Letters to the Editor | April 23, 2024

In response to Will Bunch’s column about free speech on campus, hate speech is hate. University of Southern California valedictorian Asna Tabassum has called for the abolishment of the state of Israel. This isn’t even a code word except calling for the destruction of Jews and Israel. The chant of “From the river to sea” also calls for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel. Adolf Hitler murdered six million Jews, and as Jews, we say never again. Bunch glosses over the real meaning of many Palestinian protests. Calling for the destruction of Israel and its people doesn’t belong on campus or anywhere.

Steven Miller, Holland

Back in the ‘60s, students protested the Vietnam War, the draft, and the military-industrial complex. There was a sense of unity as we took on the establishment. Today, students have turned on each other. Jewish students are facing angry pro-Palestinian students who tear down Israeli hostage posters and chant “From the river to the sea.” While not all protesters seem to know that this chant is code for the destruction of Israel, Jewish students certainly do.

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Hamas’ unprovoked attack with increasing force, I find myself supporting neither side. But I try to imagine what it’s like for Jewish students to see their fellow students condemning them for Israel’s acts (which many Jewish people themselves condemn). I think I would feel frightened and intimidated. One of the justifications for the exorbitant cost of higher education is to give students the opportunity to meet and understand people from different backgrounds. But when pro-Palestinian students can’t distinguish Jewish students from the Israeli war machine, higher education has failed in one of its core objectives.

Rosemary C. McDonough, Narberth

We are writing to express our concerns around Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s public safety plan. The mayor’s recent visit to Kensington sends a clear message: Her administration is here to make things better, and her resolve to take on the issue of drug markets in Kensington deserves praise and admiration. Yet, while crime control is a tangible solution for improving the quality of life, we are wary of her administration’s treatment of incarceration policy. The public safety report released outlines a multi-strategy law enforcement plan, but details on the treatment services to be offered, the capacity of the health-care workforce, and funding allocated were vague and uncertain.

As health-care researchers, we can attest that the science of addiction treatment is more convoluted than simply signing someone up for treatment. Several environmental factors play a substantial role in the long-term management of substance abuse. A no-tolerance policy is bound to create fear and anguish among an already marginalized community, further distancing them from the right resources. More work is needed to ensure that treatment plans being offered are well-funded, medically informed, and affordable. We strongly urge Parker to carefully contemplate the medical impact of her strategy on individuals affected by substance abuse, a vulnerable population in need of long-term care and support.

Zeal Jinwala and Karthik Prabakaran, Philadelphia

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