[Vision2020] Buy Depends.

[Donovan Arnold]

Hi Saundra,

I am awfully sorry that you were offended by my email, that was not my aim. 
However, those are my feelings and the feelings of many others in this 
community about the methods and obsession with Doug Wilson. Many people will 
not tell you this because they are afraid you and others on V2020 will cut 
them down and steamroll over them. I know because they privately email or 
tell me so in person. And not just people that are supporters of Doug 
Wilson, but people that also dislike Mr. Wilson.

My objection is not with the standing against Mr. Wilson. I support 
challenging him and his ideology, as does probably about 75% of the 
community. However, a line must be drawn in the manner in which people go 
about addressing these concerns. I feel people have stepped over the line 
and need to be told so. I do not find it acceptable to do the following 
things:

1)	Accusing a man or woman in the community of abuse without evidence legal 
evidence of a court conviction. This is totally rude, and unethical. If you 
have evidence of Doug Wilson abusing women and children or other members of 
his congregation, you need to go to the police and report it and allow the 
legal system to try and convict him. I would feel the same way if someone 
accused you of abusing your child. That is a very SERIOUS and damaging 
allegation and you better have more than hearsay to make that claim on a 
public forum.

2)	Character assassination is the wrong direction. Things like this:

http://www.auntie-establishment.com/LaKirkaNostra.html

How would you like it if someone did that to you? This is clearly an attempt 
to make fun of Mr. Wilson. It doesn’t address any key issues. It is made for 
the pure enjoyment and entertainment of those that oppose Mr. Wilson. Moscow 
is better than this type of behavior. I feel I must speak out against it.

3)	This issue is way overrepresented on V2020 and overshadowing other 
pressing issues facing members of the community. Several people have counted 
that 50% of the posts on V2020 in the last six months are about Doug Wilson, 
or in some connection to him. Furthermore, not much of it is factually 
supported evidence, but just slander, speculation, and hearsay.

What about other issues? What the fact that 30% of the people in Moscow now 
have inadequate health insurance because Gritman and UI agreed to require 
students to have $500,000 in catastrophic health insurance and a $1,000,000 
life policy in order to switch to another company and get medical services 
that would better address their medical needs, like Dental care, and HIV 
testing?

What about the fact that property owners don’t shovel snow and people get 
injured?

What about the lack of low income housing in Moscow? Everyday the elderly, 
poor, and those with disabilities are trying to get housing they can afford. 
Nothing from liberals on V2020 about this issue.

What about the poor water quality?

What about the fact that minimum wage has not gone up in about ten years and 
people are still working for that wage of $5.15?

What about the lack of crosswalks across out busy streets where children and 
students cross?

What about the fact that the University eliminated the Office of Human 
Rights? I didn’t see anyone from V2020 there when we faced the University 
Administration.

You guys were not even there to help the Democrats move office locations? 
Not one of you showed up to help move so much as chair or box of pencils.

Liberals use to stand for freedom of religion, rights for the poor and 
minorities, proper health care, and quality  and accessiable education. I 
can see that is not the case anymore.

SO I am sorry that you are offended. I am offended likewise in the this type 
of behavior from many of the community members.  But yes, I am appreciative 
of all the volunteer work that ALL people do, even those that attend Christ 
Church and serve on the Gritman Board of Directors. But I strongly feel that 
many of the attacks against Wilson & Friends are nothing more than libel and 
slander, and the preoccupation with this one issue comes at a great cost in 
not addressing the many other issues and concerns facing all people in 
Moscow and Latah.

My concern is that we set standards for the community, and that everyone, 
even Wilson, has the right to not to be charged, tried, and convicted by the 
same five people on V2020 using any methods they choose. Burning the entire 
village to save it is a bad philosophy.  If  speaking my concerns offends 
you or anyone else, you have my deepest apologies, but those are my feelings 
and your words and actions have sparked this response from me.

Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold






>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at adelphia.net>
>To: "'Donovan Arnold'" <donovanarnold at hotmail.com>,        
><auntiestablishment at hotmail.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Buy Depends.
>Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 11:40:41 -0800
>
>Hi Donovan,
>
>You wrote:
>"What is with this obsession with Doug Wilson? Where do you people get your
>time to do this stuff. Don't you have other interests and community 
>concerns
>than this one man?"
>
>Sorry . . . your are simply wrong & uninformed.  I happen to know more than
>a few community members who are concerned about The Church of the 
>Intolerant
>Leaders (aka Christ Church hierarchy) and the harm they cause not only our
>community but also those within their own congregation, and I'm offended by
>your stereotyping, not to mention that it's just plain WRONG.  I can't 
>speak
>for all of us, but concerned folks I know within and without our community
>*do* have other interests and community (& state & national and
>international) concerns and interests they are actively involved with and
>participate in with passion.
>
>I think an apology is in order -- just because you aren't aware of all the
>good works done by others doesn't negate the value.  Slamming people 
>because
>you're uninformed isn't helpful and it's unfair.
>
>You also wrote:
>"Why not try beating the guy by reducing his membership with logic,
>reasoning, truth and ethics rather than slander and force?"
>
>Well, where have you been?!?!?  That's exactly what's been happening and
>successfully, too.
>
>Some of us understand the complete wickedness of spiritual & pastoral abuse
>and the harm they cause.  Try actually talking to someone whose been a
>victim -- there are folks right here in our community who could open your
>eyes.  Short of that, I suggest you do some reading about it, and then
>perhaps you'll have an inkling of why folks in this community -- and
>elsewhere -- fight it where we find it.
>
>
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, ID
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
>nothing.
>Edmund Burke
>
>
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