48:49 2002 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 13:48:49 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142c Appendix F - death penalty concern Message-ID: <013901c1faa6$ab8638e0$0500a8c0@oem> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142c Death penalty concern coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) ........................................................................ Appendix F (minute 12) - Spring Rep Meeting Minutes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (from the Administrative Assistant) <|> The text below is Appendix F, referred to by minute 12 from the 4-6-02 Rep Meeting, regarding the death penalty. <|> This concern does not yet have a committee or group working to draft a minute. <|> If you have any questions, please contact the SAYMA office at AdminAsst at sayma.org or 276-628-5852 <|> Meeting & Worship Group Death Penalty Activities Reported by Request of Rep Meeting 100, Minute 8 to Representative Meeting 102 - April 6, 2002 <|> Memphis (TN) FM - History of Involvement in Death Penalty Issues and Prison Ministry In 1986, Mina Johnson shared with Memphis Friends her letter to and response from Shelby County Sheriff Barksdale regarding dismal conditions for women at the Shelby County Jail. At this time, Barbara Kritchevsky was also attending meetings of the Criminal Justice Ministry with the Sheriff's Department regarding jail problems. In 1989, Bruce Stanley shared a letter from Prisoner Visitation and Support, a nation-wide alternative ministry to federal and military prisoners, particularly seeking minority or bilingual visitors for once a month visits over one to two years. We believe that this may have spurred Jere Gilley's involvement in prison visitation, letter writing, and teaching decision-making to prisoners for over two years. She also attended an annual meeting of one of these programs at a meeting house in Boston. Also during this time, in his capacity as pastoral counselor, Ron McDonald presented annual programs of preaching and singing at the women's prison for approximately five years. In January, 2002, Jonah McDonald participated in the first level of Alternatives to Violence training with Friends from Multnomah Meeting and prisoners in a local correctional facility in Oregon. This has been the extent of our prison-related ministries. In late 1996 and early 1997, Memphis Friends worked with Nashville activists to provide an anti-death penalty presence at the Memphis hearing of TN death row inmate Erskine Johnson. Susan Penn, Blake Burr-McNeal, and Blake's mother participated. Some Meetings for Learning that year were centered around death penalty issues. Friends read Dead Man Walking, attended a lecture by Sister Helen Prejean, discussed the movie, and studied FCNL materials. Kathleen Farrar invited others to join her in silent vigils to seek clarity on the issue. In 1999, the Meeting was one of several Memphis churches which sponsored "A Journey of Hope" speakers in evening meetings open to the public. Lois Robison told Friends and visitors the story of her mentally ill son's 16-year stay on death row in Texas and her work related to the death penalty. In 2000, the Meeting distributed and sent anti-death penalty post-cards to Governor Don Sundquist. The meeting considered endorsing the statement of the Memphis Ministerial Alliance against the restoration of executions in TN. Ron organized this conversation via email but there is no record of a formal endorsement. Most recently, Sarah Slocum, who has been attending Meeting during her sojourn as a Rhodes College student has been very active on the issue. She has participated in weekly street corner demonstrations sponsored by the TN Coalition to Stop State Killings for over a year and more sporadically recently. She has participated in a number of vigils as well. She was very active during the Philip Workman trial, including volunteering as a runner for the law offices defending him. She has also done a school project on public response to anti-death penalty protests. (submitted by Susan Penn) <|> Chattanooga (TN) FM Chattanooga Meeting has taken no official action on the death penalty in recent years. (More than 20 years ago we approved a minute opposing its reimposition in Tennessee; I suspect we are still bound by it, but few remember it.) Individuals, however, are quite active in the local chapter of Tennessee Coalition Against State Killing, Larry Ingle serving as convenor, Becky Ingle as treasurer, and Kay Dalzell as newsletter editor. Thus those associated with our meeting fill three of the four officer positions. We have distributed post cards addressed to the governor asking for clemency in the case of two individuals on death row. In addition, the local chapter of TCASK meets at our meeting house. We were also quite active in the Operation Hope visitation to Chattanooga two years ago. (submitted by Larry Ingle) <|> Berea (KY) FM Berea Friends Meeting demonstrates its longstanding opposition to capital punishment through its support of abolition organizations, as well as through the actions of its members in support of death penalty abolition. BFM supports the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (KCADP) with a yearly donation, and has appointed Brian Juzwik-McDonald to represent BFM at KCADP meetings. Brian sits on the KCADP board of directors, and attends bi-monthly board meetings in Frankfort. As a member of the KCADP board, Brian is updated on ongoing coalition activities as well as the status of the abolition legislation in the Kentucky Legislature. In addition, Brian is a member of the Central Kentucky chapter of KCADP, and participates in monthly meetings and other abolition activities such as death penalty vigils and public awareness campaigns. As the meeting representative to Quaker Committee on Kentucky Legislation (QCKL), Nancy Lee-Riffe keeps the meeting informed regarding death penalty abolition legislation in the Kentucky Legislature. Nancy has been an advocate for abolition of capital punishment for many years, and has been a leader in the statewide movement to ensure that the Commonwealth of Kentucky no longer executes offenders who have mental retardation. During the past year, many members of the meeting have attended meetings in Frankfort and contacted their legislators to demonstrate their opposition to capital punishment. In October, Brian and Joanna Juzwik-McDonald, Nancy Lee-Riffe, Atossa Kramer and Mary Harrell attended a joint meeting of the Kentucky House and Senate Judiciary committee devoted to discussion of death penalty bills. Several Berea Friends also visited Frankfort on February 26th of this year to meet with legislators regarding their support of death penalty abolition bills. Harry and Laura Robie, Marjorie Acevedo, Nancy Lee-Riffe and Brian Juzwik-McDonald spoke personally with two representatives, and left messages with two others regarding BFM's position on the death penalty. Although it appears unlikely that any abolition legislation will pass this current legislative session, the movement for abolition of the death penalty in Kentucky is growing. Berea Friends Meeting and its members will continue to support this movement through membership in the KCADP as well as through the actions of its individual members. <|> Boone (NC) FM - Statement on the Death Penalty Boone Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, reflecting long held Quaker testimonies and traditions that every person has value, reaffirms its opposition to violence as a solution to violence, whether in war or in punishment. Therefore, we hold that the death penalty is wrong in any conceivable circumstance and call for its abolition in the United States. As a first step toward this, we support and appreciate the movement to impose a moratorium on the death penalty. A moratorium would give legislators and people across the United States time to reflect and address issues relating to state-sanctioned killing. There are many reasons to end the use of the death penalty. It has been made clear that executing criminals does not deter the sorts of crimes for which it is applied. It has also been demonstrated that punishment by death is most often inflicted on the poor and racial minorities who are least likely to have adequate defense or equal representation. In essence the death penalty becomes vengeance and vengeance disguised as justice depreciates the concept of equal justice under law. In this cycle not only do we act as examples to other countries, but to our children as well. The message becomes clear, that violence is an acceptable means of solving problems. Executing criminals does not address the roots of violence in our society. We must set an example based on values, compassion, decency, reconciliation and fairness. This irreversible penalty will never restore a life but only compound the wrong committed. It cannot be applied equitably nor without error. We unite with other religious, peace, human and civil rights groups in voicing our opposition to the death penalty. Furthermore, we unite with the spirit of Ezekiel the Prophet who said, "As I live, says the Lord God, I have no desire for the death of the wicked. I would rather that a wicked man should mend his ways and live." (33:11) (submitted by Michael S. Harless, Clerk) <|> Atlanta (GA) FM (extracted from a minutes chronology; original AFM list available from YM office) Sep 76 Forum on death penalty and candlelight vigil on the capitol steps planned; AFM agreed to endorse an educational rally on the death penalty. Nov 76 AFM agreed to donate the use of Quaker House for the purpose of monthly meetings of the Georgia Committee Against the Death Penalty. Mar 84 "In view of the upsurge of executions, the Atlanta Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends feels compelled to affirm its opposition to the death penalty which has been a deeply felt testimony of the Friends since the establishment of our Religious society. We believe that the taking of human life by the State, in accordance with the fallible judgment of other human beings, is an absolute and irrevocable denial that there is that of God in everyone. We urge all persons to press actively in legislatures for the abolition of the death penalty and to do so as part of a broader effort to base our system upon reclamation of the offender." Apr 90 AFM endorsed a March Against the Death Penalty, and contributed to it. Aug 96 AFM approves the spirit of proposed minutes, and requests that Social Concerns Committee meet with Friends Committee Against the Death Penalty to decide on precise wording and actions to be taken, and requests that minute and recommendations be brought to business meeting. Jan 98 AFM approves a committee to draft a letter to the Governor of Texas in opposition to the death penalty. AFM asks Social Concerns Committee to develop a way for AFM to respond to death penalty cases in a consistent and ongoing basis. Oct 99 AFM approved having the Meeting listed as a supporter on a New York Times ad calling for a moratorium on executions. Aug 00 Social Concerns Committee will write a letter to the Board of Paroles and Pardons on behalf of AFM asking that the execution of Alex Williams be commuted to a life sentence. Oct 00 "The Atlanta Friends Meeting affirms its opposition to the death penalty. As a step toward the abolition of the death penalty, Atlanta Friends call on governor Barnes, our state representatives, President Clinton, and our representatives in Congress to enact and adopt legislation imposing a moratorium on executions." (submitted by AFM staff) <|> Wayfarers Meeting (Summerville GA) The co-conveners of the worship group known as Wayfarers Meeting have written the governor of Tennessee in opposition to the planned execution of one of the State's citizens. (submitted by Tom Baugh) <|> Asheville (NC) FM Dear Friend, The Asheville Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of friends (Quakers) at its Business Meeting on February 13, 2000, adopted the following minute: "In keeping with the Religious Society of Friends' traditional opposition to the death penalty, Asheville Friends Meeting endorses the American Bar Association resolution calling for a moratorium on all executions while meaningful steps are taken to "ensure that death penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially" and "to minimize the risk that innocent people my be executed." We, however, consider this only an interim move toward our vision of and commitment to the total abolition of capital punishment in North American and the United States. Asheville Friends Meeting recognizes that in making this endorsement it is joining with many other faith communities and civic groups in a nationwide movement. We wish to inform local, state, and national leaders of our action ad request that they join with us in calling for Moratorium Now." We hope you will join us in support of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue. (submitted by Hal Hogstrom) <|> Columbia (SC) FM One of our former members was very active in the organization in South Carolina against the death penalty. Before each execution there is a service at one of the local churches or the university chapel and then a vigil in front of the governor's mansion. Members of the Meeting are always a strong presence at these vigils. At Palmetto Gathering (in 2001 I believe) the kids wrote a letter to the Governor, and got the adults to write too, urging an end to the death penalty in South Carolina. That is all I can remember over the last 20 years. (submitted by Sallie Prugh) <|> Birmingham (AL) FM At Birmingham Monthly Meeting, we hang a black banner from the Meeting House throughout the day following an execution stating, "Today we mourn the death of another human being." We have had two letters to the editor published in the Birmingham News, the state's largest newspaper. (The latest generated a published response from a local "evangelist," contending that the Bible specifically condoned the death penalty, and challenging opponents to a debate on the issue.) (submitted by Paul H. Franklin, Clerk) <|> Brevard (NC) FM, 12-12-99 Minute (found in the YM office electronic files) "In keeping with the Religious Society of Friends' traditional opposition to the death penalty, Brevard Friends Meeting heartily endorses the American Bar Association resolution calling for a moratorium on all executions until meaningful steps are taken to 'ensure that death penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially' and to 'minimize the risk that innocent people may be executed.' The Meeting recognizes that in making this endorsement it is joining with many other church and civic groups in a nationwide movement labeled Moratorium Now. Our Meeting considers this as an interim move toward the total abolition of capital punishment in our beloved state and nation. We ask that other church groups and our local, county, state and national leaders be informed of our action and requested to join with us in calling for a moratorium now." <|> Crossville (TN) FM, 6-15-01 State of the Meeting Report (found in the YM office electronic files) "...statements by the Meeting have been released to local newspapers opposing the death penalty in the US." <|> Celo (NC) FM (found in the YM office electronic files) 8-20-00 Minutes, "Death Penalty: Our Minute was published both in the Yancey Common Times and the Asheville Citizen-Times. We have been contacted by Noel Nickel, People of Faith against the Death Penalty, who requests the text of our minute, suggests that we consider talking with our county commissioners supporting a resolution in favor of a moratorium, and informs us that there will be a statewide conference of People of Faith on November 11." 11-28-00 Minutes "Several people from the Meeting and AMS participated in the conference in Asheville earlier this month. Petitions have been sent to the governor in support of a moratorium on executions." 2-18-01 Minutes, "...proposed Meeting joining the People of Faith Against the Death Penalty as a congregational membership. The cost is $100. Funds would be used for educating church people on the issue. ...suggested that we contribute, but at a lesser level. Agreed to $55. We will look at it again when we prepare next year's budget." 5-20-01 State of the Meeting Report, "Several of us have been active in People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and our meeting held a vigil on the night of an execution in North Carolina." <|> Charleston (WV) FM Fortunately, West Virginia has no death penalty. Nearly every session of the legislature, a bill to reinstate it is introduced. Although people criticize our legislature as "do nothing," that is the happy outcome in the case of the death penalty. (submitted by Charles Schade) ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ _______________________________________ IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). Thank you! ^o^ ----------------------------------------------------- To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail message. You can also subscribe on the web at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. ------------------------------------------------------ From csiceloff at mindspring.com Mon May 13 15:10:13 2002 From: csiceloff at mindspring.com (COURTNEY SICELOFF) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 15:10:13 -0400 Subject: Fwd: [saymalistserv] IMP^o^ 142c Appendix F - death penalty concern Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20020513145725.00a8b040@pop.mindspring.com> Greetings, Am pleased to see the compilation of minutes regarding the death penalty. Do you have access to the date and wording of the minute of Atlanta Mtg regarding letters to be sent by the Mtg clerk to members of the Georgia Pardon and Parole Board, (and the governor, I believe,) in every instance when a date has been set for an execution--protesting the execution of the individual and reaffirming the Mtg opposition to the use of the death penalty? Amy and Susan, it might be well to attach to the minute a copy of one of the letters that have been sent. courtney These letters have been going out for at least a year, I believe. courtney >Delivered-To: sayma at kitenet.net >From: "Mary Calhoun" >To: "sayma" >Cc: , > "GuilfordGwenErickson" >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200 >Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142c Appendix F - death penalty concern >Sender: sayma-admin at kitenet.net >X-BeenThere: sayma at kitenet.net >X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.9 >List-Help: >List-Post: >List-Subscribe: , > >List-Id: Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association >List-Unsubscribe: , > >List-Archive: >Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 13:48:49 -0400 > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142c >Death penalty concern >coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) >........................................................................ >Appendix F (minute 12) - Spring Rep Meeting Minutes >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >(from the Administrative Assistant) > > ><|> The text below is Appendix F, referred to by minute 12 from the >4-6-02 Rep Meeting, regarding the death penalty. > ><|> This concern does not yet have a committee or group working to >draft a minute. > ><|> If you have any questions, please contact the SAYMA office at > AdminAsst at sayma.org or 276-628-5852 > ><|> Meeting & Worship Group Death Penalty Activities > Reported by Request of Rep Meeting 100, Minute 8 > to Representative Meeting 102 - April 6, 2002 > ><|> Memphis (TN) FM - History of Involvement in Death Penalty Issues >and Prison Ministry > In 1986, Mina Johnson shared with Memphis Friends her letter to and >response from Shelby County Sheriff Barksdale regarding dismal >conditions for women at the Shelby County Jail. At this time, Barbara >Kritchevsky was also attending meetings of the Criminal Justice Ministry >with the Sheriff's Department regarding jail problems. In 1989, Bruce >Stanley shared a letter from Prisoner Visitation and Support, a >nation-wide alternative ministry to federal and military prisoners, >particularly seeking minority or bilingual visitors for once a month >visits over one to two years. We believe that this may have spurred Jere >Gilley's involvement in prison visitation, letter writing, and teaching >decision-making to prisoners for over two years. She also attended an >annual meeting of one of these programs at a meeting house in Boston. >Also during this time, in his capacity as pastoral counselor, Ron >McDonald presented annual programs of preaching and singing at the >women's prison for approximately five years. In January, 2002, Jonah >McDonald participated in the first level of Alternatives to Violence >training with Friends from Multnomah Meeting and prisoners in a local >correctional facility in Oregon. This has been the extent of our >prison-related ministries. > In late 1996 and early 1997, Memphis Friends worked with Nashville >activists to provide an anti-death penalty presence at the Memphis >hearing of TN death row inmate Erskine Johnson. Susan Penn, Blake >Burr-McNeal, and Blake's mother participated. Some Meetings for Learning >that year were centered around death penalty issues. Friends read Dead >Man Walking, attended a lecture by Sister Helen Prejean, discussed the >movie, and studied FCNL materials. Kathleen Farrar invited others to >join her in silent vigils to seek clarity on the issue. > In 1999, the Meeting was one of several Memphis churches which >sponsored "A Journey of Hope" speakers in evening meetings open to the >public. Lois Robison told Friends and visitors the story of her mentally >ill son's 16-year stay on death row in Texas and her work related to the >death penalty. > In 2000, the Meeting distributed and sent anti-death penalty >post-cards to Governor Don Sundquist. The meeting considered endorsing >the statement of the Memphis Ministerial Alliance against the >restoration of executions in TN. Ron organized this conversation via >email but there is no record of a formal endorsement. Most recently, >Sarah Slocum, who has been attending Meeting during her sojourn as a >Rhodes College student has been very active on the issue. She has >participated in weekly street corner demonstrations sponsored by the TN >Coalition to Stop State Killings for over a year and more sporadically >recently. She has participated in a number of vigils as well. She was >very active during the Philip Workman trial, including volunteering as a >runner for the law offices defending him. She has also done a school >project on public response to anti-death penalty protests. (submitted >by Susan Penn) > ><|> Chattanooga (TN) FM > Chattanooga Meeting has taken no official action on the death >penalty in recent years. (More than 20 years ago we approved a minute >opposing its reimposition in Tennessee; I suspect we are still bound by >it, but few remember it.) > Individuals, however, are quite active in the local chapter of >Tennessee Coalition Against State Killing, Larry Ingle serving as >convenor, Becky Ingle as treasurer, and Kay Dalzell as newsletter >editor. Thus those associated with our meeting fill three of the four >officer positions. We have distributed post cards addressed to the >governor asking for clemency in the case of two individuals on death >row. In addition, the local chapter of TCASK meets at our meeting house. >We were also quite active in the Operation Hope visitation to >Chattanooga two years ago. (submitted by Larry Ingle) > ><|> Berea (KY) FM > Berea Friends Meeting demonstrates its longstanding opposition to >capital punishment through its support of abolition organizations, as >well as through the actions of its members in support of death penalty >abolition. BFM supports the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death >Penalty (KCADP) with a yearly donation, and has appointed Brian >Juzwik-McDonald to represent BFM at KCADP meetings. Brian sits on the >KCADP board of directors, and attends bi-monthly board meetings in >Frankfort. As a member of the KCADP board, Brian is updated on ongoing >coalition activities as well as the status of the abolition legislation >in the Kentucky Legislature. In addition, Brian is a member of the >Central Kentucky chapter of KCADP, and participates in monthly meetings >and other abolition activities such as death penalty vigils and public >awareness campaigns. > As the meeting representative to Quaker Committee on Kentucky >Legislation (QCKL), Nancy Lee-Riffe keeps the meeting informed regarding >death penalty abolition legislation in the Kentucky Legislature. Nancy >has been an advocate for abolition of capital punishment for many years, >and has been a leader in the statewide movement to ensure that the >Commonwealth of Kentucky no longer executes offenders who have mental >retardation. > During the past year, many members of the meeting have attended >meetings in Frankfort and contacted their legislators to demonstrate >their opposition to capital punishment. In October, Brian and Joanna >Juzwik-McDonald, Nancy Lee-Riffe, Atossa Kramer and Mary Harrell >attended a joint meeting of the Kentucky House and Senate Judiciary >committee devoted to discussion of death penalty bills. Several Berea >Friends also visited Frankfort on February 26th of this year to meet >with legislators regarding their support of death penalty abolition >bills. Harry and Laura Robie, Marjorie Acevedo, Nancy Lee-Riffe and >Brian Juzwik-McDonald spoke personally with two representatives, and >left messages with two others regarding BFM's position on the death >penalty. > Although it appears unlikely that any abolition legislation will >pass this current legislative session, the movement for abolition of the >death penalty in Kentucky is growing. Berea Friends Meeting and its >members will continue to support this movement through membership in the >KCADP as well as through the actions of its individual members. > ><|> Boone (NC) FM - Statement on the Death Penalty > Boone Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, >reflecting long held Quaker testimonies and traditions that every person >has value, reaffirms its opposition to violence as a solution to >violence, whether in war or in punishment. Therefore, we hold that the >death penalty is wrong in any conceivable circumstance and call for its >abolition in the United States. As a first step toward this, we support >and appreciate the movement to impose a moratorium on the death penalty. >A moratorium would give legislators and people across the United States >time to reflect and address issues relating to state-sanctioned killing. > There are many reasons to end the use of the death penalty. It has >been made clear that executing criminals does not deter the sorts of >crimes for which it is applied. It has also been demonstrated that >punishment by death is most often inflicted on the poor and racial >minorities who are least likely to have adequate defense or equal >representation. In essence the death penalty becomes vengeance and >vengeance disguised as justice depreciates the concept of equal justice >under law. In this cycle not only do we act as examples to other >countries, but to our children as well. The message becomes clear, that >violence is an acceptable means of solving problems. Executing criminals >does not address the roots of violence in our society. We must set an >example based on values, compassion, decency, reconciliation and >fairness. > This irreversible penalty will never restore a life but only >compound the wrong committed. It cannot be applied equitably nor without >error. We unite with other religious, peace, human and civil rights >groups in voicing our opposition to the death penalty. Furthermore, we >unite with the spirit of Ezekiel the Prophet who said, "As I live, says >the Lord God, I have no desire for the death of the wicked. I would >rather that a wicked man should mend his ways and live." (33:11) >(submitted by Michael S. Harless, Clerk) > ><|> Atlanta (GA) FM (extracted from a minutes chronology; original >AFM list available from YM office) > Sep 76 Forum on death penalty and candlelight vigil on the capitol >steps planned; AFM agreed to endorse an educational rally on the death >penalty. > Nov 76 AFM agreed to donate the use of Quaker House for the purpose >of monthly meetings of the Georgia Committee Against the Death Penalty. > Mar 84 "In view of the upsurge of executions, the Atlanta Monthly >Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends feels compelled to affirm >its opposition to the death penalty which has been a deeply felt >testimony of the Friends since the establishment of our Religious >society. We believe that the taking of human life by the State, in >accordance with the fallible judgment of other human beings, is an >absolute and irrevocable denial that there is that of God in everyone. >We urge all persons to press actively in legislatures for the abolition >of the death penalty and to do so as part of a broader effort to base >our system upon reclamation of the offender." > Apr 90 AFM endorsed a March Against the Death Penalty, and >contributed to it. > Aug 96 AFM approves the spirit of proposed minutes, and requests >that Social Concerns Committee meet with Friends Committee Against the >Death Penalty to decide on precise wording and actions to be taken, and >requests that minute and recommendations be brought to business meeting. > Jan 98 AFM approves a committee to draft a letter to the Governor of >Texas in opposition to the death penalty. AFM asks Social Concerns >Committee to develop a way for AFM to respond to death penalty cases in >a consistent and ongoing basis. > Oct 99 AFM approved having the Meeting listed as a supporter on a >New York Times ad calling for a moratorium on executions. > Aug 00 Social Concerns Committee will write a letter to the Board of >Paroles and Pardons on behalf of AFM asking that the execution of Alex >Williams be commuted to a life sentence. > Oct 00 "The Atlanta Friends Meeting affirms its opposition to the >death penalty. As a step toward the abolition of the death penalty, >Atlanta Friends call on governor Barnes, our state representatives, >President Clinton, and our representatives in Congress to enact and >adopt legislation imposing a moratorium on executions." (submitted by >AFM staff) > ><|> Wayfarers Meeting (Summerville GA) > The co-conveners of the worship group known as Wayfarers Meeting >have written the governor of Tennessee in opposition to the planned >execution of one of the State's citizens. (submitted by Tom Baugh) > ><|> Asheville (NC) FM >Dear Friend, > The Asheville Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of friends >(Quakers) at its Business Meeting on February 13, 2000, adopted the >following minute: > "In keeping with the Religious Society of Friends' traditional >opposition to the death penalty, Asheville Friends Meeting endorses the >American Bar Association resolution calling for a moratorium on all >executions while meaningful steps are taken to "ensure that death >penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially" and "to minimize >the risk that innocent people my be executed." > We, however, consider this only an interim move toward our vision of >and commitment to the total abolition of capital punishment in North >American and the United States. > Asheville Friends Meeting recognizes that in making this endorsement >it is joining with many other faith communities and civic groups in a >nationwide movement. We wish to inform local, state, and national >leaders of our action ad request that they join with us in calling for >Moratorium Now." > We hope you will join us in support of a moratorium on the use of >the death penalty. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this >issue. (submitted by Hal Hogstrom) > ><|> Columbia (SC) FM > One of our former members was very active in the organization in >South Carolina against the death penalty. Before each execution there is >a service at one of the local churches or the university chapel and then >a vigil in front of the governor's mansion. Members of the Meeting are >always a strong presence at these vigils. > At Palmetto Gathering (in 2001 I believe) the kids wrote a letter to >the Governor, and got the adults to write too, urging an end to the >death penalty in South Carolina. > That is all I can remember over the last 20 years. (submitted by >Sallie Prugh) > ><|> Birmingham (AL) FM > At Birmingham Monthly Meeting, we hang a black banner from the >Meeting House throughout the day following an execution stating, "Today >we mourn the death of another human being." > We have had two letters to the editor published in the Birmingham >News, the state's largest newspaper. (The latest generated a published >response from a local "evangelist," contending that the Bible >specifically condoned the death penalty, and challenging opponents to a >debate on the issue.) (submitted by Paul H. Franklin, Clerk) > ><|> Brevard (NC) FM, 12-12-99 Minute (found in the YM office >electronic files) > "In keeping with the Religious Society of Friends' traditional >opposition to the death penalty, Brevard Friends Meeting heartily >endorses the American Bar Association resolution calling for a >moratorium on all executions until meaningful steps are taken to 'ensure >that death penalty cases are administered fairly and impartially' and to >'minimize the risk that innocent people may be executed.' The Meeting >recognizes that in making this endorsement it is joining with many other >church and civic groups in a nationwide movement labeled Moratorium Now. >Our Meeting considers this as an interim move toward the total abolition >of capital punishment in our beloved state and nation. We ask that other >church groups and our local, county, state and national leaders be >informed of our action and requested to join with us in calling for a >moratorium now." > ><|> Crossville (TN) FM, 6-15-01 State of the Meeting Report > (found in the YM office electronic files) > "...statements by the Meeting have been released to local newspapers >opposing the death penalty in the US." > ><|> Celo (NC) FM (found in the YM office electronic files) > 8-20-00 Minutes, "Death Penalty: Our Minute was published both in >the Yancey Common Times and the Asheville Citizen-Times. We have been >contacted by Noel Nickel, People of Faith against the Death Penalty, who >requests the text of our minute, suggests that we consider talking with >our county commissioners supporting a resolution in favor of a >moratorium, and informs us that there will be a statewide conference of >People of Faith on November 11." > 11-28-00 Minutes "Several people from the Meeting and AMS >participated in the conference in Asheville earlier this month. >Petitions have been sent to the governor in support of a moratorium on >executions." > 2-18-01 Minutes, "...proposed Meeting joining the People of Faith >Against the Death Penalty as a congregational membership. The cost is >$100. Funds would be used for educating church people on the issue. >...suggested that we contribute, but at a lesser level. Agreed to $55. >We will look at it again when we prepare next year's budget." > 5-20-01 State of the Meeting Report, "Several of us have been active >in People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and our meeting held a >vigil on the night of an execution in North Carolina." > ><|> Charleston (WV) FM > Fortunately, West Virginia has no death penalty. Nearly every >session of the legislature, a bill to reinstate it is introduced. >Although people criticize our legislature as "do nothing," that is the >happy outcome in the case of the death penalty. (submitted by Charles >Schade) > >~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ > >_______________________________________ >IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" > >is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details >to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free >list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, >post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, >corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call >276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). >Thank you! ^o^ >----------------------------------------------------- >To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, >sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, >writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail >message. You can also subscribe on the web at >http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. >------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list >sayma at kitenet.net >http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma From lingle at bellsouth.net Mon May 13 20:22:23 2002 From: lingle at bellsouth.net (Larry Ingle) Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 20:22:23 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142a Appendix D - Israel/Palestine minute Message-ID: <20020514002428.VKLQ11666.imf10bis.bellsouth.net@[209.214.40.187]> Chattanooga meeting discussed this matter at its meeting for business yesterday (the 12th) and decided, as our clerk will probably communicate, that we wanted to reaffirm out commitment to the 1661 peace testimony. One reason we chose to do this is that we are not sure to whom minutes like this are addressed and what their purpose is. Are they designed to influence public opinion? (If so, they need to be provisions for circulating them more widely than merely our minutes.) Are they designed to petition members of Congress or the administration, either U.S., Israeli, or the Palestinian authority? (If so, they need to be sent to those people.) Are they designed to express our own stand? (If so, they should require less laboring over them than they are getting right now, or even perhaps more laboring with less specifics. We tended to this last position, which is why we believe that a reaffirmation of the peace testimony is adequate.) I trust that those who are working on such statements will give some thoughts to these questions and will be prepared to respond to them at SAYMA. For what it's worth. Larry Ingle Chattanogoa Meeting ---------- >From: "Mary Calhoun" >To: "sayma" >Cc: , "GuilfordGwenErickson" >Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 142a Appendix D - Israel/Palestine minute >Date: Mon, May 13, 2002, 1:48 PM > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > IMP ^o^ Bulletin 142a > Draft Israel/Palestine minute > coming before Yearly Meeting (June 20-23) > ........................................................................ > Appendix D (minute 10) - Spring Rep Meeting Minutes > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > (from the Administrative Assistant; > Appendix D supplied by Carol Lamm, Recording Clerk, and Sharon > Annis, Clerk) > > > <|> The text below is from Appendix D, regarding Israel and > Palestine, > referred to by minute 10 from the 4-6-02 Rep Meeting. > > <|> In addition to the two minutes below, two earlier monthly meeting > minutes on this concern have been presented to SAYMA -- > -- Crossville FM (see minute 20, YM '01) > -- Celo FM (see minute 14, Fall '01 Rep Mtg) > > <|> The contact for work on the draft minute is Sallie Prugh -- > 3122 Monroe St, Columbia SC 29205 > ingham123 at aol.com 803-254-0626 > > <|> West Knoxville Minute on Israeli-Palestinian Relations > > West Knoxville Friends are deeply disturbed by events in Palestine > and Israel, especially the killing and maiming of people on both sides, > the destruction of the social and economic infrastructure of Palestine, > and attacks on Palestinian government officials. These actions have > lost all sense of who is counter-attacking and impair the Palestinian > Authority's capacity to restrain individually initiated violence against > Israelis. > We also strongly oppose the confiscation of land by Israeli troops > and the violent ghettoization of Palestine. We are disappointed in the > reporting of the American media including the press. While many Jewish > people and other Israelis are peacefully protesting the government's use > of force against Palestinians, the media fails to report this and > instead focuses on sensationalizing the continuing violence of one side > against the other. The flight of Palestinian refugees to other Arab > nations puts undue economic pressure on those nations and results in > those nations supporting insurgency among the Palestinians. > We urge that Palestinians and Israelis acknowledge each other's > humanity and recognize that continued violence will not resolve their > conflicts. We call on the United States government to cease supplying > weapons and intelligence to the Israeli government and instead encourage > dialogue and put pressure on the Israeli government to return land to > the Palestinians as required by United Nations resolutions 242 and 338, > as agreed to in the 1967 accord. We demand that the Israeli government > and the Palestinian Authority stop the killing. We call upon them, with > the support of the United States and the international community, to > resume negotiations and to negotiate until they arrive at a resolution > that respects the human rights of all the people of Israel and > Palestine. > > <|> Columbia Minute on the Middle East > > We believe that there is that of God in the people of Israel and of > Palestine, even those who are fighting and engaging in violent acts. We > cherish both peoples and the lands in which they live. > We believe that violence does nothing but create more violence and > will never allow the people of this region to live next to each other in > peace and the fullness of human joy. > We acknowledge the centuries of conflict, oppression, > discrimination, poverty and segregation that have led to the violence, > ". . . visiting the sins of the fathers to the 3rd and 4th > generations." > Both sides of the conflict as well as many outside interests > (groups, countries, and alliances) have caused or increased the > violence. With such a weighty history, stopping the fighting and > creating peace will be a long and arduous task, but it is imperative > that we find ways to start. > As Quakers we have struggled to suggest ways that this conflict > might be resolved including economic sanctions, political pressure and > supporting peace negotiations. Several Monthly Meetings have approved > Minutes listing policies and activities that the international community > or the United States Government should follow. > This is a terrible crisis and one fraught with conflicting religious > conviction, fear of retaliation and annihilation, redress of past > wrongs, and struggle over power and economic control. > Beyond the political responses that we as individuals may choose to > make as Quakers we will continue to hold all of the people in the area > in the light. We will find ways to support individuals and groups who > are seeking peaceful solutions (the Israeli physicians who are going > into the West Bank to treat the Palestinian people, the Israeli soldiers > who are refusing to go to the West Bank to destroy homes, AFSC staff who > are working on peace in the Middle East). We will actively support > efforts such as the peace tax fund, which would allow us to live more > fully the Quaker Peace Testimony. We will support the Quaker Meeting and > School in Ramallah in their search for peaceful solutions. We will talk > with our Jewish and Islamic friends, relatives and neighbors about this > crisis and about our belief that there is a peaceful solution, which > although difficult to achieve, will be better than violence. We will > search for "ways that open" which will help lead the world to a time of > peace. > > ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 051102 ~~~~~~ > > _______________________________________ > IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" > > is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details > to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free > list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, > post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, > corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org or call > 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). > Thank you! ^o^ > ----------------------------------------------------- > To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server, > sayma at kitenet.net. You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net, > writing only the word subscribe in the body of your e-mail > message. You can also subscribe on the web at > http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. > ------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list > sayma at kitenet.net > http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma From perryt at bellsouth.net Sun May 19 14:09:41 2002 From: perryt at bellsouth.net (Perry Treadwell) Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 14:09:41 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] 2002 Gathering Message-ID: <3CE7EA65.C66BAFE1@bellsouth.net> Just returned from Normal, Il. No jokes please. It's a beautiful, tight campus with great facilities. There is still time to register. It has the best facilities for junior gathering we have seen in years. Get on the web and get registered. www.fgcquaker.org/gathering Perry From bright_crow at mindspring.com Wed May 22 07:33:42 2002 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Michael Austin Shell) Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 07:33:42 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] FWD: NY Times Op/Ed, "How the Settler Suburbs Grew" Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020522073307.009f5d40@pop.mindspring.com> Friends, This is a very clear analysis and critique of both the history current problem of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Blessed Be, Michael. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> How the Settler Suburbs Grew May 21, 2002 By DAVID NEWMAN 200,000 Israelis live on captured land. They can't all stay. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/21/opinion/21NEWM.html?ex=1023019251&ei=1&en=72a24e9bfb544fb2 From bright_crow at mindspring.com Fri May 24 18:37:57 2002 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Michael Austin Shell) Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 18:37:57 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] FWD: JJDP Coalition: URGENT JUVENILE EXECUTION ALERT Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20020524183725.009fbc50@pop.mindspring.com> -----Original Message----- From: Jill Ward [mailto:jward at childrensdefense.org] Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 2:30 PM Subject: JJDP Coalition: URGENT JUVENILE EXECUTION ALERT FROM SADIE ROSENTHAL WITH THE JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY INITIATIVE **************************************************************************** ***************** Texas is scheduled to execute juvenile offender Napoleon Beazley this coming Tuesday, May 28th. Please contact the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles immediately [Gerald Garrett, Chairman, Phone: (512) 463-1679 Fax: (512) 463-8120] to urge them to grant clemency for Napoleon Beazley. For in depth information on this case, including the Clemency Petition and Cert Petition; letters from state, national, and international organizations urging clemency; and media coverage of the case please visit the web at http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/beazley.html. Napoleon Beazley's execution date is the first of four scheduled for this summer, three in Texas and one in Missouri. Please join the American Bar Association and others in protesting all four of these execution dates: * Christopher Simmons, Missouri, June 5 http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/simmons.html * T.J. Jones, Texas, August 8 http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/juvdp.html * Toronto Patterson, Texas, August 28 http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/patterson.html