[HANASHIR:11327] Re: back on track

[Ethan Leigh Bueno de Mesquita <mesquita...>]

Shirona,

I for one support Adrian's decision. Here is the problem. I have found
some of the emails sent to this deeply troubling, slanted, and at times
misinformed. However, because this is a music list and I did not want to
plunge it into a debate on the Middle East (a topic about which I spend a
lot of my time thinking and writing as a political scientist) I have not
written in to argue. But in doing so I have also let what I think is
misinformation that fans the flames of conflict (such as the "Crash
Course" you sent out) to go uncountered, which leaves me in a bit of a
moral quandry (wanting to respect the purpose of this list but feeling a
need to say what I belive to be true rather than tacitly endorse your
views by remaining silent).

So, you see, it is not a matter simply of deleting the occasional
political email. This assumes that the issue is one of convenience,
rather than one of our responsiblity to respond when we disagree
with someone's opinions or even claims to fact. Taken from this
perspective, it becomes clear that if I disagree with you and feel that I
should write in and explain why, then you will feel compelled to respond,
and soon this will be an Arab-Israeli conflict list rather than a music
list. To be clear, I am not falling back on the "this is a music list"
defense. Rather I am saying that one cannot discuss the Arab-Israeli
conflict and have it be confined to "a few political emails". It has
remained such up to now because people like me have restrained
ourselves for the sake of the list. But I will not continue to do so,
which will lead us into a very long, and (for the list) overwhelming
debate. I guarantee you, I have a lot to say on the topic. But there are
so many Arab-Israeli conflict lists where we can discuss our differences
of opinion, why don't we just leave this one as is.


best,

Ethan

> Adrian,
>
> Considering the magnitude of what is happening in the world and to us
Jews-
> I think we've been "pretty good" in keeping the non musical stuff to a
> minimum.  We are a community that cares alot about each other and we
have a
> special bond.  It's only natural that we feel compelled to share certain
> things - when they really matter, and when we feel that the things we
share
> can make a difference. Like educate each other in those areas where
> ignorance can be detrimental to us as a people.
>
> To those who privately complain to Adrian...is it harder to delete a
> political message than a "legitimate" one that is of no interest to you?
>
> Please skip the obvious "this is a music list".  We all know this and
> respect this.  An occasional excursion into the realm of ideas and
values
> isn't going to kill anyone - whereas the lack of it might.
>
> Shirona
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
>  Visit my website at    www.shirona.com
> Listen to my music at www.mp3.com/shirona
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*******************************
Ethan Bueno de Mesquita
Ph.D. Candidate

mesquita (at) fas(dot)harvard(dot)edu
www.fas.harvard.edu/~mesquita

Department of Government
Littauer Center, North Yard
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA  02138
(617) 384-7303 (office)

"Can lack of bias ever compensate for absence of insight?"
        -Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel


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