Topic: Please explain this decision by Susan Komen Foundation

The Komen foundation cannot control what the Egyption government does.  The Egyptions disallowed the Isrealis from attending at the last minute.

Komen put out this statement:

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Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pleased to Announce Egyptian Events to Welcome All Advocates, Including those from Israel Statement by Nancy G. Brinker, Founder, Susan G. Komen for the Cure

"Breast cancer advocates from the United States and across the Middle East are meeting in Egypt from October 21-27 for breast cancer awareness events. There have been reports that some of the invited participants would not be allowed to attend these events. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now received confirmation that all advocates, regardless of their country of origin, are invited to fully participate in events to bring breast cancer to the forefront of public discussion in the Middle East.  

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They launched diplomatic activity to try to get the Isrealis back in attendance.  I don't know how successful they were but to say that Koman didn't allow it is disengenouous.  However, putting on a conference that all are welcome to attend in the Middle East was probably naive and hopefully they will chose a better location for future events.

Please understand that my comment in the abov post refers, as I stated, to the Egyptian GOVERNMENT and not individuals.

Leah

MsBliss - what is the point of your post?  We have already had a debate concenring this topic over the last week or more.  The moderators eventually had to intervene.

London Virginia,

Why are you asking me this? 

First, I did not see the other thread on this topic--I was surprised to learn this had happened. 

Secondly, since when is a single topic restricted to one thread?  There are multiple layers and multiple hits for dozens and dozens of other topics.  Do you notify other members when they ask a question about another subject that has already been discussed on other threads?

I honestly don't care that the moderators had to intervene.  This is a very disturbing event and the reaction to it should be just as disturbing.

Right on Barbe ... well said.  I don't know why this happened.  CoolBreeze is probably right about naivity.  I am sure their intentions were good (I know, trhe road to hell is paved with good intentions). I remember years ago, and I don't know if it is still true but I suspect it is (and remember this was well before 9/11 and terrorist strikes) if you wanted to see Egypt and Israel it was best to visit Egypt first before you got an Israeli visa on your passport.

MsBliss - I understand righteous indignation - I love righteous indignation - but I don't think anything will be resolved here.  None of us were in control of any part of the situation.  Anyway, it was a good point but I think Komen is the only one who can answer this with any validity.

MsBliss wrote:

I never said, nor did I mean to imply, that this was an act perpetrated by the Komen Foundation. Of course it was not. In response to your statement, it seems "disengenuous" of you to attribute that to my post.

Okay, but here is exactly what you said:

Could someone please explain why the Susan Komen Foundation sponsored a conference which took place this past October in Egypt which was to celebrate unity in conquering breast cancer but allowed the Egyptian Health Minister Gabali to ban any Israeli doctor from attending? 

You made it sound, by the use of the word "allowed" like the Komen Foundation had the ability to allow any government to do anything.  You didn't say anything in your original post about how you think they should have pulled out.  Had you mentioned a better response, I might have agreed.

Perhaps they should have. As a person with rights of return myself, I think what the Egyptionss did was despicable, although certainly not surprising.

On the other hand, the Komen Foundation is not concerned with Middle East Peace. They are concerned with women with breast cancer.  Who do you think is getting better treatment for breast cancer at the moment?  Israeli women? Or Iranian or Egyption women?  

I'd venture the former is getting the same treatment we are privvy too.  So, if your goal in life is to get ALL women the treatment they need - and you are not a diplomatic agenc - then maybe they felt they could do more good and bring more awareness by going on with the conference.

I'm not saying it's what I would have done but just remembering what they might be concerned with.

Bliss, if you met a lot of women from other countries then I think the message is getting out. Women have had breasts and breast cancer for, oh, what do you think? About 10,000 years! Please credit third world countries with some semblance of knowledge! It's the TREATMENT that is of issue. You say they can get diagnosed, but not treated? That doesn't make sense. 

There are millions of women around the world that can't get adequate treatment! Not just "over there". You're standing on quite a big soapbox and trying to ignite a topic that was dealt with weeks ago.

This is not the right venue to try to change the Egyptian government!  What kind of answers are you looking for? You ask us to "explain this decision". We most certainly CANNOT do that. Please call the foundation and let us all know what their explanation is....I'll wait with bated breath....

The topic was never dealth with "weeks ago". The Komen Foundation has NOT been transparent and in fact, has put out some questionable information regarding their handling in this. This was a KOMEN FOUNDATION event. Not an Egyptian event. In fact the Jerusalem Post has said that the Israeli scientist WERE NOT invited back. Many MANY in the Jewish community are very upset about this and it is very relevant because the Komen Foundation ASKS for money for research, yet allows a government to dictate THEIR conference list. Frankly, alot of people are asking if their was a financial incentive for the Komen Foundation to go along with this outrageous act. Lots of oil money in the middle east. Yes, women in the middle east need access to treatments. I wonder if the Egyptian government would deny a cure or treatment that was discovered by Israeli scientists? From their actions, one would have to surmise that they would. And from Komen's actions, evidently they would be complicit in this denial.

MsBliss did not slam you against the wall, Barbe. You snarked her first. You accuse her of being on a soapbox? Since when are YOU the arbiter of what is relevant or not? This is a breast cancer discussion forum, and the actions of the world's largest breast cancer foundation is very relevant to discussion here. Why don't YOU learn which battles you need to fight instead of telling other people what theirs should be? Don't like this topic? Then don't freaking post in it!

Barbe, the moderators did not close any topic down regarding this. It was not stopped. One poster complained (unfairly iun my mind) that there was a solicitation in the original post and the OP altered her post to accomodate that. The topic is not closed down and anyone can go and post in it. Some of us do not feel this is a "political" topic at all. Fundraising for breast cancer isn't/shouldn't be political. It follows that Komen should make sure it is never perceived as such. That is the argument.

I don't think it's a tired topic at all. In fact, I KNOW there are other ladies that MIGHT want to discuss it except for those poster here that appoint themselves the Post Police and make it their business to insert themselves into threads just to waggle their fingers about whether the topics or posts are "appropriate". I think of these finger wagglers as Busy Bodys. Other people call them Bullies. Whatever..when I read a topic that I don't have anything to add to, I simply back out of it. How hard can that be for you?

Ladies, money talks.  Is there another organization that is doing the kind of research we need and working to come up with a cure?  If we direct donations there that otherwise would have gone to Komen, and let Komen know why I guarantee that they will get the message, and won't be planning anymore international conferences in locations where the government is likely to prohibit some of the invitees from attending.

If we send an email to Komen letting them know that "I won't be participating in _____________ event this year, and instead will be donating the $_________ to ____________________ in protest of over your organization's handling of the barring of Israeli participants in the Egyptian Conference in October 2009."   It will be far more effective than bickering among ourselves.

2tzus, sorry, but the original posting was "Egyt Bans Israeli Scientists from Komen Breast Cancer Conf." The moderators DID get involved and I saw you  post there as well (so whew I'm not crazy!). I see the post was modified to exclude what I, too, considered prejudicial wording. Religion should NEVER come between humans and it is so sad that it does. Peel away our skin and we are all the same inside.

Great point PatMom! 

I only suggested that maybe it would be MORE effective discussed on the Komen website rather than here....SORRY if I was NOT on the same PAGE as you. Oh my God! I made a BOO-BOO! The other topic wasn't closed down...yikes! But YOU were the ONE that said it was "never dealt with weeks ago" and yet YOU posted THERE!

I get the last word? Goody!

When I said the topic has been dealt with, I meant on this board. If you misinterpreted it, I can't account for that!

I am not a Neener Nanny, whatever that means, I was suggesting posting to a more appropriate forum to GET AN ANSWER! I didn't come here wagging my finger either! I was just wondering what and how the poster could expect to get an answer! Duh.

Why not just have the conference here in the US at Komen headquarters..

Barbe, "HON", if you "come in peace", then please refrain from posting dictatorial mandates; if you don't have time for "petty back and forth like this", than don't post without thinking.

You did have an agenda; generally there is nothing wrong with that.  But you chose to insert yourself into a discussion for the sole purpose of slamming the discussion down, and you chose to do it in a rude and insulting manner.  Well, I usually turn my back on such behavior, but you, Barbe, "HON", rubbed me the wrong way, determined that this discussion did not deserve to see any further oxygen. I don't think you realize how all of your comments on this thread are immature, finger pointing sand box behavior.  That is so unhelpful.  Go to Komen, Go to Egypt, YOU did this, YOU did that.  What do you think this forum is about? 

I will not expend one more atom of energy on you.  That is sad because we have more in common than not.  We have breast cancer and the rule of the day is to hang together, support one another, share information and vent if we need to.  I was astonished when I learned of the Komen event.  You jumped in assuming I was stirring things up in your town and I better not do that. 

All I wanted to do was find out if other's knew about the event, and if it was resolved.