ROTARY AND POLITICS

(extract from message of June 22nd 2004 signed by Robert Stewart):

I also reprint the excerpt from page 19 of the Rotary Manual of Procedures:

Rotary and Politics

RI and its member clubs must refrain from issuing partisan political
statements.
Rotarians are prohibited from adopting statements with a view to exerting any corporate pressure on governments or political authorities.

However, it is the duty of Rotarians:
1) in their clubs, to keep under review political developments in their own communities and throughout the world insofar as they affect service to their vocations and communities as well as the pursuit of the Rotary objective of world understanding and peace. They are expected to seek reliable information through balanced programs and discussions so that members can reach their own conclusions after the fair collective examination of the issues;
2) outside their clubs, to be active as individuals in as many legally
constituted groups and organizations as possible to promote, not only in words but through exemplary dedication, the awareness of the dignity of all people and the respect of the consequent human rights of the individual.
(89-134; RCP 2.120.)

I do not see this as a barrier to Rotary peacebuilding action, particularly through peace education and dialogue - in fact it is our duty. We can talk about peace and violence without issuing partisan political statements and exerting any corporate pressure on governments or political authorities.

Avoiding politics (and religion, which is not in the Rotary Manual of
Procedures) is a convenient stifling of critical thought, and underestimates Rotarians. It is "stonewalling" - throwing up an artificial barrier to prevent discussion, and prevents Rotary from achieving its peace mission.
We should not avoid difficult discussions for fear of losing membership
(however, we should be sensitive and diplomatic - in other words, apply the Four-Way Test). Borrowing from the definition of politics above, it would be a mistake not to talk about "The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society." Life and politics is difficult to separate, and retain meaning. Rotary's Seven Paths to Peace urges discussion and conferencing to build understanding, and I quote from it:

".Is it not one of the goals of Rotary membership to replace political
passion with a desire for understanding? We cannot escape controversial
issues. How we face them is one measure of the club's mettle."

"I love the subdued chuckle that runs through a club," said the president of a Rotary club in England. "I love the subdued murmur of dissent." This is the atmosphere of Rotary - friendly, familiar fellowship which bears up under strong difference of opinion.

A past president of Rotary International declared:
"Divergence is the very pith of Rotary. In church and trade associations we explore ideas with people we agree with. The germ of Rotary is bringing different kinds of men together; the butcher, the baker, the lawyer, the doctor. Through differences, not similarities, Rotary seeks understanding.
Because in Rotary we disagree without being disagreeable, many differences are resolved. But the fundamental is not that we must agree, only that we must explore and inform our minds so that our service to society as we go out of our meeting may be informed, intelligent service."
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