This shouldn't be hard. If an organization's purpose is to directly related to some topic(s) in public discussion, it should have a clear position(s) on that(those) issue(s), and state that position clearly and publicly. For instance, an organization dedicated to protecting wilderness in the western US should take public positions on iss…
This shouldn't be hard. If an organization's purpose is to directly related to some topic(s) in public discussion, it should have a clear position(s) on that(those) issue(s), and state that position clearly and publicly. For instance, an organization dedicated to protecting wilderness in the western US should take public positions on issues related to western wilderness. An organization dedicated to improving education for poor children should take public positions related to education for poor children.
No organization should take public positions on controversial issues not directly related to its primary purpose. Doing so will distract both members and the larger public from the organization's avowed purpose. Certainly, members of these organizations are likely to have opinions, but the organization doesn't need to take a position, and shouldn't. Officials of these organizations shouldn't make public statements that would be seen as representing the organization, nor should they take advantage of their positions to promote their views to their members.
This shouldn't be hard. If an organization's purpose is to directly related to some topic(s) in public discussion, it should have a clear position(s) on that(those) issue(s), and state that position clearly and publicly. For instance, an organization dedicated to protecting wilderness in the western US should take public positions on issues related to western wilderness. An organization dedicated to improving education for poor children should take public positions related to education for poor children.
No organization should take public positions on controversial issues not directly related to its primary purpose. Doing so will distract both members and the larger public from the organization's avowed purpose. Certainly, members of these organizations are likely to have opinions, but the organization doesn't need to take a position, and shouldn't. Officials of these organizations shouldn't make public statements that would be seen as representing the organization, nor should they take advantage of their positions to promote their views to their members.
This is very likely a tough lesson the members of the organization learned.