The practice of terrorism, therefore, allegedly on behalf of the rights of Palestinians and to encourage peace in the Holy Lands, is clearly inconsistent with the potential which is now developing by peaceful and diplomatic means.
It offends and endangers "all of us," Mr. Maksoud.
It must be ended.
According to what i explain here about my 1978 work and its goals, "The Arab League" can decide whether my January, 1982 recommendations are inappropriate or slanted in a manner to deny the legitimate rights and "hopes" of Arabs and Moslems throughout the world.
What i requested in that context, sir, was your "cooperation" representative of your commitments to our mutual goals--in future to benefit Arabs and Moslems as much as Christians and Jews who seek durable and genuine "peace, security, and justice" equivalently...and as a result of your own "self-determination."
True peace must respect the "concerns" of "all of us."
The two attachments here relate to this decision by "The Arab League" on my request for your "cooperation" presently to secure the freedom of these innocent people.
I do have friends who are Arabs and Moslems, Mr. Maksoud, and it would grieve me if they were to suffer from such discrimination as the attachments cite because of the actions of terrorists who forget that the majority of the world's Arabs and Moslems really and truly do seek honest peace and better human understanding with others in the international community.
This fall the world's pre-eminent international diplomatic organization will be discussing expanded developmental aid for the disadvantaged peoples of Africa.
As you know, on many occasions in past i have expressed respect for the fact documented by history that the world owes Islam an enormous debt for having laid groundwork for the creation of international diplomacy.
The lives which in future may be saved by this fall's negotiations will have been helped by this characteristic of Islamic heritage if they produce "commitments and concerns" by the world community in keeping with the real needs of the underprivileged.
If the special and very generous financial support given to "Live Aid" by one particular Arab resulted from his awareness of my work in this field in 1978, i express my deep admiration and thanks to him on behalf of our mutual 'concerns" for the needy.
I realize that a crisis which would be comparable to that in Ethiopia is now growing in the Sudan, Mr. Maksoud.
These people--your "Arab League" member brothers and sisters--also need our help.
Therefore, i continue to believe that "CAN-AID"--to be devoted to providing short-term aid and encouraging legitimate developmental aid (and making "all of us" understand what it should be composed of--would be a good idea and i am continuing efforts to have it undertaken (as i mentioned to former World Bank President A.W. Clausen in my statement to him).
Because of what we know, Mr. Maksoud, we ought to understand that if Ronald Reagan doesn't now decide to publicly express support for the work i've done in and since 1978 in part on behalf of his predecessors as U.S. President, it wouldn't mean my "influence" will be any less (than) at that time or at present if i just ignore him in return.
It would suggest, rather, that his "influence" and credibility would be diminished in regards to perceptions of how America is helping "all of us."
He has come as far towards understanding this as those of us who are aware of the 1978 plans can now see.*
Respect for America and her people by the international community on a durable basis for the future seems to depend upon whether he understands the rest of the "dream" of "all of us" for world peace, and what "actions" he takes to support it.
When such "concerns" do affect "all of us," there are no "lame ducks"...
As but one individual among "all of us" (as i was when i began that work in 1978), contributing what i am "best" able to...
I remain, as
always,
Gordon
C. Wong
*-TO CONSIDER THE RATHER LENGTHY FOOTNOTE TO THE HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE ABOVE, TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
TAKE YOUR NEXT FOOTSTEP HERE.