Two wrongs ...
On behalf of all rational and civil supporters of Israel, the people and nation, I want to disavow and repudiate the violent assault on the pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus. Misguided in thought and criminal in action, it does not in any way honor the spirit or history of the Jewish state, which is accepting of dissent and tolerant of even to most vituperative criticism.
The illegal nature of the encampment neither justified or excuses violent retaliation. All true Zionists believe foremost in the rule of law and two wrongs do not make anything right.
Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis, Flower Mound
Congregation Kol Ami
One adult is needed
It wasn’t until years later that everyone agreed that the Vietnam War protesters were right. We again listen to the people in power sing the same song, and time will prove them wrong as well.
These protests are not antisemitic, they are anti-Israeli. Americans have always supported the Jewish people and their right to exist, and still do. But after 32,000 dead Palestinians, the students no longer support the actions of the Israeli government, and neither should we.
While we abhor the violence of the demonstrations, it has now become just a continuation of a generations-old conflict. As difficult as it has been historically to accomplish, we know that a two-state solution remains the only answer. The world community knows it, the U.S. government knows it and many Israelis know it.
Instead of extending the olive branch, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has chosen to turn the moral high ground into Israel as a pariah state. To resolve any conflict, it takes at least one adult in the room.
Milton Bruce Neher, Richardson
Cause for worry
I have been closely monitoring college campus protests, the New York hush-money case against Donald Trump, the arguments made before the Supreme Court about presidential immunity, the comments of Republican leaders and the newest presidential preference polls. And I watched with distaste most of the recent Sunday morning news shows.
This compels me to worry that even if the verdict of legal cases against Trump are rendered prior to November, those outcomes won’t impact the 2024 presidential election. Sadly, I am amazed that so many voters don’t care about whether Trump committed crimes.
Moreover, despite President Joe Biden’s record of accomplishments, too many are willing to vote for someone admitting he will use the office of the presidency as a tool for revenge and who will undermine democracy and the rule of law.
And as a Jew, I am deeply disturbed by the not-so-coincidental rise of antisemitism. Frankly, I remain perplexed by the possibility that the majority of Americans are poised to vote against the only candidate who is a decent human being who cares more about his country and its citizens than himself. Never in my 72 years have I experienced such trepidation about the state of our nation.
Richard Cherwitz, Austin
Well said
Re: “Closed Campus Minds Create Chaos — College protesters ignore others’ right to peace,” April 26 editorial.
Thank you. This was so clearly focused on the appropriate perspective for a very serious subject, aimed at our students as well as faculty! Please continue to publish well-thought out pieces on this ongoing issue in the Middle East that will likely not be solved soon. Our country desperately needs guidance, not blind passion.
Sharyn Bledsoe, Dallas
A look at history
This spring, my fifth-grade class has been doing a research paper on Benjamin Franklin. Because our country, in its infancy, was struggling, a convention was held in 1787 to hammer out a new framework: the U.S. Constitution.
However, there was a big problem. The large states wanted more say, but the small states feared they wouldn’t have much power. Fortunately, Franklin was a delegate to the convention and was instrumental in working out the solution to meet everyone’s needs.
At the time, Franklin was 81 years old. I am so very grateful that our Founding Fathers had the tremendous amount of respect for Franklin’s wisdom and experience that they did. My, how times have changed!
Jean Huddleston, Dallas
Kudos to Richman
Re: “The News honors 22 staffers for 2023 work,” April 28 Metro story.
Hats off to Talia Richman for winning the reporter of the year award. Her Education Lab pieces are enlightening and impactful by uncovering important issues and stories that involve our school districts and, more importantly, our teachers and students.
Richman brought to our attention Keller ISD’s attempt to cancel a school production of The Laramie Project, a controversial play that explored the aftermath of the 1998 murder of a gay student in Wyoming. The play was reinstated.
Her reporting of the young black student who was punished by school officials for courageously alarming the school of a possible shooting by a student was provocative and necessary.
Thank you, Talia, for your dedication and I look forward to reading your stories for many years.
Barry Rothschild, Dallas/Preston Hollow
My Tony predictions
I’m so excited that the semi-autobiographical Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including best musical. And I’m also excited that Stereophonic, a play about a 1970s rock band recording a star-making album, was also nominated for 13 Tonys, including best play.
Hell’s Kitchen is one of the greatest musicals of the year, and Alicia Keys deserves a Tony because she is not only a great singer-songwriter, but also a great choreographer. Stereophonic is one of my favorite Broadway plays because it’s a play about music, and I am a music lover.
I think both Hell’s Kitchen and Stereophonic will sweep the Tonys — including best musical and best play, respectively — at this year’s Tony Awards on Jun. 16.
Congratulations, Hell’s Kitchen and Stereophonic!
Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
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