[ga] Particular People

[DannyYounger@cs.com]

Alexander Svensson, in citing the approach advocated by Jonathan Weinberg, 
argues that this option gives a  majority of the GA the ability to say that 
it doesn't want "particular people" representing it.  

For more than the last six months the Names Council has made it clear that 
they do not want "particular people" (the GA) to participate in open working 
groups.  They believe that they have the right to decide as a majority that 
they can discriminate against the membership of this Assembly and to take 
procedural steps to limit the participation of those undesirables that would 
otherwise be free to openly participate in the work of the DNSO.   I have 
steadfastly argued that such an approach disenfranchises our membership and 
contravenes the spirit of our Bylaws.

Our Bylaws require that we shall operate consistent with procedures designed 
to ensure fairness.  Denying "particular people" their right to fully 
participate in the ICANN process is contrary to our founding principles.

Accordingly, I will not support the approach advocated by Alex Svensson.

In the history of our planet we have noted many attempts to deny a voice to 
"particular people":  women, blacks, homosexuals (most of whom, as activists, 
were viewed by the majority as kooks, trouble-makers or ranting lunatics).   
Within democratic institutions, the majority has long believed that it has a 
right to discriminate against the minority -- but ICANN, as we know, is not a 
democratic institution, it is a consensus-based organization in which every 
voice, no matter how shrill or annoying, is guaranteed the opportunity to 
fair participate.

Three members of our Assembly have come forward expressing an interest in 
doing a job that nobody else was willing to do.  I do not wish to deny them 
that opportunity just because a majority that was unwilling to do that job 
thinks that it has a right to discriminate against them.

I extend to the Assembly the opportunity to discuss and debate this matter 
further.  I will notify the Secretariat of a final decision on Monday.






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