The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear all, I'm writing in a personal capacity (not with my list-manager hat on). I want to sound a warning bell about the type of assumptions we make about our opponents during list discussions. In particular, I'm saddened and disturbed by the tendency of some list members to assume that those who disagree with them are therefore morally questionable or dishonorable. At the extreme, some posts have gone so far as to suggest that those in disagreement have 'no place on this list.' In my view, one of the biggest problems in the campaigning community is its self-righteous belief that it has a total monopoly on truth and conscience. At the extreme this results in an intolerance of opposing views that verges on the totalitarian. It is ironic that we constantly decry the blinkered US/UK media and its refusal to ask difficult questions, yet often react very aggressively to challenges to our own beliefs. George Bush may see the world in terms of evil badies and pure goodies - and some in the campaigning movement are in danger of doing the same. To avoid this, we *do* have to ask ourselves difficult questions. Colin is someone who shows us the way in doing this, because he constantly refuses easy categorisations. His realpolitik approach does sometimes make me uncomfortable. I hope, however, that I have the maturity to recognise that this is not because he is morally questionable, but because he is presenting real and difficult challenges to my own sometimes complacent worldview. In any case, were the question to come down to moral worth, measured by principled commitment to the anti-sanctions cause, I find myself - and indeed many people on this list - severely wanting in comparison to Colin. In one sense, I am sorry that this message comes straight after that of M, because in effect he has shown how Colin might also consider challenges to his own worldview, and to the moral bases of realpolitik. However, many list members are not so thoughtful and respectful in considering viewpoints which which they disagree. In sum, I suppose I am saying that people deficient in humanity and compassion do exist - but I've never (or very rarely!) seen one on the casi-discuss list. Certainly, I think the list environment would become less volatile and more constructive if the baseline assumption was that the person who disagrees with you is not morally suspect. It should not need 'bravery' to post challenging arguments to the CASI discussion list. And to those who have suggested that such arguments do not belong on the CASI list: I think that this says very sad things about your inability to practise the message of tolerance and humanity that you purport to preach. best, Abi _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk