As an abolitionist, I don’t support the incarceration or confinement of any people and wish freedom for all. I do, however, think that attention on the hostages misses the overwhelmingly disproportionate death and suffering that is happening in Palestine. The Israeli government uses the hostages as a smokescreen for their continued attacks on Palestine that have been ongoing since 1948.
10 Likes
There are elements of this that I support, return of hostages, no one is free until we are all free. However there is a contradiction. This resolution speaks to the existential threat when we do not name the full range of harms, and this resolution then does just that.
I believe we can have a just world, condemn antisemitism, peace for all without making exceptions. It is notable that this responsive resolution does not name or numerate the Palestinians imprisoned indefinitely including children, international workers killed by Israeli violence, Israeli settler violence for example.
I believe the AIW, which this feels directly targeting, does this while also holding clearly a call for safety and justice for all.
7 Likes
That’s a shame because there are typos. Islamophobia should be capitalized. The last “whereas” should not end with “and”. I support this in spite of those errors.
Yes. Thank you for writing this.
The Palestine AIW, in my opinion, has problems that make it difficult to support. It would be a tragedy, however, if it were to fail and this were to pass. We need both or neither. I lean toward neither: I’d like our public witness to condemn genocide, defend human rights, acknowledge historic wrongs of all kinds, and commit to genuine negotiation. Sadly, we haven’t been given that choice. We’ve been given two separate statements, either of which in isolation will be perceived by the public as extreme.
5 Likes
does that mean you will be voting yes on the AIW?
THANK YOU FOR THIS.
I especially want to thank the sponsor of this resolution for their final comments. I was crying tears of solidarity with you as you spoke.
4 Likes
Is this a response to the UUA President’s October 7 statement - Statement from UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt Regarding the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas ?
3 Likes
I, too, am now confused about which text the responsive resolution is responding to.
1 Like
This is the youtube timestamp of the President’s report from yesterday which this resolution is in response to.
2 Likes
Thank you so much! This is super helpful!
Transciption of Rev. Belencourt’s comments leading to this RR
First I want to directly address the profound horror and loss of these latest rounds of violence in the Middle East. This multigenerational history with trauma and oppression and loss on all sides is one that we struggle with to engage as a unitarian universalist community. We have long been taught to side with those most impacted by injustice, and when those designations are simple, we live out our faith in ways that may be immensely proud to be a UU. And all of this is harder when anti-Semitism and anti-Arabism and islamophobia are virulent. It is harder in the wake of hamas’s attacks against civilians on October 7th and the unceasingly brutal response by Netanyahu’s government ever since.
Your UUA has been in deep conversation with you use most directly connected to this violence. We responded with multiple public statements, condemning violence against both Palestinians and Israeli citizens. We joined with you use and broader progressive religious partners to call for a ceasefire. We provided webinars, resources, trainings and opportunities for action. Condemned the violent repression of student movements across the Nation, and offered spiritual and organizing spaces for young adults to faithfully engage and resist. My prayer is that this year will lean into new ways of having this unspeakably difficult conversation, that we will hold our own government accountable for its complicity an engage these atrocities without losing our sense of dignity and worthiness of all members of this community. That we hold space for nuance and compassion as we discuss matters on which we disagree. And that the very thread that holds us together will not pray. I pray that we draw from the woolspring of courage and moral clarity offered by our freely chosen face to bear witness in ways that are worthy of its teachings. I have faith that we can do this together.
1 Like
Transciption of Rev. Belencourt’s comments leading to this RR (taken from captions on UUA Youtube page and read into my phone. Any mistakes are my own and I apologize in advance)
First I want to directly address the profound horror and loss of these latest rounds of violence in the Middle East. This multigenerational history with trauma and oppression and loss on all sides is one that we struggle with to engage as a unitarian universalist community. We have long been taught to side with those most impacted by injustice, and when those designations are simple, we live out our faith in ways that may be immensely proud to be a UU. And all of this is harder when anti-Semitism and anti-Arabism and islamophobia are virulent. It is harder in the wake of hamas’s attacks against civilians on October 7th and the unceasingly brutal response by Netanyahu’s government ever since.
Your UUA has been in deep conversation with you use most directly connected to this violence. We responded with multiple public statements, condemning violence against both Palestinians and Israeli citizens. We joined with you use and broader progressive religious partners to call for a ceasefire. We provided webinars, resources, trainings and opportunities for action. Condemned the violent repression of student movements across the Nation, and offered spiritual and organizing spaces for young adults to faithfully engage and resist. My prayer is that this year will lean into new ways of having this unspeakably difficult conversation, that we will hold our own government accountable for its complicity an engage these atrocities without losing our sense of dignity and worthiness of all members of this community. That we hold space for nuance and compassion as we discuss matters on which we disagree. And that the very thread that holds us together will not pray. I pray that we draw from the woolspring of courage and moral clarity offered by our freely chosen face to bear witness in ways that are worthy of its teachings. I have faith that we can do this together.
Could someone share the zoom link for Jewish UUs?
"Transciption of Rev. Belencourt’s comments leading to this RR
First I want to directly address the profound horror and loss of these latest rounds of violence in the Middle East. This multigenerational history with trauma and oppression and loss on all sides is one that we struggle with to engage as a unitarian universalist community. We have long been taught to side with those most impacted by injustice, and when those designations are simple, we live out our faith in ways that may be immensely proud to be a UU. And all of this is harder when anti-Semitism and anti-Arabism and islamophobia are virulent. It is harder in the wake of hamas’s attacks against civilians on October 7th and the unceasingly brutal response by Netanyahu’s government ever since.
Your UUA has been in deep conversation with you use most directly connected to this violence. We responded with multiple public statements, condemning violence against both Palestinians and Israeli citizens. We joined with you use and broader progressive religious partners to call for a ceasefire. We provided webinars, resources, trainings and opportunities for action. Condemned the violent repression of student movements across the Nation, and offered spiritual and organizing spaces for young adults to faithfully engage and resist. My prayer is that this year will lean into new ways of having this unspeakably difficult conversation, that we will hold our own government accountable for its complicity an engage these atrocities without losing our sense of dignity and worthiness of all members of this community. That we hold space for nuance and compassion as we discuss matters on which we disagree. And that the very thread that holds us together will not pray. I pray that we draw from the woolspring of courage and moral clarity offered by our freely chosen face to bear witness in ways that are worthy of its teachings. I have faith that we can do this together." - Rev. Belencourt
2 Likes
Thank you for this! I couldn’t remember the speech being as one-sided as people were saying it was and from this I can see it wasn’t.
5 Likes
I think it’s worth re-reading the first clause of this resolution again. This does not appear to be calling out Pres. Betancourt for statement that created harm.
Whereas, UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt’s report beautifully reflected upon the profound horror and loss in the Middle East, which is amplifying growing antisemitism and anti-Arabism and islamophobia in the U.S. and beyond;
My initial read-through of this resolution led me to believe it was a negative response to her words, which after watching her report again, I could not understand.
2 Likes
Upon reading Rev Dr Betancourt’s words, I am unclear as to why this RR was felt necessary. I understand if it is in response to feeling that the AIW is too one-sided but that is apparently not the case as discussed at the end of today’s session.
6 Likes
Procedurally RRs cannot be in response to AIWs.
2 Likes
The other line suggests that they still thought it fell short:
“Whereas , a call for recognition of only the harm on one side without regard for the other creates an environment of existential threat to Jewish Unitarian Universalists;”
This suggests they thought it was one-sided.
I agree with the poster above that what this is responding to exactly could be clearer, because officially a RR has to be in response to a report I believe, not just things that have happened generally outside of the GA space.
1 Like