Open letter to the University of St Thomas

Dear President Father Dennis Dease:

This letter concerns the December 2, 2008, St. Thomas-hosted forum entitled “Healing Wounds and Building Bridges: An Interfaith Dialogue on Peace in the Holy Land”.

The forum was advertised as “an attempt to encourage mutual understanding and peace-making” concerning “the controversial Israeli-Palestinian situation.” Reportedly, it was intended as a reconciliation gesture following the 2007 controversy when Desmond Tutu’s invitation to speak at St. Thomas was rescinded because of honest and realistic statements he had made concerning Israeli policy.

While attempting to address wrongs is commendable, it is unfortunate that in trying to do so, St. Thomas blundered yet again.  The most glaring blunder was the absurd assumption that a discussion pursuing “mutual understanding” could be held without including a Palestinian voice. How can one seriously discuss peace in the Holy Land in the absence of one of the most important points of view in that region, that of the Palestinians themselves? The failure to include anyone from local or national Palestinian communities raises serious questions as to the actual “peace” the institution is advocating.

St. Thomas disinvited Desmond Tutu based on charges from Minneapolis’ Jewish Community Relations Council of Tutu being “anti-Israel”. It is curious that St. Thomas would indulge one voice as speaking for the entire Jewish community, even at the cost of insulting an internationally respected figure such as Rev. Tutu, and at the same time callously ignore the requests of local Palestinians to be included in a substantive public forum.

Such favoritism serves to promote a status quo that caters to U.S. Zionist pressure, blindly supports Israeli policies, and condemns Palestinian society in absolute as terrorists.  To encourage healing dialogue on peace in the Holy Land, we must change these dynamics that actually silence discussion in a harmful and racist way. Serious discussion on this matter MUST happen, MUST be allowed for and MUST no longer be silenced by those who hold power.

As conscientious people of the Twin Cities — Jews, Palestinians, Muslims, Christians and allies, we are here to say that we do not accept these dynamics of discrimination in our cities. We are here to build honest relationships to combat injustice and seek peace. We are here to create the space needed for inclusive dialogue and we refuse to be pressured into silence for fear of ruffling feathers.

As that great man of peace Desmond Tutu said in his “controversial” speech, “Injustice and oppression will never prevail.”

Signed,
K. Flo Razowsky,
International Jewish anti-Zionist Network, Twin Cities (IJAN-TC)

Supported by:
-Ricardo Levins Morales
St Paul
-Jordan Ash
St Paul
-Joel Weisberg:
Carleton College
-Rachel Orville
Minneapolis
-Josina Manu Maltzman
Minneapolis
-Sanna  Towns
Local Educator
-Sarah Martin
Women Against Military Madness (WAMM)
-Tom Snell
Minneapolis
-Sylvia Schwarz
St Paul
-Charlotte Albrecht
University of Minnesota Graduate Student
-Deborah Rosenstein
Labor Educator
-Bob Kosuth
Duluth
-Elise Goldin
Macalester College
-Gale E. Jensen
St Paul
-Fadia Abu Haj
Minneapolis
-Carole Ryden
Middle East Peace Now (MEPN)
-Eric Angel
St Paul
-Lisa Albrecht
Ph.D, University of Minnesota
-Karen Redleaf
St. Paul
-Bara Berg
M.D., St. Paul
-Ziad Amra
American Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee (ADC).
-Jordan S. Kushner
Attorney
-Liza Burr
St Paul resident
-Simona Sawhney
University of Minnesota
-Polly Mann
Women Against Military Madness (WAMM)
-Nigel Parry
Minneapolis
-Trish E. Kanous
PharmD,MP
-Margaret Sarfehjooy
WAMM
-Claire Urbanski
Minneapolis
- Ilana Lerman
Minneapolis
-Harry Greenberg
Minneapolis