On Monday, Mayor Maughan informed the City Council that he’d “stood out in front of the courthouse with the pro-Palestinian protesters,” and that he would like to see the council pass a resolution addressing the Middle East conflict. A number of Councilors agreed.
Pro-Palestinian community members have thronged the last two council meetings with a resolution they’ve drafted that states the Israelis are committing “ethnic cleansing, and genocide”, and are asking the City Council to declare by resolution that, “the City of Corvallis calls for an end to Israeli apartheid and the occupation and blockade of Palestinian land by Israeli military forces.”
Members of the Jewish community outnumbered pro-Palestinians during the first meeting, at the second meeting, the numbers were reversed.
For Maughan’s part, he told the Council that he’d encouraged the resolution’s organizers to both submit the draft to the council, and to speak on behalf of its passage during the public comment periods of the last two council meetings. Maughan also said, “While I don’t agree with all the language they’ve used, or their actions in Council Chambers, I support their overall ask of peace.”
Maughan also told the council that while he doesn’t understand the subject matter enough to know what language may be objected to or by whom, that he believes words can be found that both support peace, and that the whole community can agree on. He has requested input.
Our take is this: while we find ourselves skeptical and cautious, we want to agree with the mayor, but were not sure that we can.
Here’s Our Skepticism and Caution: Corvallis, for good or ill, is not a place where opinions are held lightly. Whether it’s a bond measure, traffic light, or even a PTA meeting, we Corvallisites can be a strident and vociferous group – and one that holds grudges too.
Because of this, we at the paper have always felt that local government folks should be picking their battles carefully. We’ve generally viewed these resolutions on national and international issues as not worth the added divisiveness, and most especially because we don’t believe they have much impact on the world outside of Corvallis.
Given all this, we’d prefer our local leaders stay focused right here, at home.
Add to this general qualm that the facts concerning the Israelis and Palestinians are highly contested – politically, academically, and in just about every kind of aspect. For instance, most folks will agree on the basic facts surrounding Russia and Ukraine – but that’s far from the case when it comes to the Middle East.
In the instance of the current conflict, Corvallisites are uniquely and deeply divided, and the Council could easily and unintentionally cause angst and alienation in our community at a time when there is already real and palpable pain for so many of our neighbors.
For instance, both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian testimony at the last two City Council meetings revealed two central facts: both Muslims and Jews living here have been enduring hate from within our shared community for a long time, and expressions of that hate increased exponentially alongside the current crisis.
We think the Council should avoid moving ahead with a resolution on the current Middle East conflict, but if they choose to pass one, we have some suggestions.
Our Hope, if the Council Moves Ahead: First, we hope we’re wrong, and that whatever the Council passes progresses healing and compassion for all, rather than division. We were impressed and moved by Oregon State University President Jayathi Y. Murthy’s Oct. 12 statement on the matter.
It’s a compelling example for the City Council to consider – it takes no sides, and points no fingers, but is mercifully empathetic, and direct in its purpose. It also offers something our community needs now – real support services to those that may be in need.
We are all horrified at the violence and suffering in the Middle East. And the testimony at the last two Council meetings has also informed us that our community’s Jewish and Muslim neighbors are both in pain, and sadly, in danger as well.
So, even with our reservations, if the City Council chooses to proceed, we wish them success.
President Jayathi Y. Murthy’s Statement: OSU’s Response to the Crisis in Israel and Gaza
Dear OSU Community:
I am deeply saddened by what has occurred and the agony that continues for so many following the horrific and terrifying events in Israel and Gaza. This human tragedy has led to an outpouring of anger, fear and grief around the world and here at Oregon State University. Words cannot capture the scale and horror of what has occurred and of the tremendous suffering and loss people in Israel and Gaza are experiencing as the conflict evolves.
I have heard from many members of our community who are profoundly unsettled. I share your concerns and am deeply grateful for the compassion that I have witnessed students, faculty and staff express for one another and for family, friends and connections in the Middle East. I want to share some of the actions we are taking and resources that are available in response to this unfolding crisis.
In situations like this, our first action is to determine whether any OSU faculty, staff and students traveling, working or studying in an affected region are safe or need assistance. We did this immediately, and I am thankful to report that we have no students or employees currently in the region or in imminent danger.
Next, leaders and staff within the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Institutional Diversity begin reaching out immediately to those we believe are likely to be most affected, and we open up conversations with those who reach out to us. In a climate of rising anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents here in the U.S., we have community members at OSU who feel particularly vulnerable right now and need the university community’s support. A great many staff are engaged in providing that assistance.
We also consult with other universities, community groups, partners and leaders in Corvallis, Bend and throughout the state to identify resources and inform our response. We offer our own support and assistance when appropriate.
To all those who feel vulnerable or overwhelmed by the current crisis, we stand with you, and you have our support.
Please take advantage of student support resources on the Corvallis and Cascades campuses and support resources for all employees, and reach out to faculty, colleagues and friends if you need to talk or extra time to process what is happening.
Thank you for listening, engaging and reaching out to one another as we sustain our community through these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Jayathi Y. Murthy
President
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