Letter: Why hasn’t municipal association fulfilled its pledge?
Several months ago I, along with others in Needham, carefully followed the effort by the town to disengage itself from a program of the Anti-Defamation League, a discredited organization which was promoting itself as a champion of human rights.
At the time, the ADL was expounding a highly ambiguous, even denialist, position regarding the Armenian Genocide. It went so far as to oppose its affirmation by the U.S. Congress, unanimous support by the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation not withstanding.
Now we discover that the Massachusetts Municipal Association, an official body upon which Needham town officials serve, and to which the town provides public funds, has reneged on a promise made months ago to “re-evaluate” its umbrella sponsorship of ADL’s No Place for Hate program if the ADL did not reverse its hurtful position, which it has refused to do.
With this letter we ask our town officials to investigate why the MMA has not fulfilled its pledge, and to withhold funds until it has done so. We realize that ultimately the ADL will do what it wishes; however, we believe our town should do what is principled. The words of James Baldwin come to mind: “... you cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing yourself.”
Dorothy Esperian
Great Plain Avenue
Needham Times: Letter to the Editor Published on Feb 12, 2008
