John DiMascio's blog

From the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts: http://www.noplacefordenial.com/2007/10/lexington-no-place-for-hate-committee.html Lexington, MA – The Lexington, Massachusetts No Place for Hate Committee (LNPFH) blocked Lexington residents from a “closed” door unannounced meeting with the Anti Defamation League’s New England Regional Director Andrew Tarsy this morning, just one week after the Lexington Board of Selectmen held a meeting during which over 150 Lexington residents urged the town of Lexington to sever ties with the Anti Defamation League, reported the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts. One cannot help but notice the tragic irony. Some 200 years, not more than a few hundred feet away on Lexington Green, the first blood was shed for government “of the people.” Apparently slamming the doors of justice in face of the people doesn’t qualify as a hate crime; so far as Lexington No Place for Hate Committee is concerned Imagine that! Those who preach the politics of inclusion excluded the people from a meeting of quasi-governmental board of Lexington’s government. This could very well be a violation of Massachusetts “Open Meeting Laws” (M.G.L. chapter 39-section 23b). Irrespective of the legalities, the citizens of Lexington deserve better from those who purport advocate for their rights. The actions of the NPFH committee (in this regard) are sufficient cause for the program to come under much closer scrutiny. It’s pretty simple. If the people running the program can’t be trusted to operate in the light of day, than Lexington residents should question whether or not the NPFH committee’s motives and agenda are transparent. Hence, they should reconsider the program entirely! The Lexington NPFH committee must come clean in order to restore public confidence in the program, its sponsors, and all the individuals involved in running it. They can start by answering these questions: Why did they exclude members of the public from their meeting with Andrew Tarsy? What backroom deals were made? What secret strategies were discussed? Were any members of the Board of Selectman or HRC present? If so did they participate? Were there enough present to constitute a quorum? Were minutes taken? These and other questions must be answered to the public's satisfaction if the committee has any hope of redeeming its credibility.

Having had the time really exegete Foxman’s statement, it strikes me that he is simply rewording the historic denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Look at his words: “… the consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide.” Ok, that is not saying that the Ottoman Turks deliberately committed genocide. Is it?

That’s more like saying: The result of driving a car is the emission greenhouse gases! You’re not trying to pollute on purpose, you’re just driving to work and pollution is unintended consequence.

Earlier in the paragraph he says: “We have never negated but have always described the painful events of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as massacres and atrocities.”

So he admits that Ottomans committed massacres. And later on he says the end result was genocide. But he does not admit that the intention was the extermination of a people. It just happened to turn out that way. Oops sorry guys, we didn’t mean to try and wipe you out, we just want to massacre 1.5 million of you.

Now add to that his statement in today’s Globe. "So if that word [genocide] brings the community together, that's fine,"

Talk about arrogance! He’ll use the word genocide if it will make us feel better. Oh how magnanimous!!!!! Who the hell does this guy think he is?

Well it seems Foxman is trying to cover his @$$ and have it both ways.

Note they still oppose the Congressional resolution.
And of course in so far as NPFH is concerned, given what else we learned about the ADL's activities, its best for the every NPFH committee and each community to sever ties with the ADL.
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ADL STATEMENT ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

New York, NY, August 21, 2007 … Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the following statement:

In light of the heated controversy that has surrounded the Turkish-Armenian issue in recent weeks, and because of our concern for the unity of the Jewish community at a time of increased threats against the Jewish people, ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy that befell the Armenians.

We have never negated but have always described the painful events of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as massacres and atrocities. On reflection, we have come to share the view of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. that the consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide. If the word genocide had existed then, they would have called it genocide.

I have consulted with my friend and mentor Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and other respected historians who acknowledge this consensus. I hope that Turkey will understand that it is Turkey's friends who urge that nation to confront its past and work to reconcile with Armenians over this dark chapter in history.

Having said that, we continue to firmly believe that a Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and may put at risk the Turkish Jewish community and the important multilateral relationship between Turkey, Israel and the United States.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

To all Redsox fans, baseball fans and Cigar Aficionados
Exciting News “El Tiante” Red Sox pitching legend Luis Tiant will be in Watertown…

WHERE S&A Smokeshop,

52 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown MA

WHEN: Saturday May 26th 2007 - 2:00-6:00 PM

Come and bring your fastball and swap baseball stories with El Tiante.

for more info call 923-2111

For those who don’t have cable but want to see the State Rep. Debate. I heard from some folks at Conley’s on Belmont St. that they would be showing it live on their T.V. screens.

Debate set to start at 7:00 PM

Last Friday, as is my custom, I loaded my pocket with the right amount of quarters plus 3 because indubitably the parking meters in the square will eat a quarter or two.

I pull into the row closest to Spring Street, which has been 8 hour parking since I can remember. I go to load the meter; it gets to two hours and stops. So I figure - here we go again another faulty meter. I proceed to put in more money and thing want budge.

I see the attendant to let him know. He informs me that it had been changed to two hour parking.

Now it’s probably not a bad idea to have more short-term parking to alleviate parking problem. But HELLO, how about some notification! A press release, something in the Town Managers report, some bloody warning!!!

Here I am with nothing left but folding money and I got to work. Luckily the attended said not to sweat it and true to his word, I didn’t get a ticket.

But for Pete’s sake our department heads make big bucks. Can they lift a finger to inform people ahead of time? This isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened. When they raised the fees and changed the meters on Spring St. (which still don’t work), there was no communication with the public.

These people are public servants, don’t they get what that means?

Ok, let me start with a disclaimer. I’m not accusing anyone of incompetence or malfeasance. Actually, I’m looking for the assistance from fellow H2Otownians.

A couple of WCCSG members called me over the weekend regarding automobile excise taxes. It seems that the water bill incident has people looking at all their municipal bills. Here’s the deal. Folks noticed that their excise tax was identical to last years bill. They checked the value given to the car and it was identical to the previous year as well.

Now my understanding is that every year the value of a car depreciates, hence if the excise tax rate remains the same, the bill should go down every year.

I can understand that at some point, there might be floor to the depreciation. But it does seem odd that cars that are about 4 or 5 years old have already reached that floor.

I also understand that these two people may have misread their bill or if there is an error it could be an anomaly.

So here’s where you guys come in.

1) Check this years bill and compare it with last years. See if you’ve got the same problem.

2) If someone can shed more light on how this works it would be appreciated.

Let me be clear, I’m not trying to start any hysteria. But if there is a problem we should find out what it is and address it.

The Town ultimately addressed the water bills and W2’s. Let’s help them find this problem if it does exist and give them the opportunity to fix it as well.

I was informed by Town Council President, Clyde Younger, that the Inuagural Ball this evening is open to all.

Info: Friday-January 6th 2006 –7:00 PM
Helenic Cultural Center
25 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown, MA

Black Tie optional

Before the Council finished its term in managed to pass a zoning ordinance that struck a pretty fair compromise between individual and community rights. The measure was not free of controversy in that language that would have exempted the Town from its own zoning was proposed and rejected.

I was one of those that opposed the exemption on the grounds that the Town should not place itself above the law. Since then I have had a chance to talk to people who felt otherwise. I find that they make a legitimate point. That being, without the exemption, someone could theoretically hold up a public project by filing a series of law suits.

Well that got me wondering: Just how are public buildings zoned now?

On December 13th, the Council voted to strike language from the zoning ordinance that would have exempted the Town from it’s own zoning ordinances and requirements.

On December 14th, a motion to reconsider that vote was “given