I will try to address as many issues that have been brought up as
possible.
First of all, when Bruce was going to leave the list in limbo, there was
a yawning silence from all members. Some spoke up and wanted to keep it
going but noone except Paul and me stepped in to keep it going. Paul is
still in England so I am 'it'.
Paul and I worked out the rules because we were going to be the list
owners. I remember there was no 'democratic' vote on removals when Bruce
had the list either.
The list has been in existence for over a year now and, until now, noone
has had anything to say about the rules.
I'm sorry if I didn't understand that some of the members on this list
subscribe to situational ethics. We can ask people like Karen to have
respect and empathy for Aboriginal Australians but we are not bound by
those rules of behaviour on this list if we don't feel like it? We
believe in consideration and justice only for those we approve of?
Sounds like something Howard would do.
I have tried to explain why Laurie was removed but noone is listening. I
contacted Laurie off-list because 1) I don't believe in public
embarrassment, 2) I could see where it was likely to go in light of
Laurie's intemperate language in the past 3) I was hoping to head off a
brawl on the list, 4) I DID NOT INTEND TO REMOVE LAURIE FROM THE LIST
FOR WHAT HE HAD SAID. I'm sorry to shout but I want that to be clear.
What happened is that Laurie set himself above everyone else and decided
that the rules did not apply to him. He suggested I'd better get my
unsub finger ready because he intended to personally attack anyone he
felt deserved it on the list or off. I didn't feel he left me much of a
choice then. He can attack anyone he likes off the list but not on it.
Someone had a problem with what constituted a personal attack. It's very
simple. Attacking views is fine, attacking the person as if they were
the views, is not. Something along the lines of 'You are behaving
stupidly' is fine, 'you are stupid' is not. Unless, of course, you want
to ensure that the person concerned clams up and doesn't listen to or
consider anything you say and at no time in the future will be ready to
change their mind.
That will help Aboriginal Australians a lot, right?
We will run into more Karens in the future and it is better that we
learn to deal with it without letting people who hold those view
dehumanise us. I suggest that we learn to hone our skills in promoting
and defending the rights of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters instead
of attacking the people holding those views. Yes, they are racist views.
I have no trouble with that word and have used it many times myself. But
if we want to open the door to enlightenment, now or in the future for
people like that, then a personal attack will have the opposite effect.
People under attack will defend their position and be in no mood to
listen.
Justice is defending the rights of those you don't like as well as
insisting on that behaviour from those you do.
I must say I am a little amazed at how some of you seem to be deciding
that I can keep on doing 'my wonderful job' while you decide who stays
and goes without consulting me. I'm afraid it's not on.
Laurie can come back any time he decides that the rules apply to him
just like everyone else. Anyone who wants him to come back and be the
only one exempt from the rules is on the wrong list.
Now let's get back to what we are here for and stop wasting any more
time on disrupters.
Trudy
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Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti
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