The Middle East Conflict Arrives at San Francisco State University
May 17, 2002
Dear BuzzFlash,
I have read your site since the 2000 (s)election fiasco. And I've always respected your dedication. You have recently put up a link that I have personally experienced, and I am grateful for it. I'd like to inform you... and your readers... about a very frightening development.
Unfortunately, this is a problem I've been finding too much on the Left wing, not the Right.
You see, I'm a Jewish student at San Francisco State University, the same one which recently had the Riot incident that has even been reported in the Jerusalem Post. Our campus has, for a long time, been a nest of Anti-Semitic and Anti-Israel movements. Many of these movements have been trying to attach themselves to Left-Wing causes in general, and have been having some success.
If you are not Jewish, it is hard to express how frightening this is. I have seen Palestinian rallies on my campus, where signs with swastikas were displayed. They had an Israeli flag with a swastika replacing the star of David. Most infamous has been the blood libel poster they posted around campus, one that accused Israelis of using the blood of Palestinian babies for Jewish rites. Speakers have called us the "rise of the Jewish Crackers," have called for the exile of all the Jews from Israel, and cheered wildly upon hearing of the ambush that claimed the lives of 13 Israelis.
The riot story relates to the counter demonstration of our own Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, Anti-Hate rally. Their counter demonstration tried to shout down every speaker. Our first speaker was a Holocaust survivor, and she had a crowd shouting "Shame on you" at her. When the rally ended and we were trying to clean up, they flooded the plaza, tore down and stomped one of our flags, and cornered us against a wall. A police barrier prevented physical violence. But I saw hate-filled people shouting "Burn Fuckers Burn" and "Hitler should have finished the job!" as we sang Oseh Shalom, a prayer for peace.
BuzzFlash, I am aware of the struggles the Palestinian people go through. And I know Liberals, like those who read BuzzFlash, sympathize for underdogs. And I know that Israel, like all countries, has blemishes on its record.
But it has done beautiful things as well. And after I saw a mob that could have been a Pogrom were it not for the defensive line of police -- I realized that it is more important than ever that Israel survives, for as Anti-Semitism rises, it is of the utmost importance that the one nation that is a consistent advocate of the Jews remains viable.
The most frightening thing is that those students on my campus who are against Israel refuse to talk to us. They condemn us as Zionists, and because we will never convince them, they refuse to listen to what we have to say. I have seen a girl who claimed to be a Socialist refuse to read a piece by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because it had something good to say about Israel. A liberal refused to read a piece by Dr. King because it was that important for her to continue hating Israel... and by extension, hate the fact that Jews have a place to go. Are these real liberals? Do liberals now hate Jews? Were the Palestinians who were praising Hitler and urging the destruction of Israel... liberals?
I'm fairly certain they aren't conservatives. Conservatives aren't popular on my campus. And the Conservatives have been solid in supporting Israel.
I'm in a dilemma, BuzzFlash As a Jew, I'm afraid. Osama bin Laden has said to his followers that it is their duty to kill Americans, and to kill Jews. I fall in both categories. I have heard some Socialists claim that if Israel accepts it destruction and becomes an Arab state of Palestine, the Jews will be treated fairly. But from my knowledge of history, in the world and the region, I do not believe this.
Yet, I support the Liberal causes... environmentalism, anti-corporatism, and Al Gore. But if the Left wing jumps onto the Anti-Israel bandwagon, where am I supposed to stand? Am I expected to support the Left, and urge my own destruction? Or will I need to turn to the Right -- and support a party that trashes the environment, cares only for wealth, overturned a free election -- but seems more willing to protect me as a Jew and the Jewish state.
Please BuzzFlash, understand that I am praying that I will never have
to make such a choice. Help the Liberal movement support a peaceful coexistence
between Israelis and Palestinians. There isn't one here on the SFSU campus.
But remember that a peaceful coexistence includes Israel as a Jewish state,
and that is not a bad thing. Zionism has saved millions of Jews from living
under Anti-Semitic governments, and that is
no exaggeration.
Sincerely,
Benjamin
Epstein
Graduate Student
San Francisco State University
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