Distorting Israel's record
To the Editor:
The campaign to divest University funds from Israel ("Controversial linguist rails at U.S. policies," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 10/4/2002) goes beyond fair criticism of Israeli policy to a level of absurdity rivaled only by last September's United Nations Conference Against Racism, where Fidel Castro denounced Israel as undemocratic and countries like Sudan -- which enslaves Christians -- condemned Israel for discriminating against Arabs.
In exercising its right to defend against organized suicide terrorism, Israel, like any other state, puts the lives of its citizens ahead of certain civil liberties. However, it is dubious to single out Israel, where Arabs have more rights than in any Arab country, and it is all too often a pretext for prejudice.
Noam Chomsky's own visceral criticism of Israel is based on an underlying disdain for any concentration of political power. If his primary concern is really human rights, then where is his lecture on the jailing of political dissidents throughout the Arab world?
Students should freely advocate for either Israel or Palestine. But when one side adopts tactics historically reserved for the worst human rights abusers, it is fair to question the underlying premises of such disproportionate condemnation. Failure to do so would only perpetuate a false impression of Israel's human rights record.
Jason Chinitz College '03
Daniel Kasell Law '05
A soldier speaks
To the Editor:
I am a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, but what is more, I am a soldier in the United States Army Reserve. I drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year, and I could be called up at any time to serve my country in war.
That's why I was proud to read Richard Mo's column ("Military Service: A Duty Worthy of Dignity and Respect", DP, 10/7/2002). I don't pretend to be more noble than I am. I joined the Army primarily to help pay for college, and the possibility of war with Iraq -- or any other country, for the matter -- makes me very nervous.
The chance that I might have to go to war is what I like least about being a part of the armed forces, but Mo's sentiment eases my conscience. I joined the Army not to defend my country, but to defend those in my country.
I will not die for a flag that for so many in the world is a symbol of greed and ignorance, but I will gladly lay down my life for the lives of those who I love and liberties that they cherish. I will fight for my family, friends and classmates -- even those for whose right to say they hate me I defend.
Mo mentioned Athenian Greece, where serving in the military was both a duty and an honor. I thank him for reminding me and others of that, and I assure him that his sentiment is greatly appreciated by Pfc. Jones, and me.
Philip Gommels College '06
