Subject: [Tweeters] RE: Help Put Palin's Wolf-Killing Record on TV
Date: Sep 16 08:46:44 2008
From: Marc Hoffman - tweeters at dartfrogmedia.com


Hello fellow birders,

I've been reluctant to join this thread, since discussions of this
sort tend to generate more heat than light, as they say. Also I
haven't wanted to get anyone mad at me -- I value this list and the
friendships it supports.

Nevertheless, I want to say a bit about the issue of "political"
discussions on the list. I don't think it's a cut-and-dry matter.

Example: A couple of years ago a Tweeters member posted a message of
last-minute alarm about a fireworks display to be held near the
Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area). A number of list members
(including myself) consequently attended a City of Seattle hearing,
and the fireworks were halted in view of the damage that could be
done to migrating bird populations. Clearly there were politics
involved: a municipal board was permitting a large, private company
to use a public space for a controversial activity, and through a
political process the city was pressured to reverse its decision. The
outcome was hailed by Tweeters members and I don't recall anyone
objecting to the use of the list to do political organizing.

Now we have a situation potentially impacting the environment on a
much wider scale than a local fireworks display: a candidate for vice
president whose positions are diametrically opposed to protecting
wildlife and the environment. Should this not be of concern to bird lovers?

I am not sure of the best way to have this discussion. Certainly we
should all be respectful and not attack anyone for their views or
party affiliations. But this discussion, however uncomfortable, is
still appropriate for our list. This includes questions of whether
vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's anti-environment beliefs
and practices are being sufficiently disclosed to voters.

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
http://www.dartfrogmedia.com
mailto: tweeters at dartfrogmedia dot com