PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS MINUTES FOR 9-26-2016

(There was no committee meeting in August.)

Present:  Jane J, Daniel G, George M, Ka R, Frank G

Dan agreed to clerk the meeting.

We shared our desire to find constructive, active responses to Black Lives Matter, the Palestinian crisis, the Climate emergency, global militarism, and resulting Refugees.

Ka and Jane reported on the recent meeting in Northampton led by Catholic Charities about resettling and supporting refugees from Syria, Burundi, the Congo, and Iraq. Ka signed up to help and will keep us updated.

We discussed the film Scott and Susan have proposed as a starting place for a larger discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and agreed to host it on November 10: Voices Across the Divide: "A Palestinian Oral History documentary. Interviews with Palestinians in the United States are woven together with historical photos and footage. Co producers: Alice Rothchild, M.D., (author, filmmaker, activist, retired OB/GYN physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, and leader of delegations of medical professionals to the West Bank, Israel and Gaza) and Sharon Mullally. (2013)"

What makes this film particularly compelling is how Alice Rothchild reveals her own journey beginning with what she learned (about Israel and the Holocaust) growing up in an American Jewish family; then she shares what she has learned over the years about the experience of Palestinians.

Ka recommended a talk this Wednesday at UMass: …at the Integrative Learning Center at UMass, room N151, 7:30-9 pm Weds 9/28/16 and stated, “The ILC is at the north end of the campus pond, right on North Pleasant St. Ari Shavit is the author of My Promised Land, a history of contemporary Israel 1890-present, a book I recommend strongly. He is known for his outspoken criticism of the current Israeli government and the ultra-conservative religious groups for the injustices done to the Palestinians, as well as his acknowledgment of the brutality of the past. At the same time, he's a Jew and an Israeli. His writing is the most balanced I've found on these questions. “

We searched for clarity to find someone to replace our clerk––someone with technical abilities, local connections, and time. We shared concerns that MtToby Friends sometimes misunderstand our role and may expect our small committee to implement their leadings for them, rather than seeing P&SC as a “clearing house” for leadings.

Dan agreed to serve as our new Clerk, although he is also feeling overbooked.

Ka agreed to prepare for the letter-writing in October (on Presidential Pardons).

Dan reminded us that Miryam is looking for someone to attend the November 10-13 FCNL annual meeting in Washington DC.

Future agenda items?  (1) Rename of this committee (2) conscientious objectors (3) Change in meeting time to accommodate MFB agenda and members’ schedules.

We closed as we had started, with a period of silence.