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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Open Letter From OCITF re: Olive Tree Initiative

The OC Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism has written an open letter to the OC
Jewish Federation, Rose Project and UC-Irvine  Hillel urging them to disassociate themselves from the
Olive Tree Initiative.


http://octaskforce.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/3522

3 comments:

Siarlys Jenkins said...

Net meaning: We, the undersigned, never liked OTI, and still don't, and we define any Jewish person or organization who disagrees with us as a "rift in the Jewish community."

If I were a donor, which I'm not, this letter would inspire me to renew my donation, and dismiss the so-called "debate" for the tempest in a teacup that it is.

Last I read, including everything Gary posts, the donors are exclusively people who choose to donate, and those who participate apply voluntarily to do so. The attempt to suppress this voluntary series of choices is in essence a totalitarian demand for political correctness and groupthink on the part of anyone who happens to be Jewish.

Gary Fouse said...

Siarlys,

Once again you jump in and opine about something you know little about. It is the OCITF that is being accused of "splitting the community" (Stand by). The private citizen who began this issue has been castigated by at least two major Jewish organizations as "dividing the community with lies."

PC is being defended by the ones supporting the OTI.

Keep in mind my role in this has been to look into the figures on the Palestinian side involved in the OTI trips. Then it is up to the donors to make up their own minds. Yes, some have bought into the OTI and support it. But other members of the community are being solicited to support the OTI without really knowing who the players are unless they ask and do the investigative work themselves.

My central question is this: Does the public have aright to know who the players are or not? Answer that question then re-read everything I have posted on this issue.

Siarlys Jenkins said...

No, the public doesn't have a right to know beans about it. It is a private endeavor. On the other hand, people who know something and want to talk about it have a right to do so. It is called free speech. Unless actual malice can be proved, they can even lie.

Those who are asked to donate have a right to ask questions, included outside opinion, and make up their own minds.

Offering the taunt "They're PC, not us," is hardly enlightening. I made the allegation of political correctness and groupthink because the critics appear, in everything you've presented, to believe that "if you're Jewish, you adhere to the party line as I define it." Everyone doesn't have to like OTI. Those who don't, can refrain from donating, and can even advise others not to do so. That some do, is not a scandal, it is freedom of association.