Tuesday, November 9, 2004
[Note, if this seems like a boring story of local interest only, go ahead and skip down to the final lengthy quotation at the bottom of the post.]
The sleepy city of Somerville, Massachusetts...just outside Boston, one of the hotbeds of the American Revolution when the British enraged the citizenry by marching to seize the powder from the old Powderhouse there...is, in more recent days home to a new and less laudable radical element - the Chomskyite "Progressive" variety from neighboring Cambridge.
According to an update I received from the JCRC of Greater Boston, the latest fad to sweep college campuses and the Presbyterian Church is now threatening to infect a local municipality.
Here's the notice I received yesterday:
JCRC has been working with a dedicated group of Somerville residents and business owners, local Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, labor representatives, local elected officials, and religious leaders. Through our coordinated strategy to defeat this one-sided resolution, all of the Aldermen, the Mayor, and other local leaders have been contacted.
Tonight will be the hearing of the Legislative Matters Committee and the full Board will meet tomorrow night. We are encouraging Somerville residents to be there to speak out against the resolution. We will be there in support of their efforts and to help manage the process with local residents who requested we participate.
We have worked together to fight similar resolutions at local universities and we are confident we will be successful in fighting this one. We do not want the City of Somerville to begin a divestiture trend among local municipalities.
We thank you for your inquiries and ongoing support. Please join us in supporting the efforts of Somerville residents working tirelessly to defeat this resolution. If you know anyone who wants to make a written statement, please have them direct it to: Somerville's City Clerk, John Long, at Somerville City Hall. He can be reached by email at JLong@ci.somerville.ma.us, or by mail at: 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.
Yes, the divestment effort has come to suburban (Is Somerville a suburb? It's a bit more urban than sub.) Boston. When I was a college student, the effort was to get the university to divest from South Africa - you know, like a real, actual Apartheid state? Today, "progressives" (hereafter referred to as "the forces of darkness") are directing their wrathful calls for collective punishment (I love that turnaround) to be brought down on America and Freedom's only true friend in the region, Israel - as if City Councils don't have enough to worry about with, you know, stuff like running schools and finding funds for police and fire. But who cares about that stuff, after all, Think Globally, Act Locally! The danger is, of course, that that stuff is difficult, but holding basically meaningless votes and hearings is easy, especially if the politicians feel they're pleasing a few constituents. You can't just ignore it, because while the idea of Somerville itself divesting is a relatively small matter, one victory of this nature can lead to a cumulative effect.
So it's good that the JCRC is rallying the troops to get out there and be heard. There was to be another hearing tonight, but according to the notice I received today, the divestment issue is not going to be discussed:
Members of local unions, Rep. Tim Toomey, and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curatone clearly stated their opposition to the resolution. A similar statement was also read from Sen. Jarrett Barrios.
The Board of Aldermen will NOT be addressing this issue at tonight's meeting. Accordingly, it is not necessary for us to turn-out a large crowd tonight.
The Aldermen will be accepting written statements through the end of this month. Statements can be sent to the City Clerk: John Long, at Somerville City Hall by email at JLong@ci.somerville.ma.us, or by mail at: 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143
Here, BTW, is the email info for the entire Board of Aldermen if you'd like to politely make your own views known.
It seems the Mayor, at least, has his head on straight:
The resolution, which was submitted by eight of the Board�s 11 members, would recommend the city divest in Israeli bonds and any stock it holds in six companies: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Electric, United Technologies, and Caterpillar. The resolution notes that all of the companies supply military equipment to Israel, with the exception of Caterpillar, which, it says, �profits from bulldozers that are used by Israel to illegally demolish homes.�
In his letter, Curtatone said he opposed the resolution because Israel remains �an important democratic ally trying to survive in an often hostile environment� and he urged the board not to �take any actions that undermine the safety and security of the Israeli people.�
�[Israel] continues to be the target of ruthless and deadly terrorist attacks,� he said. �Many of its neighbors refuse to recognize its very right to exist and Al Qaeda has made Israel�s destruction one of its primary objectives.�
Curtatone said he supports efforts to ensure basic civil rights and liberties for the Palestinians living on the West Bank and in Gaza and he welcomes �the divergent views and robust debate we enjoy here in Somerville.�
�Somerville residents should speak out not only on local but also national and international issues,� he added. �But the complexity of the Middle East situation argues for extreme caution.�
Curtatone said the city�s retirement board is the only city agency that holds investments and he said the board�s chief responsibility is to secure the highest rate or return possible for the fund.
�In rare exceptions, the moral imperative is so clear and unambiguous as to warrant divestment,� said Curtatone. �In this case, the complexity of the situation makes granting an exception unwise.�
Good for him. I hope the JCRC isn't being gamed by the forces of darkness here since a couple of these mailings, including the Mayor's statement, indicate the issue is on the agenda for this evening. I suppose they know what they're doing, though.
I'll try to keep on top of posting updates on this issue.
Oh, but wait! There's more!
You see, the Forces of Darkness (FoD) are also rallying their troops. And guess who's rallying them? It should come as no surprise that the Islamic Society of Boston is behind the effort. Yes, the group behind the controversial multi-million dollar M osque project, recently mired in unanswered accusations of anti-Semitism (surprise!).
If you need a little more data on what's coming into our communities, take a look at what an emailer forwarded me (thank you!) from the Society's email list - their own call to action on the divestment issue [Edit: Let me be fair here. It appears to me that the mass email list the item below came from may be unmoderated. Draw your own conclusions as to how far the ISB's responsibility for it goes.] I admit, I read it and thought, "Holy Smokes." Read (in full - emphasis mine):
By M aria H ussain, Editor
World View News Service
Dear Friends of Palestine,
Quite by accident, the Aldermen of Somerville, Massachusetts selected the night of November 9th, 2004 to vote on the Socially Responsible Investment Resolution which recommends that the city's retirement benefits investment plans be taken out of Israeli security bonds and companies such as Caterpillar which aid in the Israeli occupation army's war crimes against the civilian population of Palestine.
On the 9th of November, quite possibly the Night of Power, the American people will stand up to the Jewish community. Already, the Zionist telephone hate hotline has been busily threatening and trying to intimidate the Aldermen and their families. We hope that the Aldermen will not be swayed in their decision to avoid investing public money in controversial companies or in countries that the disregard human rights rulings issued by the World Court. There is every reason to believe that the truth will be victorious on that night, for it is the most holy night in the sacred month of Ramadan.
Allah says about the Night of Power: "Ah, What will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. Peace until the rising of the dawn." (Surat al Qadr 97:1-5). The Night of Power, the night when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, is called Laylat Al Qadr, and it is the night during which destinies are decided. (See Surat Ad-Dukhan 44:4). Laylat Al Qadr is a night in which angels descend to earth and ascend back to heaven, carrying with them the sincere prayers of the people who are awake.
It is a unique privilege to be able to experience Allah's mercy and forgiveness on this blessed night when Muslims all over the Boston area, and all over the world, will spend the night awake in prayer and reflection. To receive the Holy Spirit of Allah in this Night of Power is worth more than 84 years of life. The Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, said that he who seeks blessings and guidance from Allah on this Night of Power will have his previous sins forgiven: the ultimate liberation.
Inshallah, this Night of Power will go down in history like John Brown's uncompromising stand against slavery. Life's purpose is not just to find linguistic loopholes to evade the clear criteria given to us by our Creator which define right and wrong. For Allah has said: "I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me in order that they may be led aright." (Surat al Baqarah 2:186).
Oh Muslims who are praying tonight, remember the good people in Somerville who want their city to divest from Israel, because they are coming up against the Beast, and they will have to make this jihad, but they are not alone. "Victory cometh only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Surat Al Anfal 8:10).
If there is even one person in Somerville, Massachusetts, who is attending the Alderman meeting with the weight of a mustard seed of faith in his or her heart, I pray the sky open up and Allah's glory be made manifest for the sake of bestowing dignity and honor upon the keepers of the holy shrines in the holy land.
If Allah does not grant victory to the Palestinian people, the noble mosques and dignified churches in which the names of the prophets are recalled, will be bulldozed to the ground. If Palestine is crushed, so too will the spirit of humanity be ground into the dirt. Like Rachel Corrie, our back will be broken.
In a grave and deadly hour such as this, the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, prayed for the safety of his companions in the heroic Battle of Badr. "Oh Allah, if this small band of Muslims is destroyed, You will not be worshipped on this earth." Early in the history of Islam, when it appeared that the enemies of Islam would mass murder the Muslims, the Muslims refused to submit to anything other than Allah. Therefore "Allah willed that He should cause the Truth to triumph." (Surat Al Anfal 8:5).
It is in such a perilous hour that we live today, when we have no choice but to stand up against the raging Beast consuming all that is beautiful and holy on this earth, because this is not just about doing our moral duty towards our brothers and sisters in Palestine, but this is about being willing to follow in the footsteps of the prophets. We all have to be willing to uphold universal principles of justice as defined by Allah through Moses, Jesus and Mohammed, peace be upon them, not justice as the pro-Israel public relations agents redefine it.
"Allah Almighty says: (When ye sought help of your Lord and He answered you, saying): "I will help you with a thousand of the angels, rank on rank." Allah appointed it only as good tidings, and ... remove from you the fear of Satan, and make strong your hearts and firm (your) feet thereby when thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying:) "I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who cover up the Truth. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger." (8:9-12).
The State of Israel is the primary threat to World Peace today, especially in that it controls American politics. The American people have a duty to break the neck of the State of Israel by cutting off its supply of funding. We must kill the stranglehold that the supporters of Israel have placed upon our throats. These criminals have destroyed our democracy with the Patriot Act, ruined our economy with useless wars designed to make Israel the world superpower, they have printed lies in the newspapers that resulted in thousands of innocent Muslims to be imprisoned indefinitely without charge, tortured, and degraded. These people would knowingly put another family out of their home, and then happily move into their house. These people, dual citizen Israeli-Americans, are willing and eager to put American lives at risk just so they can enjoy stolen real estate at bargain prices available only to themselves.
On the 9th of November, when the organized Jewish community will attempt to deny, justify, or downplay Israeli war crimes, the American people will say no to Israel's occupation of Palestine. I pray Allah give the good people of Massachusetts the right words to say, and the courage to declare total opposition to Israel's use of our money. We must all thank these good Americans for standing up for all Americans' right to make socially conscious decisions in regards to their investments.
Any of you who believe in angels, this is the night for us to wake up and believe there is such a thing as Truth. Allah will send down His reinforcements like He did in that great battle centuries ago. Allah will back us up with 1000 angels. The Battle of Badr showed the world that a small group of people armed with the truth can prevail against those who wish to prevent the truth from being spoken.
True peace is the submission of the heart to make the decision to do the right thing no matter what the cost. This kind of peace exists within, and is not dependent on the evildoers' willingness to cease bombing those who refuse to worship the Beast. For we know that we too could face torture like Jesus faced at the hands of the Romans, or like our friends in Guantanamo, Israel's prisons, and Abu Ghraib.
On this night the testimony will be made about the truth of Israeli war crimes on American soil, in a government building, on live TV. Whether we are in Somerville at the Town Hall, or saying a prayer in the masjid, or tucking our kids into bed on that night, we should all be clear that if we are ever to succeed in taking this first step towards divesting from Israel, this is the night we could really do it.
All of you who are seeking the victory of Allah on behalf of the Palestinian people who are hungry, afraid, and abandoned, in these holy nights at the end of Ramadan, God willing, this is the night for salvation, for victory, for success.
Now, if you read the above and think, "Yeah, so? That's one point of view," then this blog is probably not for you.
But if you read the above and your jaw drops a bit as you go, and you understand that this is something a bit out of the ordinary (to say the least) and that what this represents may be something that needs to be kept an eye on, coming as it does under the auspices of what is rapidly becoming accepted as another mainstream religious institution and that this message is designed to appeal to and motivate their adherents, then stick around...and keep your eyes open.
Oh, and buy some Cat products.
Update: I've done a bit of Googling on the author of the mass email above. She's a real beaut. [Again, I'm obscuring some of the links. I've no interest in appearing in one of those site's (an extreme Judenhass site) referrer logs. Sorry, you've got to copy and paste if you're interested.]
Allah�s Word Against The Jews - http://www.jewishtribalreview.org/hussain5.htm
How I Lost Two Jewish Friends in One Week - http://www.jewishtribalreview.org/hussain2.htm
Psychoanalyzing Pharaoh - http://www.jewishtribalreview.org/hussain3.htm
The End of Time Arguments Spread Fear
Update: Emails on the ISB mailing list now contain the following disclaimer:
Update: My emailer discovered the original source of the article.
Sol,
Thanks for posting this.
My jaw is on the floor.
Harry
ot: Afirmative action
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/lindachavez/lc20041110.shtml
todays tragedy in palestine is perfect example of
descendent of original criminals returning to the
original crime scene. palestine shall be free,and
with palestine,the whole earth.the worlds police and security forces must be fully informed of the
rebellious,treacherous,ungodly,zionist threat to
world peace,and they must be on full alert to protect from the possibility of the zionist using
their assess to WMD for the purpose of doing to world populations what they did to the inhabitant of palestine when they first sent spys in then went on to totally destroy everything,keeping and saving only the precious wealth (gold,silver,etc.). please see book of joshua in the so-called "holy bible". the israelis did this,after the ten commandments,using GOD's name and making HIM THE LEADERSHIP in the original crimes committed in palestine by joshua and the rebellious tribes of ungodly,material greedy,and unrepentant,house of israel.
Did the school nurse run out of meds at VCU this semester?
Arguments for an against divesting from Israel are fine. However, appeals to God, to the Bible, to Allah, on either side, are not.
While the issue of peace in the Middle East is of course a religiously loaded topic, the only way to create positive peace is to walk the line where agreement exists, and this line is outside of the realm of religion. Muslims will never be able to convince Jews that they are wrong and Jews will never be able to convince Muslims that they are wrong.
It should be revolting to all ears when religions zealots call upon documents that are not only 2000 years old or older, but that tell stories in allegories, to make their case.