Dear Yonca, I agree with all of what you say. incidentally, I´m also in Mexico city, but I do not see much practical work done here on the Palestine issue. If you could be more specific I would appreciate it. Thus, perhaps, some of us might get involve. Thanks. Ignacio
At 08:43 p.m. 04/04/02 -0800, you wrote: >Friends, > >I know that PEN-L is more than just an academic list (hey, this >is a praise, not an insult) but nevertheless I wanted to forward >this from WSN to PEN-L. The original can be found here: > >http://csf.colorado.edu/mail/wsn/2002/msg00481.html > >and I chopped the e-mail Yonca, the author of the message below, >forwarded to WSN. Here is another website, a Canadian sent in >response her message: > >http://www.globalartinfo.com/artist/ione_citrin/index.html#pics > >He suggested clicking on "tears" there. > >Sabri > >------ Original message -------- > > >My Dear Collegues, > >There have been a lot of messages coming through this list that >focus on the violence going on in the Middle East. I don't know >if it is appropriate to do it here, but I would like to call all >of you to do something about what is going on in Palestine. I >know this is a list designed to do academic discussions, but >considering the philosophy of this list, I believe we should (and >can) do more than just discussing among ourselves because it >simply does not change anything. > >I really enjoy the discussions in this list. I find these >theoretical debates useful to improve my thinking and enrich my >academic work. However, it seems everything remains at the >theoretical level. What we do here unfortunately does not improve >the conditions of people who are suffering right now. In my own >humble country (Turkey), and even in another humble country in >which I work (Mexico), academics are in the forefront of >political criticism and opposition to human rights violations, >inequalities and other injustices. A lot of them are part of what >we may call progressive political movements and organizations. I >am amazed by the pacifism of the American ones. How can academics >be that much separated from the real life? (I know there are >academics involved in practical work, but I am afraid most are >not the "critical" ones.) I know a lot of people in this list are >from other countries, but I am assuming that the majority is from >the US. The US has most of the influential academics in social >sciences. Can't you/we do something more than theoretical >debates? I was in the ISA Convention last week in New Orleans. >Every year I enjoy the panels there. Most of the papers presented >are critical ones that point out social, political and economic >injustices. But at the same time, when I step out of the >Convention hotel, I wonder how much these discussions are >connected to what is actually going on. No matter how much we >criticize neoliberalism, for instance, it is there spreading with >full speed through national and international institutions. And >our discussions simply do not change that trend much. > >It just gives me pain to watch what has been going on in the >world, particularly in the Middle East as it looks like the one >that needs the most urgent attention now. It does not matter to >which religion or nation we belong to. What matters is that we >are just watching violence and massacre. It may feel like it is a >problem far out there, but it is a real human tragedy which none >of us can ignore. For centuries human beings have been doing the >mistake of remaining passive in the face of tragedies of this >kind. Usually, before they finally decide to do something, a lot >of lives are lost, suffering is deepened, and a lot of hatred is >spread to produce an even more unsafe future for all. What is >going on in Palestine is very very unacceptable. Most of the >people who are in this list are here because they have critical >minds. If we are more aware of the world's injustices, >inequalities, and suffering compared to the rest of the people, >there should be a way to use our intellectual power and try to >reverse these problems. You may think I am naive to think about >such a possibility of making a change, but I rather be naive and >take the responsibility than be passive and let things continue. >Yes, the hegemony is strong, and yes, the international >institutions are coopted, but we can do a little attempt to >change that order, I guess. Or at least show to the leaders that >what they have been doing is unacceptable for us and we want them >to stop it. Ideas inspire people, but it is eventually people who >do changes. > >In short, words cannot stop the violence going on, but actions >can. I am aware that what we can do is quite limited. However, at >least we can prepare a petition letter for the Israeli government >that is responsible of this tragedy and the US government that is >encouraging it some kind of a written condemnation letter. Or you >may encourage such a movement in the organizations you belong to. >Because I am not a senior academician nor a citizen of a >developed country, I believe I am not the right person to lead >this. There are so many known names in this list. I believe we >can be more influential than we are now. And if there is already >an academic movement like the one I suggested, please inform me >about it. If there is any other kind of action we can take, I >would also appreciate your ideas. I hope one of you can come up >with a more effective plan than mine. > >Sorry if I have asked for something inappropriate and thanks for >reading my mail and for your possible cooperation. > >Regards to all, > >Mtra. Yonca Ozdemir >Depto. Relaciones Internacionales >Tec De Monterrey (ITESM) >MÉXICO > >PS: >To have more information about the extent of violence, please see >the below attached message.
