Sticking to a mission, even when others don’t
GateHouse News Service
New! Wed Sep 12, 2007, 03:27 PM EDT
Needham –
Needham’s Human Rights Committee, one that is certainly appreciated,
but not often heard from, quickly set to work making a decision: sever
ties with the Anti-Defamation League’s "No Place for Hate" program or
stand by it.
The predicament came to the forefront when the ADL, with a mission is
to "secure justice and fair treatment for all," refused to back
legislation acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, which saw the murder
of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 under the Ottoman Empire.
How can a program designed to combat hate, sponsored by an
organization conceived to eliminate bigotry, not acknowledge the
Armenian people’s painful history?
That’s what the Human Rights Committee set out to discuss after the
ADL fired its regional director, Andrew Tarsy, for going against its
national credo and publicly recognizing the genocide.
Though Tarsy was later rehired, and the national director, Abraham
Foxman, issued a statement indicating the events of 1915-1923 were
"tantamount to genocide," the Human Rights Committee decided that
simply wouldn’t suffice.
So, the committee drafted a letter to the ADL (see page 17),
requesting it begin backing its own mission, or Needham would consider
severing ties with its "No Place for Hate" program.
It seems like the right, even obvious, thing to do. So far, Watertown
and Arlington have done so, and Newton voted this week to follow suit.
But over the course of the past several weeks, while the ADL’s
policies have come under fire, residents have come forward demanding
the town immediately end its association with the organization.
The Human Rights Committee, however, decided not to act rashly. It
made a statement – indicating it will not tolerate such immoral
behavior – and chose to give the ADL time to react, if it so chooses.
As Rabbi Jay Perlman pointed out last week, "The machinations of
policy change in a large organization are moving. Instead of being
punitive, I believe it’s more important to let the ADL have its
discussions."
The decision is a wise one. Though the ADL’s policy with regards to
the Armenian Genocide was abhorrent to many, it’s more important to
convince the organization change is necessary going forward than
punish it for the mistakes of the past.
Source: 7699
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
