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This is proposal 002-14 to Denouncing Religious ViolencePlease read the proposal, and confine any comments to the proposal only. Designate your wishes by using "agree", “block”, or "stand aside". Any blocks will require a vote of the Council. Taking a stance on a public issue requires a 60% vote of council, per Section 4.3 of the GPCO Bylaws. The floor is open for one week of Agreement Seeking for passage, or a block to bring the issue to vote. There are currently nine (9) active voting chapters in the Green Party of Colorado. A of 60% quorum requires at least one response from six (6) chapters. Active Chapters: Adams/JeffersonArapahoe CountyDenverDouglasGreater BoulderPikes PeakPoudre ValleySan MiguelSouthwest Thank you,Bill Bartlett, Co-chair and Interim Current Council Facilitator1. Basic InfoDate proposed: July 22, 2014Name of the sponsor(s): Bill Bartlett, billbartlett.gpco@gmail.com2. Title: Denouncing Religious Violence3. Text of the actual Proposal: The continued incursions into Palestine must end! Leaders on both sides of this conflict have failed their people. The Green Party of Colorado is calling upon the religious and non-religious communities to denounce the actions of both Israel and Hamas that have led to this conflict. Furthermore, we reject any sense of violent purpose drawn from religious fervor. As we move forward as a people, a human race, we must shed our need to wrap our primal violence in religious garments to make them palatable for the world. Are we children, who would hide behind our gods while doing the work beasts? The Green Party of Colorado calls upon the leaders of the Secular World to take humanitarian action to end the violence against the Palestinian people, the aggression against Israel, and the apartheid that keeps Gaza caged and struggling for life. Leaders in the Middle East and Worldwide: hear the rallying call and acknowledge the cries Peace riding on the wind! Honor the lives of the people! 4. Background: Israel has recently begun an offensive, first bombing Gaza’s communities and hospitals, and then proceeding with ground troops. They are acting in response to continued missile attacks from Hamas which are coming from Gaza. As of this writing, 27 Israelis and 576 Palestinians have been killed. All of these actions stem from religious roots and animosity borne of historical religious differences. Moving forward, the Green Party must be bold enough to call out the forces behind violence in the world we are caretaking. Religion has been a continued problem in the Middle East, and in other areas. 5. Justification/Goals: We must lend a voice to the cries for peace. At the same time, we must be one of the few voices denouncing the mounting religious fervor that drives many forces in the Middle East and the world to violently suppress and abuse other people. If we are to move forward and bring candidates forward to represent the people, we must draw a line in allowing religious fervor to be a tool for rules and leaders to manipulate and misuse their citizens. 6. Pros and Cons:We may finally bring some people into politics that are not driven by religion and are willing to represent a more Secular Humanist view of the world and our future. On the other hand, we may drive away some of people may be religious and sensitive to criticism, but not themselves prone to zealotry. 7. Alternatives to the proposal: We could make a more monotone statement, and not highlight to roots of religion in past, present, and future violence. Ignore the elephant in the room. 8. Supporting statements including references to other sources of readily accessible materials to aid in the members’ decision making process. http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/12920-letter-from-gaza-by-a-norwegian-doctorhttp://www.cnn.com/2014/07/21/world/meast/mideast-crisis/https://www.facebook.com/groups/115664778529914/
Anyone who wants to cosponsor, please reply and I'll add you on the final proposal if it passes. I'd love to see a long list of cosponsors.
I do not know what co-sponsoring entails. I am in full support and if needed to be somewhere to represent, I am willing. Violence is violence even if people think they have a reason for it.
I agree. I would also like to offer to be co-sponser if needed. Where are the religious institutions in this country that should all be denouncing this apartheid and slaughter?Kevin AlumbaughGreater Boulder Green Party
I do not agree. Here is why:
- This is about neoconservative expansionism on behalf of American neoliberals.
- We are not dealing with equally-matched adversaries here.
- There are plenty of secular people pushing the aggression. The fact that some are Jews or Muslims is incidental.
Further as to why I don't agree:Eight Key Value:8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITYWe believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.By making this about religion and not focusing on the economic catalyst here, we aren't showing respect for religious diversity.
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I'll update the proposal with the appropriate cosponsors this evening.Andrea, I appreciate that you are willing to stand aside on this. However, I would defend this proposed statement through our principle of nonviolence. I do not believe respecting religious diversity means accepting violence against other people as part of that "diversity". Economics is a factor here because of old religious views i.e., the lack of integration between Middle Eastern cultures is based in religious "diversity" (I suppose one could call it). Yes, there are economic problems, but there would be no Israel if not for religious belief. For that matter, no one would be fighting over a "Holy Land" if not for this same belief. 🙁 I'm not necessarily trying to sway your opinion on this, Andrea, but I did want to make sure anyone else reading sees where I'm coming from on this issue of religious violence in particular.
Sorry…I meant to “set this document aside” until we can really flesh this out and have everyone's voice in this.Respectfully, to make this about religion is to play into stereotypes and to show how the religious world is already speaking out against this.To wit:http://nkusa.org/My spiritual leader: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/18/pope-francis-israel-palestine-gaza-ceasefire_n_5599268.htmlIt's a little strange, in my opinion, to (a) tell religious people what to do if one is not themselves religious and (b) release a statement to chastise religious "silence" when in fact, there is much being said and done.
Bill, Looks great on the surface and perhaps a lot more. I have no sympathies for a society that murdered Rachael Corrie, et.al., by driving over her TWICE with a Cat D-9 bulldozer in a foreign land. However, I have just read, again, Chomsky, Noam, "Responsibilities of Intellectuals", and "Manufacturing Consent". What does he say? Are you sure you are right - not that I support violence.? Greg
This is proposal 002-14 to Denouncing Religious ViolencePlease read the proposal, and confine any comments to the proposal only. Designate your wishes by using "agree", “block”, or "stand aside". Any blocks will require a vote of the Council. Taking a stance on a public issue requires a 60% vote of council, per Section 4.3 of the GPCO Bylaws. The floor is open for one week of Agreement Seeking for passage, or a block to bring the issue to vote. There are currently nine (9) active voting chapters in the Green Party of Colorado. A of 60% quorum requires at least one response from six (6) chapters. Active Chapters: Adams/JeffersonArapahoe CountyDenverDouglasGreater BoulderPikes PeakPoudre ValleySan MiguelSouthwest Thank you,Bill Bartlett, Co-chair and Interim Current Council Facilitator1. Basic InfoDate proposed: July 22, 2014Name of the sponsor(s): Bill Bartlett, billbartlett.gpco@gmail.com2. Title: Denouncing Religious Violence3. Text of the actual Proposal: The continued incursions into Palestine must end! Leaders on both sides of this conflict have failed their people. The Green Party of Colorado is calling upon the religious and non-religious communities to denounce the actions of both Israel and Hamas that have led to this conflict. Furthermore, we reject any sense of violent purpose drawn from religious fervor. As we move forward as a people, a human race, we must shed our need to wrap our primal violence in religious garments to make them palatable for the world. Are we children, who would hide behind our gods while doing the work beasts? The Green Party of Colorado calls upon the leaders of the Secular World to take humanitarian action to end the violence against the Palestinian people, the aggression against Israel, and the apartheid that keeps Gaza caged and struggling for life. Leaders in the Middle East and Worldwide: hear the rallying call and acknowledge the cries Peace riding on the wind! Honor the lives of the people! 4. Background: Israel has recently begun an offensive, first bombing Gaza’s communities and hospitals, and then proceeding with ground troops. They are acting in response to continued missile attacks from Hamas which are coming from Gaza. As of this writing, 27 Israelis and 576 Palestinians have been killed. All of these actions stem from religious roots and animosity borne of historical religious differences. Moving forward, the Green Party must be bold enough to call out the forces behind violence in the world we are caretaking. Religion has been a continued problem in the Middle East, and in other areas. 5. Justification/Goals: We must lend a voice to the cries for peace. At the same time, we must be one of the few voices denouncing the mounting religious fervor that drives many forces in the Middle East and the world to violently suppress and abuse other people. If we are to move forward and bring candidates forward to represent the people, we must draw a line in allowing religious fervor to be a tool for rules and leaders to manipulate and misuse their citizens. 6. Pros and Cons:We may finally bring some people into politics that are not driven by religion and are willing to represent a more Secular Humanist view of the world and our future. On the other hand, we may drive away some of people may be religious and sensitive to criticism, but not themselves prone to zealotry. 7. Alternatives to the proposal: We could make a more monotone statement, and not highlight to roots of religion in past, present, and future violence. Ignore the elephant in the room. 8. Supporting statements including references to other sources of readily accessible materials to aid in the members’ decision making process. http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/12920-letter-from-gaza-by-a-norwegian-doctorhttp://www.cnn.com/2014/07/21/world/meast/mideast-crisis/https://www.facebook.com/groups/115664778529914/
Ah, well then, Andrea, I respectfully reassert my passion to rally both religious people and secularists to denounce all violence based in religion. "It's a little strange, in my opinion, to (a) tell religious people what to do if one is not themselves religious" If someone's religion is telling them to kill people, does that sanction the violence? " and (b) release a statement to chastise religious "silence" when in fact, there is much being said and done. "I'm not sure that I used the word "silence" in the statement. And yes, there is much being said and done, but no one wants to address the religious roots of this and MOST of the violence in Middle Eastern countries. Even American Imperialism and Expansionism can be linked to religious zealotry (not as directly as the Israeli/Palestinian struggles for sure). I am willing to accept modifications, if you have a suggestion. However, I would not want to detract from the overall statement - that religious violence lies at the root of this conflict. So.. either you are a "Stand Aside" on this or a "Block" -- if you choose to Block we'll send it to a vote.
Greg, I appreciate your comments.. although I'm unfamiliar with those writings or their relevance. I'm not sure that I'm right, but I'm sure enough to want to instigate the conversation that no one wants to have. Would you be willing to expand upon your comments?
Andrea, I may have just thought of a compromise..? What if I amended the statement to include some acknowledgements of religious leaders / organizations that are denouncing this current violence? I could point out Pope Francis, and perhaps a prominent Jewish leader as well? If that would settle your feelings on the matter, I would be open to creating an amended statement with this in it. Does anyone know of another religious leader that is condemning the violence?
I see this more as a political and ethnic issue than a religious one. Israel has, through various means, taken more and more Palestinian land, destroyed their homes and their farms. There are certainly religious issues especially with Al-Aqsa Mosque and Temple Mount. But I think there is more to it than just religion. Israel wants to take over as much land as possible in a way that will prevent Palestinians from every being able to reclaim their land, homes, cities and lives. What are all the reasons? Not sure, but power and control have to be a big part of it.To me what is important is that all violence stop and humanitarian aid be provided where it's needed. Can we focus on the what and less on the why?
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