Letter from Thomas to Carla 6/13/93
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