Peace and Social Concerns Committee, 12/20/18

Present: Dan G, Jane J, Will S, Roger C, David D

Jane offered to clerk the meeting, and she invited us into a time of silence.

1.Will told of his time with the FCNL. He was invited there for FCNL’s 75^th anniversary. He was very favorably impressed with the staff, most quite young. He found it very encouraging that many young people are being prepared for good work. He did not attend the session setting FCNL’s legislative priorities for the coming session. In the lobbying portion, Will was with a group that met with Markey’s staff and with Jim McGovern, who will be the chair of the Rules Committee, a key position. FCNL prepared them to lobby about the Senate’s version of rules for SNAP. He also heard a lot about the climate and FCNL’s efforts in that area. He was surprised to learn that Jim McGovern is not part of the Climate Caucus, though we think he should be. Will was clear that it is important to send a MtToby Friend to these FCNL sessions.

2.David D spoke with us about the campaign to change the MA state flag and seal. A bill has been offered for many years in this regard, and has even passed in the House, but recently it has not come to the floor for a vote. He told of the reasons behind the proposal. Perhaps this could be one of our letter writing sessions. The proposal he brought is as follows:

‘The Massachusetts State Flag and Seal contain images of a naked Colonial broadsword brandished, in a white man's hand, above the head of a Native American man. The Latin motto scrolled beneath the image on the state flag and seal reads: "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem," generally translated: "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." The violence inherent in this imagery and motto, and its connotation of white supremacy and the subjugation of Native people call upon us to reject the current state flag and seal of Massachusetts. The Society of Friends has long served as an intermediary and interlocutor between the Native Nations of this continent and the Colonial powers, and their successor governments, which sought to claim Native lands by violence. In this tradition, Mount Toby Friends Meeting supports the establishment of a special commission, including members of the state legislature and representatives or Native Nations of Massachusetts, to recommend changes to the State Flag and Seal of the Commonwealth, and calls upon its members to support efforts to effect this change.More details are contained on the website: changethemassflag.com’

Dan suggested that the wording could be improved by avoiding the “white supremacy” clause and adding something about how the current flag does not represent us. Dan and Roger will work on a revision of the language, which if it meets committee’s approval will be sent on to the clerk.

3.We considered the statement which Jane created, “Statement in support of friends and neighbors in the Jewish Community” as follows: “Increasingly concerned for the safety of Jewish families in the United States, we of Mt. Toby Friends Meeting (Quakers) voice our support for their right to live, work, study, and worship without fear within our community and beyond. We deplore the recent incidents of anti-Semitic hate-crimes and harassment, and we call on our leaders to recommit to the values set out in the founding documents of this country." We approve this statement, and Roger will send it to the clerk for the meeting for business.

4.Letter writing: Race and Class will take January; Climate Witness will do it sometime. Will gave us his perspective on involving young people, which was that parents should be involved, for example, “Blue, I am going to write a letter; do you want to help me figure out what to say?” If we were to have a topic good for kids, for example related to imprisoned children at the border, having someone with relevant experience come to talk with the meeting, and children in particular, would be very helpful.

5.We agreed to meet on January 17^th when we will decide about future dates for our committee to meet.

6.Resistance Center proposal: Dan proposed wording before which we may be able to modify for current use. However we have yet to find anybody in our meeting who is involved with it, to make the presentation in our meeting for business. Cat is not warm to the idea of inviting Jeff to make the presentation. Roger and Jane will figure out wording of an update of Dan’s 2017 proposal and they with Dan will figure out who will make it.

We ended with a time of silence.