Study-abroad choice punishes
To the Editor:
As a University alumnus and the parent of two University of Pennsylvania graduates who benefitted from study abroad during their time at Penn, it is distressing to read that the University was among a small handful of schools that have suspended their study abroad programs in Israel. The practice of universities acting in loco parentis to protect students was long .ago dismissed as inappropriate, so it seems difficult to justify Penn's action now.
University alumni were well represented among those killed by terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center. There were 406 murders in Philadelphia in 2006 and 392 in 2007. Presumably, Wharton did not subsequently discourage graduates from heading to Wall Street, and Penn has not moved its campus to a safer environment.
The University's decision was unique among the Ivies and America's other great academic centers and exceeded State Department warnings. It was done late and in an abrupt way that maximized the difficulty students would encounter in making alternative arrangements.
There are those, perhaps even on the Penn campus, who would like to see life in Israel's capital more dangerous than that in West Philadelphia. Thanks to Israel's defensive barrier and other measures, including a government devoted to protecting civilians rather than hiding behind them or otherwise placing them in danger, that is not the case in Jerusalem.
It is hard not to see this latest decision in a political context, singling out Israel and students wanting to study there for "collective punishment," despite claims to the contrary.
John Cohn
The author is a 1972 College alumnus
Focus on terror, not the religions
To the Editor:
Emerson Brooking's assertion ("Straddling the Middle East Divide," DP, 1/21/09) that support of Israel in its defensive war is primarily derived from "religion and upbringing" obfuscates the reality that the terrorist group Hamas (as labeled by US, EU and Japanese governments) has rained down 5,000 rockets on southern Israel without regard to civilian life. While videos of Hamas launching attacks from civilian apartment buildings can easily be found on YouTube, Mr. Brooking provides no source for his allegation of "[Israel Defense Force] tanks firing on surrendering families."
In fact, the IDF is so concerned with civilian casualties that it calls every cell phone in the area of a target, warning inhabitants to vacate the area. The American military now does the same in Iraq, despite the obvious disadvantage it creates.
Lastly, and most importantly, I must agree with Mr. Brooking's belief that life that human life is paramount, be it Israeli or Palestinian, which is exactly why I applaud the IDF's decision to cease all combat operations for 3 hours per day to let humanitarian aid into Gaza.
While civilian casualties on both sides are heartbreaking, there exists no reason not to commend the IDF for its humane and careful execution of its military operations.
Zachary Roseman
The author is a College senior
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