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Letters to the Editor
'Iron Wall' hopeful for unity in face of division
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Commentary
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, there was a showing of the film "The Iron Wall," about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the Student Union Theater, presented by the Muslim Student Association. Although this film was biased in favor of the Palestinian perspective, the pro-Israeli students and teachers in attendance watched patiently and recognized that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.
After the movie ended, the two guest speakers began a discussion with the room. When Hebrew teacher Sherry Shamash received the microphone and had the opportunity to address the room, she pointed out the biased nature of the film, and attempted to describe the Israeli perspective. After a moment of stating facts and the other side of the conflict, the microphone was physically ripped from her hand, she was essentially reprimanded by the guest speakers, and the entire room burst into applause.
I was appalled and offended by this action. I personally believe very strongly in the freedom of speech at the University of Connecticut, and this was a direct affront to this right. I have absolutely no problem with the showing of this film; while I may not agree with it, and while I feel that it should have been identified as biased, the sponsors of this event had every right to show it. However, it is completely unacceptable to not allow someone else to share their opinion.
In a university environment, there should be a scholarly discourse. Students at the university need to stand up for their right to have their ideas shared. Actions like taking the microphone away because you do not agree with the presented ideas should not be tolerated.
- Marissa Goldberg
6th-semester political science and judaic studies double major
As one of the presenters I want to thank you for your coverage of the film showing of "The Iron Wall." However, there was a mistake in one sentence of the report. I did not say that an "optimal solution to the conflict would be a two-state policy."
The solution to the deep racism in the U.S. was not to set up one state for whites and one for Blacks, but full integration. With two states in Israel/Palestine you still have the problems of the Palestinian refugees who have a right to go to their former homes in Israel, the Palestinians of Israel who are treated as 10th-class citizens, and the Gaza Strip, which is not contiguous to the West Bank.
The best solution, in my view, would be for Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs to live as equal citizens together in one country stretching from the Mediterranean to the Jordan.
- Stanley Heller
Chairman
Middle East Crisis Committee
After the movie ended, the two guest speakers began a discussion with the room. When Hebrew teacher Sherry Shamash received the microphone and had the opportunity to address the room, she pointed out the biased nature of the film, and attempted to describe the Israeli perspective. After a moment of stating facts and the other side of the conflict, the microphone was physically ripped from her hand, she was essentially reprimanded by the guest speakers, and the entire room burst into applause.
I was appalled and offended by this action. I personally believe very strongly in the freedom of speech at the University of Connecticut, and this was a direct affront to this right. I have absolutely no problem with the showing of this film; while I may not agree with it, and while I feel that it should have been identified as biased, the sponsors of this event had every right to show it. However, it is completely unacceptable to not allow someone else to share their opinion.
In a university environment, there should be a scholarly discourse. Students at the university need to stand up for their right to have their ideas shared. Actions like taking the microphone away because you do not agree with the presented ideas should not be tolerated.
- Marissa Goldberg
6th-semester political science and judaic studies double major
As one of the presenters I want to thank you for your coverage of the film showing of "The Iron Wall." However, there was a mistake in one sentence of the report. I did not say that an "optimal solution to the conflict would be a two-state policy."
The solution to the deep racism in the U.S. was not to set up one state for whites and one for Blacks, but full integration. With two states in Israel/Palestine you still have the problems of the Palestinian refugees who have a right to go to their former homes in Israel, the Palestinians of Israel who are treated as 10th-class citizens, and the Gaza Strip, which is not contiguous to the West Bank.
The best solution, in my view, would be for Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs to live as equal citizens together in one country stretching from the Mediterranean to the Jordan.
- Stanley Heller
Chairman
Middle East Crisis Committee
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Saleh Ibrahim
posted 2/27/09 @ 10:39 PM EST
As the DC correctly reported last Wednesday, the audience expressed their widely-varying views freely and openly, including the Jewish Zionist and Jewish Anti-Zionist points of view. (Continued…)
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