Letters to the Editor

Free speech for all

To the Editor:

Federico Sanchez's column ("Right wing groups invade college campuses," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 12/7/01) was one of the most frightening to grace the editorial page in recent years. It was frightening not because it reveals his theory of a vast conspiracy to "infiltrate university campuses" with the "philosophy of the extreme right," but because of how strongly Mr. Sanchez feels that only certain opinions and philosophies (those with which he agrees) deserve to be heard.

He writes that Brother Stephen does not seem to be backed by an extended well-funded organization. But what would be the problem if he were? What would be the problem with a group promoting extreme opinions that was organized, activist and well-funded?

The ISI and YAF do not "quash freedom of speech" when they "sponsor lectures" by Pat Buchanan, David Horowitz, and Ralph Reed. If anything, these lectures are an exercise in free speech. Is it simply because these "conservative notables" promote ideas that Sanchez does not agree with that he thinks any attempt to give them a voice constitutes the quashing of free speech? I am afraid so.

If Sanchez is so concerned with the prospect of organized groups voicing ideas and opinions contrary to his own, he would do well to consider the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, who said that "the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas -- the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes can safely be carried out." As a community of open-minded, educated and thoughtful people, Penn is a place that should serve as such a marketplace. It is disturbing to think there are those who feel that it shouldn't.

William Ruthrauff

College '01

Support all victims To the Editor:

It is interesting that last Thursday's Israel Solidarity Rally was supposed to show support for "victims of terrorism," yet it completely ignored the Palestinian victims of Israeli terrorism. This is a very disturbing trend that is not only apparent in last week's rally, but is common throughout American media. There have been far more Palestinian victims, yet their sad stories are often brushed aside as unimportant.

Another problem with the rally was that it attempted to use America's response to Sept. 11 as a justification for Israel's actions. Whether or not the United States' response is justifiable, the difference is that the U.S. is not an occupying force, while Israel subjugates the entire Palestinian population with its brutal military occupation.

In the occupied territories, Palestinians are humiliated on a daily basis, forced to abide by curfews, denied access to their jobs, refused basic necessities such as water, have their houses bulldozed or shelled and their olive fields destroyed by the Israeli army -- all with the explicit support of the Israeli government.

Nor are Palestinians protected by the law. In January, an Israeli court found a Jewish settler guilty of murdering a 10-year-old Palestinian child. His punishment was a symbolic fine of $17,000 and six months of community service. Such cases are frighteningly common.

I do not ask the organizers and participants of the rally not to support the victims. In fact, I hope they do. But they should support the Palestinian victims of Israel's apartheid and military occupation, as well.

Michael Khouryv

College '04

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.