Well, I revised our community case study and also the Vietnamese community study to fit the new format for the National Working Group. An email was sent out from the representative of Crop Life America that he has problems with my rhetoric. I then get emails in hopes that I do not mind liberties taken with my case studies in a rewrite. I was told that changes need to be made in the way I say things because it would offend some of the government agencies. Here is the email I sent back to them.
"I will be unable to attend today's call. I know there have been many emails and liberties taken with my community case study. There has also been some question as to the rhetoric used. I do not serve as a part of this group to make government agencies or corporations feel comfortable with my wording. I am here to give the facts as to what we found to be true because we absolutely have suffered the human cost from appropriate rhetoric rather than works. Comfort does not equal change and I only serve here for change."
So as you all can see this is turning into a total uphill battle. I am the only member of this group from a harmed community and it appears that I will have no support in my efforts. By appointing me to serve alone without support on the team, they can pretty much do as they wish. And, anytime I take a stand I will be seen as the bad guy not wanting to work with the group. This was highlighted so well in an email that I was sent in response to my email it started like this "Blessed are the peacemakers..................".
I ask for your prayers and support as I decide next steps in my service to this project.
Your neighbor,
Connie
P.S. One of our dear neighbors from Florida just sent this to me - please watch. It is about a report that was later changed because they did not like the words used - those very words could have saved the woman who was recently killed by the Sea World whale.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/03/02/kaye.osha.whale.report.cnn?hpt=C2
Constance Biemiller Thomas, Chair
South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force
Ph. -770-314-6999
As Margaret Mead once said:
Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
