Hope and Despair: Moadamiya and Sadad, Nov 6, 2013

Sadly, the optimism generated by the Moadamiya evacuation was soon followed by a massacre, only the latest since the fighting began, in the ancient, predominantly Christian town of Sadad (mentioned in the Bible), where the people still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.  It is also where 1,500 families were held hostage and 45 were killed, including two teenage boys, their mother and three of their grandparents, who were thrown down a well.   Read more here:

http://www.syriasolidaritymovement.org/2013/11/05/death-and-destruction-in-a-christian-town/

THE LATEST ON THE TOUR

Mother Agnes Mariam began the North America Tour with a stirring presentation to hundreds of people at the plenary opening of the Tear Down the Walls Conference in Tucson Arizona. The next day, her workshop promoting Reconciliation for Syria was likely the most highly attended workshop of the conference.  Around 300 attended her first Northern California event at St. Thomas More Church in San Francisco.  Since then, in the past two days, she has spoken and been extremely well received at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, the Rebuilding Alliance in San Mateo  and in Walnut Creek at an event sponsored by Rossmoor Voices for Justice in Palestine and the Mt. Diablo Peace Center.  Around 300 also attended her first Northern California event at St. Thomas More Church in San Francisco.  For more information on her tour dates, go to

http://www.syriasolidaritymovement.org/mother-agnes-mariam/mother-agnes-mariam-speaking-tour-calendar/

At many of the M. Agnes speaking events, small numbers of demonstrators have caused minor disruption.  We welcome guests of all points of view, including their questions, respectful or not.  However, the event organizers are making arrangements for the swift but respectful removal of disruptors.

Unfortunately, the Syrian American Council (http://www.sacouncil.com/take-action/action-alert-stop-the-mother-agnes-mariam-assad-propaganda-tour/) has called for the silencing of M. Agnes-Mariam and cancellation of her speaking events.  Failing that, they are asking for their spokespersons to be given equal time at the events (http://www.sacouncil.com/news/sac-news/sign-the-petition-help-us-cancel-the-mother-agnes-mariam-speaking-engagements-or-ask-for-fair-opportunity-to-present-both-sides/).

We welcome events that constitute a fair discussion of all sides, but the main aim of the tour is to present an alternative point of view that is hardly heard in North America, and not to sponsor the predominant views already seen and heard in Western media.  On the other hand, we leave it to the local organizers to decide the nature of their event, and only one has requested a program of multiple views, which unfortunately was delayed too late to make the schedule.  We believe it would have been an excellent event.

We have heard that Dr. Mohja Kahf may also be doing a speaking tour before long, and she was proposed as the other person on the podium, presenting an alternate view.  If so, we encourage you to hear her point of view, as well, and we discourage disruptions at her events.

We believe in democracy, free speech, reconciliation, understanding and inclusiveness of all Syrians in discussion and reconciliation.