I sure would-I want to know, first hand, what we are up against. Attending is your choice. It is not a requirement.
In the recent past, Lincolnites attended what some argued should not be here in town-a proponent of the 20,000 mules theory of a stolen election. They were not swayed, but sobered. Again, it is a matter of personal choice. > On Dec 5, 2024, at 12:13 PM, Jonathan Sheffi <jshe...@gmail.com> wrote: > > If the Ku Klux Klan properly booked and hosted an open meeting at Bemis, > would we encourage people to attend and come to their own conclusions about > the speakers? I suppose it's fair to say that we don't know about their lived > experiences. We also don't know exactly what they'll say, we can only guess. > The only way to know what the KKK say would be to attend. So I assume your > logic carries that we should all go to the KKK meeting, listen to their > presentation, and hear what they have to say. Right? > > More broadly: Are there any hate groups you wouldn't encourage the people of > Lincoln to listen to? > > On Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 10:49 AM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com > <mailto:samat...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> The point was hardly missed. >> You have had the opportunity to attend and assess a previous GRALTA event >> and coming to your conclusions about the speakers. >> Others have not. >> I trust others will attend and reach their own conclusions-they may align >> with yours. >> >> You and others are making statement that presume all believe Zionism, in its >> current form, is a plus for all. >> That is an interesting point, but probably not for this forum. >> Perhaps that would be a great topic for another event-the history if Zionism >> and the pros and cons of how modern Zionism advances the interests of Isreal >> and Jews. >> I encourage others to bring such a program to Bemis Hall. >> >> The original post that triggered all the subsequent posts was a question >> about the use of Bemis Hall for the upcoming program, and the >> misunderstanding that Bemis/Bemis Free Lecture Series was sponsoring this >> event. >> >> Bemis Hall is available to all. >> >> Bemis Free Lecture Series is NOT sponsoring this event. >> >> A private non-profit, having duly followed all the town regulations, has >> booked Bemis for this event. >> >> >> >> >> >> >>> On Dec 5, 2024, at 10:12 AM, Jonathan Rapaport <mistasna...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:mistasna...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> Wow, talk about spectacularly missing the point. Having attended a previous >>> GRALTA event with an open mind and hearing the speaker trivialize the >>> Holocaust — am I now being told to go back for a second helping? No thank >>> you. >>> >>> If anyone wants to host a constructive lecture about any contentious topic, >>> I’ll bring the popcorn. But I don’t see how an avowedly anti-Zionist event >>> contributes to the “edification and education” of Lincolnites. Who is >>> booked at Bemis for the following week?… Nick Fuentes? >>> >>> When women protest society’s indifference to assault, we support them. No >>> one doubts why Black Americans tense up around the police, and agonize over >>> when to give their kids “the talk.” We proudly march for the rights of our >>> LGBTQ+ loved ones. When Asians are being randomly attacked after our idiot >>> president refers to covid as the “kung flu," we lock arms and stand >>> vigilant. And when Muslims get unfairly profiled after 9/11, we loudly >>> demand change. >>> >>> So when Jews in your community tell you that the >>> neocolonialist-fascist-genocidal rhetoric sounds uncomfortably close to >>> incitement? Pay attention. We’re not being sensitive. We’re not being >>> alarmist. And we’re not hypochondriacs. (Okay we might be hypochondriacs >>> but that’s not the point.) >>> >>> No one is trying to silence criticism of Israeli actions and policies. But >>> there is a clear difference between addressing vital political issues, and >>> engaging in inflammatory rhetoric. Railing against Zionism falls into the >>> latter category. Instead of recommending I bring an open mind to yet >>> another Low Production, join me in urging others to skip it. >>> >>> Jonathan >>> >>>> On Dec 4, 2024, at 7:37 PM, Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com >>>> <mailto:samat...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>> >>>> All, >>>> As I have said in the past, Bemis Hall is available to ALL. >>>> It was built to provide a venue to host lectures for the education and >>>> edification of the citizens of Lincoln, in addition to offer a venue for >>>> entertainment and dance. >>>> >>>> The scheduler is not a gatekeeper, only a scheduler. >>>> Any applicant who meets the conditions of the Hall for its rental are able >>>> to use it. >>>> I have posted the town website multiple times to make clear who, how and >>>> when it can be used/rented. >>>> Town/municipal organizations (official town bodies) have free use. >>>> Others play a deposit and a fee. >>>> >>>> Please educate yourselves, regarding Bemis Hall : >>>> Bemis Hall >>>> lincolntown.org >>>> <favicon.ico> >>>> >>>> <https://5a55e4ca.streaklinks.com/COUnUfzJyYitNrqm5AA-G8uh/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lincolntown.org%2Ffacilities%2Ffacility%2Fdetails%2FBemis-Hall-3>Bemis >>>> Hall >>>> <https://5a55e4ca.streaklinks.com/COUnUfzAQGcEGusJVQjwqtZY/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lincolntown.org%2Ffacilities%2Ffacility%2Fdetails%2FBemis-Hall-3> >>>> lincolntown.org >>>> <https://5a55e4ca.streaklinks.com/COUnUfzQ0DQY3IPPlQWAJ4dt/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lincolntown.org%2Ffacilities%2Ffacility%2Fdetails%2FBemis-Hall-3> >>>> <favicon.ico> >>>> <https://www.lincolntown.org/facilities/facility/details/Bemis-Hall-3> >>>> >>>> Again, I am confident that Lincoln can parse out what is being presented, >>>> as you have done regarding a presentation you attended. >>>> Perhaps others would have interpreted the presentation in another way. >>>> >>>> I do have some special sensitivity to many of these issues. >>>> >>>> I am in a family of Holocaust survivors. >>>> >>>> I find it offensive to anyone suggest that anyone holds anger at the >>>> current Jewish state, accountable for horrific acts against innocent >>>> Palestinians, is antisemitic. >>>> >>>> As to divisiveness-we are often divided over politics-witness our last >>>> Town Meeting. >>>> >>>> We can rise to the challenge-listen to speakers and (attempt to) have >>>> civil discussion. >>>> >>>> . >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On Dec 4, 2024, at 5:29 PM, Jonathan Rapaport <mistasna...@gmail.com >>>>> <mailto:mistasna...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Sara, it was with an open mind that I attended one of Stephen and Barbara >>>>> Low’s GRALTA events at the library some years ago. The speaker was a >>>>> college professor and member of Jewish Voice for Peace, which is a big >>>>> player in the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement >>>>> (BDS). (It’s hard to understand how peace will be achieved through an >>>>> international ban on Israeli academics, artists, athletes, and hummus. >>>>> But that’s a separate topic.) >>>>> >>>>> The speaker gave a grossly misleading account of Israel’s modern history, >>>>> as is consistent with someone wanting to delegitimize the Jewish state. >>>>> Then she made a joke about the Holocaust. It is to my everlasting shame >>>>> that I didn’t speak up in the moment. >>>>> >>>>> Discussions around difficult issues require nuance, balance, knowledge, >>>>> and empathy. There are important discussions to be had about the war and >>>>> suffering in Gaza, and conflict in the Middle East. But as Rosa Elena >>>>> eloquently inferred from the flyer, the upcoming event will serve as a >>>>> platform for propaganda and bias. Accusing Israel of neocolonialism, >>>>> fascism, and genocide are examples of Holocaust inversion. >>>>> >>>>> It saddens me to see our town’s public spaces used to perpetuate >>>>> divisiveness. Perhaps things would be different if someone other than >>>>> Barbara Low were in charge of booking Bemis Hall. Lincoln deserves better. >>>>> >>>>> Jonathan Rapaport >>>> >>> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > > ᐧ
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