Letters to the Editor | Oct. 5, 2025

I now need a glass of wine (or a beer) and a handful of M&M’s to watch the evening news. I’m thinking of stockpiling my anti-anxiety medication to get through the newspaper.

There has been a good deal of talk recently from both sides of the partisan divide about the damage caused by hateful rhetoric. It is all around us — we have become numb to it, and we emulate it. The accusations and condemnations no longer shock us. Those who excoriate the president and his administration’s domestic, economic, immigration, social, and foreign policies are attacked by his MAGA supporters as traitors and worse. The complete absence of civil discourse should frighten us all.

I vehemently oppose this administration’s policies, but I do not expect everyone to agree with me. I also do not expect to be called “a flaming liberal,” “a left-wing radical,” “extremist,” “a communist,” or “a socialist.” We must stop denigrating people. We must stop calling one another names; to damn someone whose view is different from yours as a “fascist” or “Nazi” is not only wrong, it is destructive to our civic life. The people in power in this country — political, economic, social — are manipulating us every day by their example. If we fail to see what is happening and refuse to stand against this vicious and cruel speech, if we continue to brand our opponents as “enemies,” if we do not fight for the freedoms we say we have, then only the powerful in this country will celebrate our country’s founding next year.

Diane Haydon, Paoli

Mohamed “Mo” Rushdy’s forced resignation as president of the Building Industry Association represents a dangerous double standard that threatens the very principles Philadelphia claims to uphold, such as the right to dissent. As reported in The Inquirer, Rushy spoke out at a public City Council meeting about his concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For this, he was accused of justifying terrorism and pressured to stand down from positions he had worked years to earn.

As a Philadelphia Palestinian American, it troubles me deeply that public figures can openly support a government whose actions have been condemned by the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and longtime U.S. allies like Canada and the U.K., but advocating for the humanity of Palestinians results in being punished, ostracized, and forced out.

Rushdy shared his concerns openly, respectfully, and in the proper forum. For this, he deserves our respect and support, not condemnation and exile.

Sam Kuttab, cofounder, Prayers for Peace Alliance

I have no objection to Mohamed “Mo” Rushdy speaking his mind, but I do oppose his lies. He attributes the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, to having “the foot on someone’s neck for eight decades.” Apparently, Rushdy forgets the fact that Arabs and Palestinians have rejected many peace plans, including offers for a state, since 1948. Later, he mentions that there is no Hamas on the West Bank, but forgets that the Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, has utilized a “pay to slay” policy that rewards terrorist violence. For those eight decades, Israelis have been trying to stay alive despite suicide bombers and attempts to erase a democratically elected Jewish state. Let Hamas free the hostages and give up its arms. Let Palestine be free.

Susie Sommovilla, Elkins Park

As an affordable housing advocate, I am committed to making sure every Philadelphian can live in a safe and accessible home. Because of our priorities, I have not seen eye-to-eye with Mohamed “Mo” Rushdy on nearly every issue.

But that changed last week. Rushdy, like me, is an Egyptian American. He spoke to City Council about the oppression happening in Palestine. It is a fact that settlers are aggressively taking land in the West Bank, and Israel’s government (with the U.S.’s help) is waging a genocide in Gaza.

Because Rushdy spoke about the crisis Palestinians were facing, he was accused of being antisemitic and pressured to resign from the Building Industry Association. Antisemitism is a real problem, and we should address it wherever we see it. But being critical of Israel’s government and showing compassion toward the plight of Palestinians is not antisemitic. False charges of antisemitism are dangerous. Despite my disagreement with Rushdy, the pressure he received to resign from BIA is a violation of free speech. Ultimately, those actions make us all less safe.

Jonny Rashid, pastor, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, Philadelphia

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