Civil liberties
I agree with Stevie Krayer (Letters, 17 October) that some really horrible letters get published in the Friend sometimes and I’ve long been curious if there is any filter at all.
It is also pretty grim to see letters such as Emma Roberts’ on 17 October, which seems to suggest that one has to choose between compassion for Jewish people and compassion for Palestinians. Tell that to the many Jews and Jewish groups and organisations we see on every national demonstration against the genocide in Gaza. Tell that to the many orthodox Jews who walk on the sabbath the six miles from Stamford Hill to the Central London demonstrations.
If readers want to join other Quakers in taking part, they can contact Quaker Palestine Solidarity (quakerpalestinepeace@protonmail.com). Almost 400 Friends are involved, and witness for peace is taking place around the country.
I also want to point out that we didn’t choose this genocide as the latest vehicle for the government to attack our civil liberties – the government did. Before this, successive governments have attacked the voluntary sector’s right to campaign, juries’ right to acquit according to their conscience, and the movement resisting climate change’s right to organise and protest. Roberts may not have noticed, but Quakers in Britain have been resisting all of these attacks for years. If it isn’t successfully resisted, the definition of ‘terrorism’ is only going to be expanded to cover more and more speech and civil society activity.
Laura Wirtz
Saviour complex?
On reading Emma Roberts letter I was at first puzzled, then dismayed, then angry. Before writing this I have read Quaker faith & practice (Qfp) 20.67 quoted on the contents page of that edition of the Friend: ‘And all Friends take heed of jars and strife…’
As a Cornish Friend, I uphold the motto of the Cornish people Onan hag oll (One and all), meaning the unity of the Cornish nation. This motto would fit well under the Quaker Q in that we are indeed one and all, therefore I would suggest that before writing such condemnation of us all that Emma seriously contemplate Qfp 10.01: ‘Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand.’ Isaac Penington, 1667.
Simon Ewart
