Christoff clarifies

This letter is in response to Ken Hechtman's article about my attempt to enter Palestine to work with the International Solidarity Movement ["Access Denied," Dec. 4]. There are some points in the article that beg clarification.

First, I was quoted as saying that "the ISM is as much of a threat as the armed struggle." Simply put, this is neither true nor something that I believe. The ISM has always been - and continues to be - a Palestinian-led movement of Palestinian and international activists working to raise awareness of the struggle for Palestinian freedom, toward an end to the Israeli occupation. Non-violent direct actions facilitated and organized by the ISM can in no way be compared to the armed struggle; they're completely different forms of resistance to the Israeli occupation.

Secondly, the article explains that "the ISM has partially recast itself as an independent news service, channelling on-the-ground reports through its media centre to the world press." The ISM is not an independent news service; our work takes place through campaigns of non-violent direct action.

These campaigns continue to grow. Recently the ISM organized the Freedom Summer Campaign of 2003, which focused on the current construction of the Apartheid Wall. This campaign went forward with the participation of hundreds of internationals, including two members of ISM Montreal. Many non-violent direct actions were organized, which found ISM activists tearing out under-construction sections of the wall.

While the ISM does provide up-to-date information about the suffering inflicted on Palestinians through Israeli occupation, this information is provided within the context of the organization's work as an action-based group that organizes campaigns against the Israeli occupation.

» Stefan Christoff, Member of ISM Montreal

[Ken Hechtman replies: How I understood the threat quote - which appears in my original interview notes - is that the form of resistance that has the best chance of ending the occupation, and therefore worries the Israeli security forces the most, is the non-violent one.

The ISM regularly distributes radio and print reports - in my opinion, "providing up-to-date information" in this way is filling the function of a news service, no matter what you call it.]

Abating anger

I read Kristian Gravenor's "Control yer frikkin' temper" column in the Mirror last week and I wanted to say I agree [Kristian Perspective, Dec. 4]. I'd also like to comment on what he said about education and prevention for violent boys.

I am a volunteer and board member at a non-profit organization called Women AWARE. We have three different programs, but for the last three years we've worked towards building a prevention program/presentation called Mobilization geared to address the issues of dating and violence in adolescence. We take our presentation to schools in the greater-Montreal area, and one of the concerns we address is anger management. We talk to the boys and girls about alternative ways of letting their anger loose and what makes them angry in relationships. The presentation is packed full of info but its goal is to communicate with the kids, not to lecture them. We are always looking for ways of getting the public better informed.

» Laurie Tracey

Bus strike no blitz

I'm retired. During the better part of my working life, I was an electrician. A 20-buck-an-hour electrician. A member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. One starts as an apprentice and, after five years of learning a skill, one arrives at 20 bucks an hour, which will not allow for the buying of a yacht - unlike a Conrad Black, who boasted recently of making $50-million in one day. What does one have to do to earn this amount? A low-priced escort wants 80 bucks an hour.

"Citywide hostage taking" says Kristian Gravenor [The Kristian Perspective, Nov. 20]. By whom? The suits have a strategy. Ask any union member who has been into negotiations. They come into negotiations with their ultimatum. Take it or leave it. Then walk out leaving you sitting to stare at the walls. Do they care about whom they are holding hostage? No, of course not, they merely want to win.

The strike went on for little more than a week. It wasn't the end of the world. I wonder what the people of London did during the blitz. Bombed every night. Life continued there. As it does here. No one likes strikes, but take strikes away and what does the worker have left? Even doctors, judges and other professionals strike at times. So if they can do it, why not the blue-collar worker?

And I don't own a Seadoo.

» John C. Underwood

WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!

Send your comments, compliments or criticisms to:

Letters to the Editor,
c/o Montreal Mirror,
465 McGill, 3rd Floor
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 4B4

You may also fax us at (514) 393-3173, or reach us by e-mail:

letters@mtl-mirror.com

All letters should include your name, address and daytime phone number.

If you wish to reach someone in particular, here's a list of people involved with the production of the newspaper and this site.