Re: Request for consensus to add text in the BLM statement

This is absolutely my personal perspective. I currently have no guidance
on this from the company I normally represent.

I share Marisa's concern about what this statement is about, and whether  
adding the proposed sentence changes that.

I share Vagner's perspective: I am, and think W3C should be, and state
that it is generally opposed to violence. But I recognise a legitimate
concept of self-defense, and more generally defense of the greater good
against injustice - which in limited circumstances may include the use of
violence.

I don't think the alternate statement Marisa suggests is actually the
right principle either, much as I agree with its spirit.

The purpose of self defense (which is not the same as violence with the
aim of perpetuating an unjust situation in the name of the beneficiaries
of the injustice) allows for violence against all manner of communities,
in the particular contexts where it is relevant.

All that said, I think it is more important to take action that makes
things better than to get distracted from them by trying to get a
statement worded perfectly.

I therefore abstain: I will not object to either wording being adopted.
I do think it is important to get this resolved, and the differences - or  
the possible benefit of finding a perfect wording - are unlikely to be  
worth the further editorial effort required for a group like this.

cheers

On Fri, 21 Aug 2020 07:54:59 +1000, Marisa DeMeglio
<marisa.demeglio@gmail.com> wrote:

> -1
>
> I am afraid of our statement having a subtext that equates endorsing BLM  
> with endorsing violence. Because otherwise why would we feel the need to  
> add that line? This was never supposed to be a statement about all the  
> things we support and don’t support. It’s specifically a statement of  
> support for BLM.
>
> I would however be happy with adding this:
> "We unequivocally stand against racism, injustice, and violence against  
> marginalized communities.”
>
> Marisa
>
>> On Aug 20, 2020, at 10:47, Ralph Swick <swick@w3.org> wrote:
>>
>> IDCG Participants,
>>
>> As you know, the W3C Process allows for formal objections to a group  
>> decision.  A formal objection is a request to the W3C Director to  
>> consider when evaluating the related decision.
>>
>> During the W3C Member review of the proposed W3C Statement on Black  
>> Lives Matter a formal objection was raised.  I have been delegated to  
>> try to find a consensus resolution to this formal objection on behalf
>> of the W3C Director.
>>
>> I share with you part of the objector's statement and following that a  
>> change (addition) to the text of the BLM statement. The objector has  
>> confirmed that this would resolve the objection to their satisfaction.
>>
>> Quoting from the objector's statement:
>>
>> "I believe it is important to clearly state what we _do_ and _do not_
>> support as W3C organization. We support true equality, we support any
>> lawful action that aims to fight injustice, but we do not condone
>> violence or destruction of property. In numerous cases, the peaceful
>> protests for right social cause were hijacked by radical extremists,
>> and their violent actions [that clearly deviate from the established
>> social norms and the rule of law] only diminish the importance of
>> "Black Lives Matter" message. I do not believe that being vocal about
>> the rightful cause while being silent about radical violations of
>> social norms sends the right message - we all know too well that
>> silence is approval. We do not tolerate any behaviors that violate
>> our own social norms, we openly speak against any violations of the
>> W3C Code of Conduct - I do not see why our stance on the larger
>> social issue should be any different.
>>
>> "Our stated position should clearly communicate the fact that while
>> we do support all marginalized and underrepresented communities, and
>> we support their fight for true equality, we do not condone any
>> violence or unlawful actions!"
>>
>> The objector states they will withdraw their Formal Objection to the  
>> proposed statement if the following sentence is incorporated into  
>> paragraph 6:
>>
>>  "As an organization, W3C believes that Black Lives Matter.
>>  /+We unequivocally stand against racism, injustice, and violence.+/
>>  We also stand in support of our Indigenous colleagues, colleagues
>>  of color, LGBTQI+ colleagues, and colleagues with disabilities.
>>
>> I solicit your view on this change, preferably no later than 27 August.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Ralph Swick, W3C
>>
>
>


-- 
Charles "chaals" Nevile
PegaSys Standards Architect, ConsenSys

Received on Friday, 21 August 2020 16:48:56 UTC