To the editor: Probably the most wise take to date on the reactions to the October 7 Hamas assaults and Israel’s retaliation got here from San Diego State College affiliate professor Michele Bigley. (“Do not cancel US school college students with robust views on Israel and Gaza. Spotlight complexity,” Opinion, Nov. 24)
It’s nice to see how engaged and passionate college students have been on this topic. However we’re speaking a couple of nuanced scenario with an advanced historical past.
Bigley very sensibly reminds us to cross-check media, invite completely different views, and above all, pay attention. There’s a disaster of lack of breaks and listening to others’ factors of view, which creates insurmountable riffs.
It’s a downside when an individual feels that their view is absolute and everybody else is fallacious. That is particularly an issue when these individuals might not have all of the info and at instances are simply giving up what their on-line feeds inform them to assume.
Listening in right this moment’s world is actually uncomfortable for a lot of. Collectively, we appear to preemptively dismiss the views of others whereas desirous about what our subsequent level might be.
With such a heated subject, it is much more vital to examine our personal rhetoric and think about whether or not our views are making some extent within the dialog, or simply repeating hate speech.
Lara Duke, Redondo Seaside
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To the editor: Whereas I agree with the creator that there are some ignorant college students who get caught up within the pro-Palestinian protests, there are a big variety of them who name for violence towards Jews.
Earlier than Israel even began combating again after October 7, there have been college students blaming Israel and praising Hamas. Bigley serves as an excuse for these individuals. When there’s “Holocaust 2.0” graffiti and different hateful messages on school campuses, she should not channel her interior Neville Chamberlain.
They’re adults who’re in a position to vote and will completely know the distinction between proper and fallacious.
Invoice Toth, Studio Metropolis
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To the editor: A criterion for college students to make use of when contemplating whether or not a bunch espouses a simplistic viewpoint – does the group rally behind a simplistic slogan?
Wendell H. Jones, Ojai