(Niagara At Large received this note from a caring student named Mehmet Emin Boyacioglu, earnestly asking NAL to post this invitation to a Saturday, August 2nd, forum on the tragic events unfolding in the Israel/Gaza region of this world, so here it is.)
Dear Mr. Doug Draper,
I am a graduate student at Brock University and I am organizing a documentary screening and discussion with the help of some concerned residents of St. Catharines.
Another family in the Gaza area says goodye to a loved one
We want to have an informative event about the history and current situation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where everyone would feel comfortable sharing their opinions in a respectful discussion regardless of their political stance.
We are hosting a documentary screening and discussion session on Saturday, August 2nd at 1 pm at the St. Catharines Public Library (Mills Room).
The admission will be free. Also free food will be provided. We will have a “safe space” policy and we will not tolerate any anti-Semitic, Islamophobic or any potentially offensive behavior.
We would like to invite you personally as a respectable journalist from the region.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Best, Memin
Unfortunately, this NAL journalist – Doug Draper – already has commitments to friends and family this long weekend, and I have passed along my regrets to Memin. However, any and all of you who may have no fixed plans for this time and would like to learn more about this tragic war in the Middle East may wish to attend.
(Now it is your turn to comment on this post if you are willing to share your real first and last name. Anyone so cowardly as to hide behind a fake name here need not comment. We are into total transparency and accountability around those who participate on this news and commentary site.)
Niagara At Large 
What a great idea this is. I am sorry as I have already made other plans for Saturday and can’t make it….but this is the sort of format we desperately need….civil discussion and honest calm debate…..with the goal being to find a workable (but compromised) solution for both sides. No more bloodshed.
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This “WAR” on GAZA can only be looked upon as a holocaust for it is nothing short of “GENOCIDE” a crime against humanity by a country that holds all the weapons of a “Super Power”. most of which have been acquired from the North American Coalition of Right Wing fanatics. I am not going to get into naming names for I am sure you are aware of the Criminals.and their pathetic obedience to the Munition Manufactures.
There are many Jewish people through out the world who abhor the actions of those who would murder innocent women and children for whatever their sick reasoning might be… and they have without fear risen in a tide of anger and total disgust to demonstrate their anguish
over this GENOCIDE….May God Bless and Protect them… and all peoples that rise up in unity to stop this criminal lunacy..
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I only wish there would be a proportional protest against the Bashar al-Assad dictatorship in Syria. In terms of numbers far more people have died. Why is this?
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