Letter from William Thomas 6/11/93
From: Thomas, P.O. Box 27217, Washington, D.C. 20038
To: Carla (All Ways Free). P.O. Box 24714, Eugene, Oregon 97402
June 13, 1993
Dear sister & those relations who may share your perception,
You wrote to me asking that I "not mix Rainbow Legaliaison
material & Peace Park, Proposition One stuff, etc. in the same
envelope." You informed me that you "plan to also bring it up in
the Council at the Gathering." I honestly thought your concerns
had been resolved by our phone conversation of May 28th.
It is difficult to understand why you can't see THE FACT (as
distinct from an opinion) that the proposed Forest Service
regulations, and the regulations in Peace Park share precisely
the same legal precedents. E.g., Clark v. Community for Creative
Non-Violence, 468 U.S. 290, see, Fed. Reg. May 6, 1993, page
26940. "We Are One," it says next to your picture. Yet, you
seem to think that "we" (Rainbow) are different than "you" (Peace
Park). If, God forbid, this regulation is enacted you will
understand that Rainbow was neither holier nor wiser than Peace
Park. I mention this so, should my dire predictions come to
pass, we will share a better understanding then than we do now.
Likewise, in my opinion, Proposition One stuff is no more
political, and no less related to this "Rainbow cause" (but, in
the long run, more practical) than "Plan B" -- which, except for
prioritization, we have been following anyway. Even if you
disagree about relatedness and practicality, but assuming you
still value a well informed consensus process, it seems you'd
have mentioned Proposition One, if not as part of Plan B, at
least as a proposed "Plan C." Again, because you may not grasp
the connections now doesn't mean the connections don't exist.
Frankly, I thought it was a little extreme for you to be
concerned about a "Legaliaison Council." Nonetheless your
objection was honored, the meeting was renamed "Freedom of
Belief, Expression and Assembly Council." The only reason you've
given for opposing a D.C. Council is that you "can't" make it to
D.C. in July. Fine, stay at home and write letters to your
congressperson, but please, for the First Amendment's sake, don't
throw obstacles in the way of those who may want to do more.
Finally, it was the Rainbow Family who came to me requesting I
devote time and energy to this matter, rather than vis-a-versa.
You may, of course, raise anything you like in Council, but, in
the interest of the Family, I suggest that we not waste more
Family time, energy and focus on well-intentioned non-issues.
In service to understanding,
D.C. Scribe
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