I did not attend the recent Student Association forum on the Iraq war that was reported in the Wednesday, April 16, issue of The Spectrum, so I cannot write that I know with confidence what was said by the contending parties. What is reported and quoted, however, I do find, in one instance, to be deeply disturbing.
People should not have to be reminded that what is thoughtlessly referred to as "the Jewish Lobby" should more appropriately be called a lobby of "some Jews and some others who aren't Jewish" on behalf of Israel. Jews come in all shapes and sizes, not only physically, but also politically and ideologically. You will find the names of faculty who are Jewish on recent campus petitions for and against the Iraq war. Similarly, there are a wide variety of attitudes found among people who are Jews regarding Israeli policy toward the Palestinians and the protracted tragedy that characterizes the Middle East today. Jews are Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Greens and everything else. They disagree among themselves as much as they disagree with non-Jews. In this respect, they are much like everyone else.
I have my own ideas about what is needed to achieve peace in the Middle East, and what both Israelis and Palestinians might do to help bring peace about. But for now, I wish to make another point: As a Jew, I insist on the right to be judged as an individual, and not lumped into any presumed category or group (for example, "the Jewish lobby") on the basis of someone's fantasies about me.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
