The Charade and Credibility

A recent posting in the discussion room of a peace and justice coalition here in Colorado concerned the alleged plot of the American government in the 9-11 attacks. Of course there have been numerous theories ranging from possible to ludicrous.
One member wrote in response he felt these types of posting shouldn’t be allowed because they create the impression of extremism which could possibly “alienate” moderates. He felt the coalition would lack “credibility” if radical viewpoints were allowed in the discussion rooms.
I disagree. A discussion room seems the appropriate area to discuss possible conspiracies of the government.
There have been engineering reports stating the towers couldn't have come down from just an airplane flying into the buildings.
I don't say I agree with all the conspiracy theories but I don't feel it takes away "credibility" to discuss them. And to whom are we trying to be "credible"? And who are the moderates we alienate?
This whole issue of "credibility" arose in the UPJC and ANSWER rift recently. And it keeps coming up with a dividing effect upon the coalitions for peace and justice.
If we're saying we are trying to be "credible" to the Democratic Party, I object! For some reason the Democrats are afforded undeserved "credibility".
Where were they when the regime took this country to war? Why did it take them three years to realize it was a ruse and power grab? Why were they part of the ruse? The major players of the party continue to support the war.
UPJC, to me, is just pimping for the Democrats and I resent their divisive tactics.
A sad thing I see in the peace and justice movement is the unwillingness to become radicalized enough to even be thought of as a force to reckon with.
I know words like radical, Marxist, anarchy, conspiracy and four-letter words don't meet everybody's comfort level. I don't believe we shut down discussion because they aren't part of our agenda, though.
Many believe there was a larger conspiracy. And as we see what has unfolded with the regime, would we have thought torture would be ratified as a method to treat prisoners?
Would we have believed their response to Katrina?
What was the PNAC all about if not a conspiracy of sorts?
Who would think Denver cops or cops across the nation would get away with murder and no public response would occur except from the communities of color and poverty where it happened?
I fail to see why we should seek "credibility" from the oppressors.
Martin Luther King didn't seek "credibility" when he went to the lunch counters or marching into Selma. He sought justice and respect. The racist police and government considered him an extremist.
Malcolm X was considered an extremist. I remember the white response to him. I was a white adolescent in the community at the time.
I read Malcolm’s bio and several other books about the black American experience and discovered Malcolm was a visionary. He would not bow down or beg for "credibility". The white oppressors continuously tried to discredit him but his truth wouldn't allow for it happen.
I seriously think we are delusional if we think we're going to effect the essential and necessary changes with political lobbying and rallies.
The history I've read, both mainstream and alternative, indicates it took "radical" actions of communities joining together like the Civil Rights movement.
It also took radical actions like formation of the Black Panthers, the Brown Berets, the Chicago Eight and VVAW. It scared the hell out of the government oppressors.
I’ve only gone back one generation in my remarks but every major social change in this country came about because of ”radical" actions.
Unionism, child labor laws, the suffrage movement and countless other social changes were the result of brave people standing up to oppression regardless of the possible consequences.
We have the great examples of Sisters Carol, Ardeth and Jackie, Kathy Kelly and Rachel Corrie in the most recent times..
And on the local level here in Denver I know two or three radical voices that refuse to be quiet. They called out the politicians yesterday at the Marade (the annual MLK march) sponsored by State Farm and the Denver Department of Safety (aka the Denver PD and Firefighters).
Sure they made us all uncomfortable yelling in megaphones about police brutality and oppression right here in Colorado. I’m sure most thought they were extremists. You get that way when your brother is nearly killed by the police or you face many years in jail after a police attack when speaking out at a public meeting.
Why does the entity responsible for killing Paul Childs, Frank Lobato and several others here in Denver end up sponsoring the Marade?
I think we need to question seeking "credibility" if we're in a coalition sponsored by the very organization most communities of color fear and hold great anger toward.

Terry Leichner
VVAW