[Air-L] The difficult conversation we don't seem to be having

[D. Elizabeth Cohen]

I completely agree with you, Dr. Michael Baron.

Best regards,

D. Elizabeth Cohen

On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 11:35 AM Dr Michael Baron via Air-L <
air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
> Will the ''statement'' also include mention of the horrible terrorist
> attack by Hamas on civilians, babies and elderly killed, hostages taken?
> yours sincerely,
> Michael Baron
>
> On Mon, 22 Jan 2024 at 14:58, MC Cambre via Air-L <air-l at listserv.aoir.org
> >
> wrote:
>
> > Thank you Sky for this courageous email.
> > A number of societies and associations have statements out on the
> > situation, like this one: https://www.theasa.net/gazastatement and this
> > one:
> >
> >
> https://mes.americananthro.org/2023/10/20/mes-amea-joint-statement-on-palestine-israel-october-2023/
> >
> > Would be good to do something,
> > kindly,
> > cc
> > --
> >
> >
> > *Dr. Carolina Cambre (she |her) Associate ProfessorConcordia University,
> > Montréal *
> >
> >
> >
> > *Chercheuse associée à IRCAV-Paris 2020-2025
> > https://www.carolinacambre.com/
> > <https://concordia.academia.edu/mariacarolinacambre>
> >
> https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/education/faculty.html?fpid=carolina-cambre
> > <
> >
> https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/education/faculty.html?fpid=carolina-cambre
> > >*
> >
> > *Concordia University is located on Kanien’kehá:ka territory.*
> >
> > *University of Alberta is located on Treaty 6 / Métis territory.*
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 10:45 PM Tom Hale via Air-L <
> > air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Well said.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Tom Hale
> > > PhD Candidate in Intercultural Studies
> > > ThomasHaleResearch.com
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 11:33 Sky Croeser via Air-L <
> > > air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi everyone,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > This is a difficult message to write, and I know that it will
> probably
> > > open
> > > > some difficult conversations. I realised this morning that I was
> shying
> > > > away from having these conversations because I don’t want to create
> > > > problems for the many colleagues who I respect and am fond of within
> > > AoIR.
> > > > And while I do care about all of you, sometimes care means being
> brave
> > > (and
> > > > perhaps annoying) instead of being polite.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > So. We need to talk about Gaza. And we need to talk about Israel.
> Many
> > of
> > > > us have been speaking up individually, but our voices have more power
> > > when
> > > > we bring them together. I have signed on to other open letters, but I
> > > think
> > > > there are also important reasons for the Association of Internet
> > > > Researchers to take a stance.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *What I am suggesting?*
> > > >
> > > > I am asking for us to have a discussion about some form of public
> > > > solidarity with Palestinians who are currently under attack, and with
> > > those
> > > > within Israel and around the world who are speaking up against the
> > > actions
> > > > of the Israeli state.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > It might involve a statement of solidarity for those who are under
> > attack
> > > > in Gaza and other parts of Palestine, and for people engaged in
> > > non-violent
> > > > resistance to the actions of the Israeli state. It might involve
> > joining
> > > > the international call for an academic boycott of Israeli
> institutions
> > > > complicit in the ongoing violence against Palestinians (the
> guidelines
> > > for
> > > > which are available here <https://bdsmovement.net/academic-boycott
> >).
> > It
> > > > might involve a commitment to ask our own academic institutions to
> cut
> > > > their ties with the Israeli state. It might take some other format.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Why now?*
> > > >
> > > > There are many acts of violence and oppression happening around the
> > > world.
> > > > Why should our academic organisation speak up on this, specifically?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because the scale of the violence is immense and continuing
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/daily-death-rate-gaza-higher-any-other-major-21st-century-conflict-oxfam
> > > > >,
> > > > exceeding that of any recent armed conflict. There is no end in
> sight,
> > > and
> > > > the deliberate restriction of food, water, and medicine means that
> > people
> > > > within Gaza face starvation and disease as well as bombing and other
> > > forms
> > > > of direct violence.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because many of us are based in countries which are prepared to
> condemn
> > > > other atrocities, but are unwilling to issue more than lukewarm
> > > statements
> > > > about the Israeli state’s violence against Palestinians. For example,
> > > > Australia’s
> > > > foreign minister Penny Wong
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/17/penny-wong-meets-israel-katz-isaac-herzog-israel-gaza-palestine-war-meets-hamas-hostages
> > > > >
> > > > “has met with Israeli relatives of hostages held by Hamas and assured
> > > them
> > > > that she will continue to use Australia’s voice to call for the
> > > immediate,
> > > > unconditional and safe return of all hostages” and affirmed
> Australian
> > > > support for Israel, while only “raising concerns” about the
> > humanitarian
> > > > situation in Gaza. Australia has also supported the US/UK bombing of
> > > Yemen
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/12/australia-military-support-yemen-airstrikes-us-uk
> > > > >
> > > > in retailation for their disruption of shipping routes to Israel.
> Where
> > > our
> > > > own governments will not speak up for human rights, we have an
> > obligation
> > > > to raise our voices.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because AoIR is <https://aoir.org/diversity-and-inclusivity/> “is
> > > > committed
> > > > to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of
> > > > opportunity, and human dignity.” The last university in Gaza has now
> > been
> > > > destroyed
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.thenational.scot/news/24059315.israel-destroys-last-university-gaza-strikes-continue/
> > > > >
> > > > by the Israeli army, along with many schools. Students from these
> > > > universities feel their loss keenly
> > > > <https://wearenotnumbers.org/lament-for-the-universities/>, even
> while
> > > > trying to stay alive through bombings and the denial of their basic
> > human
> > > > needs. Countless Palestinian academics
> > > > <
> > >
> >
> https://wearenotnumbers.org/tributes-to-refaat-alareer-killed-dec-9-2023/
> > > > >
> > > > and students
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://wearenotnumbers.org/tributes-to-mohammed-zaher-hamo-killed-nov-24-2023/
> > > > >
> > > > have been killed, injured, and displaced
> > > > <https://wearenotnumbers.org/i-have-left-all-my-books-behind/>.
> > Attacks
> > > on
> > > > Palestinian educational institutions are not new
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://protectingeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/impact_attackeducation_palestine_2022_en.pdf
> > > > >.
> > > > Calls for protection
> > > > <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057925.2021.1987192>
> > > have
> > > > gone unheeded.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because the digital technologies that many of us research are woven
> > > through
> > > > this conflict. Israeli authorities are using facial recognition
> > > technology
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/05/israel-opt-israeli-authorities-are-using-facial-recognition-technology-to-entrench-apartheid/
> > > > >
> > > > to entrench apartheid. The Israeli military is using an “AI” system
> to
> > > > “generate targets”
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.npr.org/2023/12/14/1218643254/israel-is-using-an-ai-system-to-find-targets-in-gaza-experts-say-its-just-the-st
> > > > >.
> > > > Telecommunications systems are shut down
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/israel-intensifies-gaza-bombardment-as-internet-and-phone-services-go-down
> > > > >,
> > > > making it difficult for people in Gaza to communicate while under
> > attack.
> > > > Large tech companies have been providing key systems to the Israeli
> > > > government <https://notechforapartheid.com/>.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Because Israeli citizens who protest
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.npr.org/2024/01/19/1225651180/israel-tel-aviv-protest-gaza-war
> > > > >
> > > > the actions of their government (including on social media) face
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/12/israel-free-speech-arrests-hamas/
> > > > >
> > > > jail
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-police-crack-down-arab-citizens-expressing-solidarity-with-gaza-2023-10-20/
> > > > >
> > > > and threats of violence
> > > > <https://www.972mag.com/israeli-protest-gaza-war-repression/>, as do
> > > those
> > > > who refuse to serve in the army
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240115-israel-s-war-resisters-risk-jail-time
> > > > >.
> > > > They deserve our support and solidarity.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Why **are we** silent?*
> > > >
> > > > I do not think that AoIR has tended to position itself as a neutral
> or
> > > > apolitical organisation. Past conference themes
> > > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Internet_Researchers>
> > have
> > > > included “Revolutions” and “Decolonising the Internet”. My sense is
> > that
> > > > there was also a response and a discussion within the organisation to
> > the
> > > > Black Lives Matter movement, among other issues.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Of course, I am aware that academic organisations will not often
> > respond
> > > to
> > > > international events. Perhaps the silence so far is entirely for this
> > > > reason. Perhaps we are afraid that if we speak up on this we will
> also
> > be
> > > > asked to speak about Sudan, Congo, and other issues (would that be
> > > > terrible?)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > However, I think that we must also acknowledge the chilling effect
> that
> > > > many academics and others experience specifically on the matter of
> > > Israel.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Antisemitism is a real and significant problem in the world. However,
> > the
> > > > ongoing attempt to conflate all criticism of Israel with antisemitism
> > is
> > > > intellectually dishonest and dangerous
> > > > <
> > https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/11/09/antisemitism-dangerous/
> > > >.
> > > > It also frequently glosses over the long history of Jewish
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.wrmea.org/2008-december/israel-and-judaism-the-long-and-largely-untold-history-of-jewish-opposition-to-zionism.html
> > > > >
> > > > opposition
> > > > <
> > https://jacobin.com/2020/07/israel-palestine-anti-zionism-history-left>
> > > > to
> > > > the formation of Israel. Organisations like the ADL put forward
> claims
> > > that
> > > > groups like A Jewish Voice for Peace are antisemitic *because* they
> are
> > > > anti-Zionist. Similarly, Canary Mission lists university students,
> > > > professors, and organisations that criticise the Israeli state
> > alongside
> > > > neo-nazi organisations like the “Daily Stormer”, conflating
> legitimate
> > > > criticism of the Israeli government with violent antisemitism.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I understand that many people do not want to contribute to the real
> > > > antisemitism faced by our friends, colleagues, and students face. We
> > all
> > > > have a duty to oppose antisemitism in our communities and
> universities.
> > > > Perhaps that leads to a reluctance to speak out about the Israeli
> > state’s
> > > > actions. However, I believe that we can oppose both antisemitism and
> > > > Israeli state violence. The Israeli state does not speak for, or act
> > for,
> > > > all
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/23/us/jewish-palestinian-protest-israel-gaza/index.html
> > > > >
> > > > Jewish
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-jewish-group-protests-eight-cities-gaza-ceasefire-2023-12-15/
> > > > >
> > > > people
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/19/jewish-protest-israel-gaza-washington-dc
> > > > >.
> > > > We should not allow them to claim that they do.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We also must be aware that organisations like Canary Mission work
> hard
> > to
> > > > impose
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://truthout.org/articles/advocacy-for-palestinians-has-been-outright-criminalized-warns-academic/
> > > > >
> > > > a high
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/12/8/doxxing-students-palestine-feature/
> > > > >
> > > > cost
> > > > <
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.cuindependent.com/2023/11/05/ethnic-studies-pro-palestine-statement-taken-down-after-pushback/
> > > > >
> > > > on students and teachers within universities who do speak up. A
> variety
> > > of
> > > > governments have also worked to ban the Boycott-Divest-Sanctions
> > movement
> > > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-BDS_laws>. There are therefore
> > real
> > > > material consequences for speaking against the actions of the Israeli
> > > > state. Perhaps that is enough that we do not want to put AoIR as an
> > > > organisation, or fellow academics within AoIR, in a difficult
> position.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > But if that’s the case, let’s at least acknowledge it. Let’s make it
> > > > visible. Let us be aware that our organisation, and its commitments
> to
> > > > values like diversity and inclusion
> > > > <https://aoir.org/diversity-and-inclusivity/>, are constrained and
> > > > limited.
> > > > That our interest in hearing from those who are currently at the
> > margins
> > > of
> > > > our academic spaces (as set out in the ‘revolutions’ CfP
> > > > <https://aoir.org/aoir2023/aoir2023cfp/>) does not, perhaps, extend
> as
> > > far
> > > > as some of us might hope.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > With love, solidarity, and significant trepidation,
> > > >
> > > > sky.
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> > > > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers
> http://aoir.org
> > > > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at:
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> > > >
> > > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> > > > http://www.aoir.org/
> > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> > > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org
> > > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at:
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> > >
> > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> > > http://www.aoir.org/
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org
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> >
> > Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> > http://www.aoir.org/
> >
>
>
> --
> Dr Michael Baron
> CEO, Baron Consulting
> Website: www.baronconsulting.com.au
> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-baron-78b8904b/
>
> "My Body is my Temple"
> "Be The Change You Want to See In The World." Gandhi
> _______________________________________________
> The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org
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>
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>


-- 
*D. Elizabeth Cohen, PhD*

*Reiki Master, Distance Healer, and Educator*

*https://www.sunnycohenreiki.org/ <https://www.sunnycohenreiki.org/>*
Former Instructor, Digital Storytelling, Pre-TOEFL Program, Kichua
Institute of Scence, Technology & Humanities
Former Associate Professor, Global Education Innovation Center, Gyeongju
University
Former Senior Research Fellow, Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital
Access
Whatsapp: 1 503 894 5157
SKYPE Deborah Elizabeth Cohen
USA Phone: 424 313 4064

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