With all due respect to your concerns that "my timing was off". Again, my intent was not to offend anyone, but to open dialogue. I can appreciate that the unfortunate people most affected may not be able to think or absorb different points of view, and this is valid. They do need to grieve and process. However, regarding timing, I felt obliged to initiate discussion based on racist remarks of people at work ie that "all immigrants are responsable", or that "all Muslims are terrorists and non-human". A south American friend of mine, who challenged Western systems, and US polcies WAY before these attacks has been recieving dirty looks from co-workers, who are reacting emotionally, and making assumptions that he supports terrorism, which he does not. My point is, there will never be a good time to discuss this. It will always get peoples' backs up. My hope was that by outlining some basic human reactions, I could get people thinking instead of reacting. Sad to say, but if you look at history closely enough,there is way too much denial and never enough discussion. So, I disagree with you. The issue needs to be addressed now, before we witness further reaction, scapegoating or even war, at which point, it will be way too late. Sincerely, Tatiana ----- Original Message ----- From: "Melinda Bates" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 9:23 AM Subject: Re: NA-W: WE DANCE WITH RESPECT
> Dear Tatiana; > > With all due respect to your observations, accurate or inaccurate, I think > your timing is dreadful. > > There will be lots of time later (weeks, months or possibly years) for us > to examine our private lives and public policy. Lots of time for you to > argue that homelessness and racism are forms of terrorism. Now, however, > people are heartbroken and shocked, both in America and the world at the > ruthless violence that characterizes true terrorism. They (we) are entitled > to some little time to experience this and figure out how they will deal > with it. Today, our grief is unbearable, and our rage is justified. We > will get past this, but we will not get over this. > > Today, reminding us of Central American death squads supported by Reagan > twenty years ago is singularly unhelpful. Our need to grieve is neither > "naive" or "myopic". Our humanity requires it. > > If you truly care about these issues, I suggest you save your political and > public policy comments for a > conversation more likely to be heard at a later date, in a different forum. > > Melinda > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Lisandro Gomez <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 4:07 PM > > WE DANCE WITH RESPECT > > > ...Violence and terrorism have roots and often occur in > > response to other injustices. ...For example, New York is > > > the site of terrorism of all kinds-in the form of homelessness, poverty, > > and racism. > ...The US. has turned a blind eye to terrorism in other countries. > > The US. has, unfortunatley been involved in training death squads and > hence > > > promoting violence and terror in other countries, etc. ...Through the > dance, one can meditate on the naive view that terrorism occurs only in > discreete acts > ...To not appreciate this broader view, is to have a naive view of the > world and of human nature, and this promotes inaction > > and myopia, lack of change and perpetuation of injustice. Only when we > > > understand this, can we begin to extend meaningful compassion. I urge > you > > > all to think and act as human beings. > > > Sincerely, Tatiana > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > "Where can I Tango in <city>?" requests should now be directed to > Tango-A rather than to Tango-L. Use a "?" at the end, and specify the > regional keyword from this list: SA NA-E NA-C NA-E EU-W EU-E AASP MISC > E.g., Subject: NA-W: Tango in Sacremento CA between 20-28 November? > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >
