[Foundation-l] (Flashback) A short (and revised) FAQ about Wikimania in Alexandria

[Ray Saintonge]

Dan Rosenthal wrote:
> I'm curious which side of this conflict are "jews" on? The Egypt side,  
> or the undefined "other" side?
>   
Unlike you I would prefer not to emphasize the conflict.  Currently 
there is no overt conflict between Israel and Egypt, which is not to say 
that there are no idiots willing to grasp at an opportunity to prove 
their idiocy.  Those exist all over the world, without regard to the 
relatively more open official policies. A yarmulka-wearing jew can be 
just as subject to discriminatory behaviour in the United States as in 
Egypt, and probably knows to avoid questionable neighborhoods in his 
home country.  I do note the absence of Israeli voices in this 
discussion, and they are much closer to the issues than North American 
voices.

One does well to avoid potential flash potential flash points if 
possible.  The mere trappings of a religion are one such avoidable flash 
point.  Security begins with the self.  One should not depend on the 
assessment of others for one's security.  Risk tolerance varies from one 
person to another.  No-one should feel an obligation to attend an event 
in a country where he will not personally feel safe   It is unreasonable 
to believe that the security provided by an organization will ever 
satisfy all the concerns expressed by the least risk tolerant among us.

Ec
> On Apr 19, 2008, at 12:32 AM, Ray Saintonge wrote:
>   
>> Thomas Dalton wrote:
>>     
>>> On 19/04/2008, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>       
>>>> What kind of question is that? Seriously?  The report suggests that
>>>> Jews should not wear yarmulka. It does not suggest anything about  
>>>> the
>>>> palestine conflict. Are you having trouble with seeing the problem
>>>> that the Wikimedia Foundation is hosting a conference, with the
>>>> warning "Oh by the way, don't "look" jewish, you might get hurt"?
>>>>         
>>> You go to a country which is involved in a conflict and wear  
>>> something
>>> which shows an affiliation with the other side, you may get into a
>>> spot of bother. That's common sense.
>>>       
>> Another term for it is "street smarts".