Urgent: week of November 12greenspun.com : LUSENET : Stand : One Thread |
Messages which absolutely need to be seen today due to time constraints or breaking news. Remember to check the"new answers" link for the most active topics. This topic will run for a week, and then we will start a new dated "urgent" file.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
I talked with Tobe this morning, we went over some of the changes. I'll remove the Donoghue as hearsay, but Charles's interaction with Marty is not hearsay, he told us directly. Will change to mention "full" board, had gone back and forth with myself as to which distinction was best supported by this myself. Dennis, we are on more solid ground actually regarding Charles's mention of Millman's reversal, than on whether he told any other members. He didn't tell Meg, and thus the full board, and that is what is important.What's important to realize is that this is not a full-page ad we're crafting, it is a press release. While I've tried to steer clear of any emotional language, I think that pointing out the "we" and "our" language (which not everyone here initially picked up on) is a legitimate pointing to information they might not immediately catch. A press release is to provide background, reporters and other recipients should still do their own fact-checking and provide their own assessment of the information.
I also talked with Jim a few minutes ago, he said that when he was out last night the word was already all over town. I'll email him a rough copy of the piece as we have it to bring to the OEFs meeting. I ran into Rainbow Weaver at a rest stop on the thruway yesterday, told her simply that something big is going down and to watch for it. I think we owe Grandmother Spider some thanks in her capacity of Web- weaver.
Note also that my letter responding to Kemble's 11/5 article is in the Freeman today In it I stated that we did not condone the attacks on Trustee Doan or on anyone else, good to have that setting the tone.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
Again, in regard to Dennis' concern about our saying the "we" and "our" terms suggest someone from CARE, I feel strongly that you may be confusing what a journalist must do in their writing, and what we, as an advocacy group helping to uncover this, must do. We don't have to be "just the facts," but can help the journalists by pointing to connections. To me, that is our responsibility as an advocacy group. If we were writing a newspaper article, we would have a different responsibility. But a press release by an advocacy group should point out the obvious "suggestions." Otherwise, we're missing our opportunity. And this is not a big leap, to simply say that since it is written in "our" and "we" language, it "suggests" someone local was writing it. I mean, that's not a hysterical, hyperbolic leap, really! If you want the language to say "suggests someone local..." rather than "suggests someone from CARE..." I'd be OK with that, but I cannot understand missing the opportunity to point out the "we" and "our" language.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
November 13, 2000 For Immediate ReleaseHate Group Targets Onteora School District
S.T.A.N.D. (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) recently received copies of virulently anti-Semitic Internet material asking for support by racist white nationalists for the effort to restore the "Indian" mascot to the Onteora Central School District. The material appeared on the white nationalist Final Conflict web site in August, shortly before the Onteora Board of Education moved to rescind its policy against racial stereotypes.
We are enclosing copies of the letter and article which appeared online in Final Conflict, as well as a supportive letter that Board President Martin Millman received from a Final Conflict reader. When initially asked about such correspondence, Mr. Millman denied its existence to STAND's attorney Charles Yow. Five hours later Millman faxed a copy to Charles Yow.
The full Board of Education was never told of the correspondence from Final Conflict supporters. Nor, evidently, was the support offered by the hate group publicly repudiated or rejected by Mr. Millman.
The use of "we" and "our" in the August 25th Final Conflict piece suggests that the writer (supported by the Final Conflict editor) supports the local organization C.A.R.E. for OCS, and may possibly be a member: "...In response a grass roots organization of original hard working White residents of the school district gathered together and started C.A.R.E. with the intent to restore the Indian name and our school mascot, we also decided to take back our school and correct the Jew inspired changes that effects our children's education...."
Given that Final Conflict has aligned itself with C.A.R.E., and that this coincides with a series of attacks on S.T.A.N.D. members' tires and other personal property, we ask that the Ulster County District Attorney begin an immediate investigation into the operation of hate groups in our county. At a recent Onteora Board of Education meeting, President Martin Millman publicly warned the audience that there were plainclothes investigators watching the parking lot. We hope that at future meetings Board members will not interfere with the criminal investigation of the tire vandalism by alerting the vandals that they might be watched.
The sooner we unmask hate groups and those who support them, the safer our community will be. While this material specifically concerning the Onteora district is quite offensive, other viewpoints expressed in the Final Conflict magazine are even more extremist, and promote hatred of Jews, blacks, and other groups. Final Conflict is allied with the "International Third Position" movement (ITP), which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as "a mix of 'left' and 'right' ideas with strong neo-fascist overtones." We call on all members of the community to renounce and repudiate these racists and their message of hate. We believe that a failure to reject the support of racists is tantamount to aligning with them.
We are supplying copies of the letters, "Final Conflict" web site information, and links to background material, as it is important to see the material in context.
Contact information for S.T.A.N.D.: PO Box 1208, Woodstock, NY 12498 (845)657-2914
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
This phrase: "Nor, evidently, was the support offered by the hate group publicly repudiated or rejected by Mr. Millman."Would we feel comfortable changing it to a stronger "The support offered by the hate group was not publicly repudiated or rejected by Mr. Millman."?
Tobe, in theory the wearing of Stars of David as an echo of the WWII "We are all Jews" solidarity shown by the Scandinavians that we discussed on the phone is a good idea, but now that I think of it this whole things started because the Onteorans said they were all Indians, so in retrospect I think we don't want to go there. [twinkle]
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
A lot to read this morning!!There was a comment noting Millman lied to me (Charles), lying to me is not important, what is important is Millman lied to the board attorney, the same attorney the Millman Board is "investigating"
I would be very careful mentioning CARE by name, by reference is as effective, without allowing CARE to say STAND/COLOR are attacking CARE, we would be better served separating the issues from people/entities-we can let others do the association.
If we mentioned CARE as the organization favoring the repeal of the district's anti-racial discrimination policy, etc People reading the release will know it is CARE, for us to mention their name gives them creditability and gives them more coverage.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
Here's a an attempt to work on the great release that Carol crafted...We're getting closer..anyone else...I simply cut and pasted this in Word, reworked it and cut and patsed it back here...works excpet for the formatting...bah humbug. Carol I'm checking with Donna to see if the STAND number is still available for messages...may weant to use that as a buffer to the big world..those who need to know already know how to get directly to me.LOL They KNOW WHERE I LIVE!!!!November 13, 2000 For Immediate Release
Hate Group Targets Onteora School District
S.T.A.N.D. (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) recently received copies of virulently anti-Semitic Internet material asking for support by racist white nationalists for the effort to restore the "Indian" mascot to the Onteora Central School District. The material appeared on the white nationalist Final Conflict web site in August, shortly before the Onteora Board of Education moved to rescind its policy against racial stereotypes.
We are enclosing copies of the letter and article which appeared online in Final Conflict, as well as a supportive letter that Board President Martin Millman received from a Final Conflict reader. When initially asked about such correspondence, Mr. Millman denied its existence. Five hours later Millman faxed a copy to attorney Charles Yow.
The full Board of Education was never told of the correspondence from Final Conflict supporters. Nor, was the support offered by the hate group publicly repudiated or rejected by Mr. Millman.
The use of "we" and "our" in the August 25th Final Conflict piece suggests that the writer (supported by the Final Conflict editor) has local connections to a group advocating the use of native based mascots. The article in part, reads,"...In response a grass roots organization of original hard working White residents of the school district gathered together and started C.A.R.E. with the intent to restore the Indian name and our school mascot, we also decided to take back our school and correct the Jew inspired changes that effects (sic) our children's education...."
Given that the writer in Final Conflict has aligned itself with a local organization , and that this coincides with a series of attacks on tires and other personal property of people working to remove racial stereotypes from the schools, we ask that the Ulster County District Attorney begin an immediate investigation into the existence and operation of any hate groups in our county.
The sooner we unmask hate groups and those who support them, the safer our community will be. While this material specifically concerning the Onteora district is quite offensive, other viewpoints expressed in the Final Conflict magazine are even more extremist, and promote hatred of Jews, blacks, and other groups. Final Conflict is allied with the "International Third Position" movement (ITP), which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as "a mix of 'left' and 'right' ideas with strong neo-fascist overtones." The posting of the letter was traced back to an Aryan Nation secure server in England.
We call on all members of the community to renounce and repudiate these racists and their message of hate. We believe that a failure to reject the support of racists is tantamount to aligning with them.
We are supplying copies of the articles and letters, plus "Final Conflict" web site information, and links to background material, as it is important to see the material in context.
Contact information for S.T.A.N.D.: PO Box 1208, Woodstock, NY 12498 ocsstand@yahoo.com (845)67957-4021
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
Point made by Charles, that we shouldn't name CARE by name, which could lead to a firestorm of "us vs them" talk and get the real issues lost on the finger-pointing. Have just in my analysis changed it to a boilerplate phrase we can use, "Goes into more details, gives the "we" and "our" language that makes us think it is actually by a member of a local group supporting the use of native based mascots, and favoring repeal of the district's anti-racial discrimination policy."But actually, the name CARE is right there in the sentence that suggests the writer is a member, the only way we can show that is by actually censoring the [C---] word from that quoted sentence, or leave the quoted sentence out of the front page press release and just have the word CARE be seen in the actual transcript of the Aug 25 article, which the reporters will undoubtedly quote anyway. The writer fingers himself as a CARE member.
Who knows, maybe CARE will give a wide-eyed innocent look and say that it couldn't be them , the writer must be from the Phoenitia Militia [made up name], and out another group working more quietly.
Speaking of militias, on a map of NY hate groups I came across mentions of the "Hudson Highlands Free Militia," but referring to a now empty web page (I suspect the website hosts took it down). Anyone know anything about them?
Was looking up old usenet archives to see if there were any useful mentions, all I came up with of note was this:
"I do not like green eggs and ham They are not kosher, Sam-I-Am..."
I don't think we can use the lie to Donoghue without his direct consent. Charles, do you want to get that from him? I don't know him, and don't want use this if we don't have his express permission. Yes, of course that is a vital point, but we need Donoghue's permission. ASAP.
I think we need to include the full texts of the SPLC's two pages on the International Third Position, so that it is made perfectly clear that we are not dealing with a bunch of amateurs just operating in Europe. The pages are at here and this page
Tobe, confirmation on your typo with your phone # just above: that is 657-2914, and not 679?
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
It seems to me Millman stating he did not receive any communication is important, we could refer to his statement without using the actual e-mail, I think Millman's deception is important.I really like the new release, the use of the acronym CARE is a quote, not something we added for effect, I see this as a large difference.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
I also wonder if we should not even quote the article on our front page...the references are not so cryptic as to lost, and yet gives us some wiggle room. The article will be clear for all to see.Would be great to include the SPLC take on third Position.
The more real information, the better. Tobe
PS I emailed kemble to alret him that something hot with hate was happening. I was out at tom's political meeting and he aclled trying to pump Meg for what was going on. She told him nothing, suggested maybe he wanetd to call Charles. we'll see how lazy he is....but from all accounts, he was panting, and Meg got the impression HE may now know some stuff on his own, and is wondering if we have the same stuff...If he has anything, it'll be very different and probably based on individuals...not the internet.
Carol, I was hoping we can use 679-4021...but I called it and it's disconnected...If i have to have my number...so be it: 657-2914.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
Some advice on constructing press releases (for what it is worth).The purpose of a press release is to make it as easy as possible for an overworked editor to place a story with little or no editorial work. If the editor decides to do their own independent story, ok, but that's not what you want. Ideally, your press release is run, as written, with some made up by-line at the media end, or no by-line. This way you achieve all the rhetorical ends you wanted when you drafted the piece. You want to leave as little room for the editor to add, change and delete as possible.
A standard press release is written in triangular form from most important to least important details so that editors can chop as needed from the end for space reasons. Its length should be appropriate to the material at hand. Supplementary material can always be added at the end.
They should be written from the standpoint of a "neutral" reporter with the sponsoring entity's (individual or organizations) comments in the form of made up quotes. In the current version, the second paragraph is inappropriate, for example in that it changes "authorial" focus. By using quotes, you can spin the story any way you wish. A representative of STAND can say one thing; another individual can be quoted saying something very strong to bring out the import of the story.
You can use direct quotes from Yow, Dennis, Tobe, etc. Also get quotes from non-allied persons expressing outrage, fear, etc.
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
OK..maybe this is it..Donna needs to sign off on her quote...Carol and I met (in person, mind you!) to work on details, and we hope we have it right. Carol has gathered excellent background info, and if everyone says "GO!", this'll all be in the email (or US Post) by mid-day tomorrow...what do you think, gang? The idea is to release it tomorrow to the press, and folow up within three days with a broader mailing to Disrict Attorney, clergy, politicians, educational leaders, Attorney General, etc. etc...Anyone want to meet wed nite for an envelope stuffing party?????November 13, 2000 For Immediate Release
Hate Group Targets Onteora School District
S.T.A.N.D. (Support Tolerance and Nurture Diversity) recently received copies of virulently anti-Semitic internet material asking for support by racist white nationalists for the effort to restore the "Indian" mascot to the Onteora Central School District. The material appeared on the white nationalist Final Conflict web site in August, shortly before the Onteora Board of Education moved to rescind its policy against racial stereotypes.
"The use of 'we' and 'our' in the August 25th Final Conflict piece suggests that the writer (supported by the Final Conflict editor) has local connections to a group advocating the use of native based mascots," said Donna Boundy, a S.T.A.N. D. member. "This coincides with a series of attacks on tires and other personal property of people working to remove racial stereotypes from the schools. We therefore ask that the Ulster County District Attorney begin an immediate investigation into the existence and operation of any hate groups in our county."
Shortly after the publication of the article in Final Conflict, Board President Martin Millman received a supportive letter from a Final Conflict reader. When initially asked about such correspondence, Mr. Millman denied its existence. Several hours later Millman faxed a copy of the support letter to attorney Charles Yow. The full Board of Education was never told of the correspondence from Final Conflict supporters. Nor, was the support offered by the hate group publicly repudiated or rejected by Mr. Millman.
S.T.A.N.D. member, Tobe Carey, remarked, "It's shocking to see the hateful anti-Semitic language in this article. It's also shocking to know Mr. Millman received the support letter with a clear link to where the racist article was posted, and that he didn't immediately reject and repudiate the offered support. By hiding the support letter and the anti-Semitic article, he has done a grave disservice to the residents of this school district. We are appalled at the apparent poor judgement shown by Mr. Millman and by the deception used to hide this from the public." S.T.A.N.D. calls on all members of the community to renounce and repudiate these racists and their message of hate. Members of the community organization believe that a failure to reject the support of racists is tantamount to aligning with them.
While this material specifically concerning the Onteora district is quite offensive, other viewpoints expressed in the Final Conflict magazine are even more extremist, and promote hatred of Jews, blacks, and other groups. Final Conflict is allied with the "International Third Position" movement (ITP), which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as "a mix of 'left' and 'right' ideas with strong neo-fascist overtones." The posting of the letter and article was traced to an Aryan Nation server in England.
Enclosed are copies of the articles and letters, plus Final Conflict web site information and links to background material, as it is important to see the material in context.
For more information, contact: Tobe Carey (845) 657-2914
Encl: Letter and article in Final Conflict Support letter to M. Millman Faxes to Charles Yow Background information on Final Conflict and hate groups
-- Anonymous, November 12, 2000
Just a short report on the OEF meeting yesterday.It was terribly disapiointing as we only had about 7 people show up. This limited our ability to proceed with the agenda which included selecting some officers to get some structure going. But it was a nice day and the meeting was announced late,m so... We'll try again soon enough I'm sure.
Mike Goodman attended and told us of his intention to run. He also strongly implied that it was his intention to gain the support of moderate CARE supporters. He was well spoken but seemed as bit niave as to the tactics used by Mr. Doan and company.
On a side note, a really bizarre incident occurred when Tom was speaking and he seemed distracted by something out the window. He apologized and said he saw someone taking a picture of the building from across the street and it appeared to be Joe Doan! This was confirmd as people saw Mr. Doan driving away. Oddly enough, prior to that sighting, a phonecall was answered by one of the waitresses afterwhich she came in and turned the lights up in the room as if Mr Doan called a contact in the restaurant. He is so nuts!!!!
-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000
I just heard about the results on the October Weekly Reader poll on Indian mascots that I posted a link to last week. With 1643 votes polled, the split was 59% to retain Indian mascots (mind you, they are coming into this from probably not knowing the issue at all)vs 41% to remove them. Oddly, enough, this is pretty much exactly the split of the vote in this spring's Board of Ed elections.We'll see how the traffic on the list is going this week, if TSHTF we may have to put up a new page every few days rather than having to scroll down to China.
-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000
I've sent this infor to a growing list of people by email...anyone on this list who needs it as word attachments, let me know..my list includes: Newsweek Mag Maurice hiunchey Cahill Bonacic Comm Mills The Distict attorney...going my mail they don't have email... Middletown record (Paul Brooks) Townsman (by fax) Tanya Jeremy wilber Sam magarelli Ward Todd Marion D'Orazio Tom Rosato Ruth Simpson (Ch. 3 show in Woodstock) Friends and relatives S. Goldman former board member Ellen Saturowski (Ithaca College) Robert eurich Michelle Tuchman Jewish federation/ Dem County Commitee vice chair, etc. NY State school Board's Assoc. Brian hollander.Hey make yourt own list and work it... T.
-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000
As far as Doan behind the camera goes, Tom Rosato swears it was him but another person sitting next to him isn't not so certain. But another person, who witnessed the vehicle driving off, was certain it was Doan's. I saw the vehicle clearly and if it was Doan I'll only know when I see Doan's vehicle.
-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000
I didn't expect the newspapers to do anything until they check out sources/add up what else they may know or suspect...they'll be careful...but it'll come out...patience is a virtue! Charles said NY Times, CNN and Wash Post have called him...patience...
I sent the materials to Hillary, Chuck Schumer, Brian Hollander, etc,
Carol, did you manage to get a copy to Sgt Cervini at St Police?
Although Jim says the waitress wasn't involved in the "photo op", my sources tell me that her family and she-herself are big-time pro-mascot, so she could actually be in the Doan loop. It has also been suggested that perhaps the room was bugged....not at all far fetched...next meeting can we get an anti-survelliance squad to sweep the room before we speak...or maybe we just need to write everything down and pass notes :) and just speak in squeals and squeaks...Jim be aware the car that was IDed is not the usual Doan car...rather it was said to be Cory's brown Isuzu...I saw the brown Isuzu leaving that parking lot at that time...couldn't see the driver... As an ex-Peace Corps guy...they used to (probably still do) ask some very personal psychological-type questions, looking for "stable" people before they send anyone abroad. Wonder what those questions would yield? Tobe
PS Ossining was a "trip"...some of the same old, same old comments from an audience of about 40 people after Dennis, Meg, Beth and I presented what had happened here...We cautioned to undertake deep study, auhtentic teaching to students and community about the issue before they press ahead...but the rhetoric was already heated, with the usual blather about "honor" and "Nobility" and some bogus history of brave "Indians" and local "Indians" to boot. Also some progressive folks with a cleasr vision, but sides are being drawn...outsider that we were, we got away with tires intact. And we left behind copies of the press rlease and materials. Felt old...
Everyone needs to know that starting at the nexty meeting, public be heard will be in two parts...early part ONLY on agenda items (this Hate group stuff WILL be added to the agenda) and at the end of the meeting, an open-ended no topic barred time for more public be heard.he he he he!! This could be fun! Oh, remember, the agendas always have topics like "Old Business" which to my mind leaves an opening for anything that's come up in the past...
Seriously, let's spread our comments around a bit...and tell EVERYONE to stay till the meeting's end...there's always fireworks at the end...the best part of the meeting, if you ask me...so hire your baby sitters for a longer time...Meeting at Bennett School 7PM....
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
If Debby Ogg knows Doan well enough as a therapist, she shouldn't be discussing him with others. If she doesn't have a psychotherapeutic relationship with him, I don't think it is appropriate that she comment specifically about him rather than persons who are grieving in general.What is this about Debbies analyzing Doans, some sort of thing Debbies do? [confused look]
I'll stop by with a packet for Cervini tomorrow.
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Carol: Debby O certainly isn't/hasn't been/never will be JD's therapist. And she wasn't speaking as a psychotherapist, either, but as an Onteora parent who happens to be a psychotherapist. And she was named Debby by her parents, she didn't pick it....
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
And I'm an Onteora parent and a member of the clergy, but I don't make statements about what I think Martin Millman's religious practice is and how it is affected by what has happened to him. It's on shaky ground ethically and professionally to make such speculations about anyone's mental state or religious practice, and I hope she isn't planning on making this kind of statement about Doan publicly.
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Tobe and I were batting around names of periodicals that do serious, indepth coverage of social issues. Some we came up with are the New Yorker, the Village Voice, Atlantic Monthly, Harpers.Given that this is Greater Woodstock, let's give some "six degrees of separation" thought to this. Who do we know that has contacts at those publications, or knows someone who knows someone? Let's cast the nets widely. We'd need to send them not only the current material, but maybe Kemble's July 4 Freeman piece, and maybe Rene's long piece on the tire vandalism.
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
latest outreach: RNN WDST community board WAMC by fax D. Schneider
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Fron Native News Editor:TO: The Kingston Freeman 79 Hurley Ave. Kingston, NY 12401 email: dailyfree@aol.com
Martin Millman, Onteora Central School District, 4166 Route 28, Boiceville, NY 12412
Hal Rowe:hrowe@onteora.mhrcc.org
Dear Mr Millman, and other members of the Onteora School Board;
It has come to the attention of the Staff of Native News Online, that the White Supremacists have offered to support the retention of racism in the Onteora school district, through an article published in their online publication, "The Final Conflict", August 27, 2000. Shortly thereafter, talks broke down completely and the antiracism amendment removed from district policy.
{SEE: followup e-mail for the complete article}
It is extremely disturbing that the silence with which this support was received makes complicit the directives of the school board with the directives of White Supremacy. I wonder how many of your parents support the Aryan Nations as an educational supplement for the district?
During WWII, one of the methods used to silence those who disagreed with the Third Reich were political cartoons / caricatures, an outgrowth is the ethnic mascots, such as the mascot in Onteora.
The Aryan Nations recognizes it as a racist symbol, indeed seeks to support it. The First Nations recognize it as a racist symbol, and seek its abolition. The school board recives the support of the Aryan Nations and remains silent, refusing to decry the source of this support.
Mr. Millman, are you willing to speak out? Or do you say, "I am not a Native American and therefore I remain silent?" Ishgooda Managing Editor, Native News Online PO Box 2065 Riverview, Michigan 48192-2065
First they came for the Communists, and I didnBt speak up, because I wasnBt a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didnBt speak up, because I wasnBt a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didnBt speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Background: {excerpted from: http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBlade/Politics/niemoller.shtml} Martin Niemoller was an outspoken advocate for accepting the burden of collective guilt for WW II as a means of atonement for the suffering that the German nation (through the Nazis) had caused before and during WW II.
On the other hand, I think that something is missed if one doesnBt understand that the words come from a man who also declared that he Bwould rather burn his church to the ground, than to preach the Nazi trinity of Brace, blood, and soil.BB
Niemoller was tainted. He had been a U-boat captain in WW I prior to becoming a pastor. And he supported Hitler prior to his taking power. Indeed, initially the Nazi press held him up as a model... for his service in WW I. [Newsweek, July 10, 1937, pg 32]
But Niemoller broke very early with the Nazis. In 1933, he organized the PastorBs Emergency League to protect Lutheran pastors from the police. In 1934, he was one of the leading organizers at the Barmen Synod, which produced the theological basis for the Confessing Church, which despite its persecution became an enduring symbol of German resistance to Hitler.
From 1933 to 1937, Niemoller consistantly trashed everything the Nazis stood for.
Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://ishgooda.nativeweb.org/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>
Native News: http://ishgooda.nativeweb.org/natnews.htm Archived Daily at: http://ishgooda.nativeweb.org/natnews2.htm FREE LEONARD PELTIER! Demand Clemency! (202)456- 1111
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Letter to Onteora Board sent to Onteora attorneyOnteora Board members;
Regardless the excuses we will hear regarding the offers of support from racists, understand clearly, when the board through its president, Marty Millman failed to reject the offered support of racists the board majority in effect accepted the support of the same vile and disgusting bigots. So there is no misunderstanding, the failure to reject the support of racists is important because it again brings into question the motivation behind the repeal of the districtBs anti-racial discrimination policy and re-adoption of a native based mascot. While members of the board majority are quick to assert the mascot honors natives, I wonder, is this the reason White Supremacists offered their support?
It is time the Onteora board take a new position, stop playing power games, adopt a position to restore the community by repudiating all ties, and all support, of all groups espousing any views that are not aimed at restoring the community and are not aimed at protecting the diversity that has made our nation what it is today.
I urge you to take a stand against racism, not just in your words, but in your day to day lives and in the leadership of the district. If there is anything that we can help in this regard please do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Charles Yow
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
sent info to ADL and SPLC (maybe redundnat to what Charles has dione, but now they have our press release as ell.) Anyone know how to contact local NAACP..Any sense in reprinting 200 press releasews and letters to have a board meeting? Or to mail to local/kingston churches/synagogues. I emailed the info to Wood Jewish Cong., Wood Lutheran church, Woodstock Reformed...these are the only email addresses I have...anyone else have any?? I'll get the Copying dome if we think it's good to do...I could see a pile next to the agendas at the meeting...
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Well-crafted response by Ishgooda, I really like the way she points out that both the white nationalists and the First Nations agree that it is a racist symbol.If we are handing them out at the Board meeting, do we want to have them handed out singly by one of us? I worry that someone from CARE might want to grab a big pile if they are just out there for the taking.
I've got a background piece I'm working on that shows the differing groups that all have interests in the outcome of the mascot controversy, and where they are coming from. I'll email it, since it has gotten kind of big. Please let me know if there are any obvious omissions or places where I've gone too far out on a limb. I'd like to have hard copies available for Hal and Cervini tomorrow morning.
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
Dear Sergeant Cervini, Enclosed is a press release and background material on the latest twist in the Onteora Indian mascot controversy. The introduction of a neo-fascist hate group into the issue means that some truly vile extremists are supporting the Indian mascot, and from the language used one of them seems to be a member of the CARE for OCS group. The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on the 20th at Bennett School in Boiceville. We expect that it may be rather emotional. We hope that you will tell the trustees of the Onteora Board of Education that it is unacceptable at any time for them to warn people that plainclothes police officers may be patrolling. Those of us in the STAND group who had our tires vandalized want to catch the vandal, not have him warned or protected. We feel that by issuing a warning recently, Board president Martin Millman was interfering with a criminal investigation. Enclosed as well is a 4-page piece, BHow many sides to the Indian mascot issue?B Speaking with you the other week challenged me to try to look at the issue with new eyes, as I felt you were seeing things as far too black and white. This piece is in response to that, my trying to see each factionBs interests and needs, both pro and con. I also spent some time thinking about the metaphor you used for the negotiations: you put your notebook between us, said it was a matter of one of us having it and the other doesnBt, each side saying BI want it, you canBt have it.B Thinking about it, I found some other strategies and conclusions we could have reached about who got the notebook and who didnBt (in no particular order): I go over your head to your boss/ I persuade you to give it up/I file a lawsuit to get it/I bribe you successfully/ we share joint custody/ we split the notebook physically/one of us decides we really donBt want it/ one of us decides we still want it but it is not worth fighting over. IBm sure there are more solutions as well. When we hit what seem to to be rigid walls between us, we can often go over, under or around them.I have asked the Olive police for a written explanation of why my incident report had not originally gotten to you in August as promised, will let you know when I hear back. Sincerely, Carol Maltby
-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000
It appears that in transcribing the support letter that Millman received an "i" was left out of the web site address for Final Conflict..it should read: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/finalconflict/ Sorry if this leads to any confusion...
-- Anonymous, November 15, 2000
If you have a functioning "print screen" button on your keyboard, that may do it. If not, I think there is some freeware called Snagit Studio that can do it, do a search on that.Maybe someone should call Bill Kemble and see what's going on.
-- Anonymous, November 15, 2000
Several people have suggested we need a short (as in "short") summary of the events in the mascot struggle to clue in newcomers. Anyone have ther time and energy to start this...it could be a simple bulleted chronology of main events...
-- Anonymous, November 15, 2000