Hypocrisy of Hate
I speak to you today not as the co-chair
of the student steering committee and not as the founder of the forthcoming Discourses magazine, but as Yehuda Halper, an American, a Zionist,
and a Jew.
If one of our great nation's founding fathers were present at this rally, he would surely be pleased that ideals of
free speech were so completely fulfilled that American citizens from all around the country are here today to wave banners and proclaim their
opinions freely.
Upon inquiring about the actual opinions we are expressing, his pleasure would surely increase when he should find
out that we are expressing our support for a democracy founded on many of the same principles as our own. Our founding father would be
positively thrilled to hear that we, citizens of the United States of America, support another free nation in its clashes with violent tyranny.
As our founding father inquires further, however, we would see his joy gradually lessen. As he finds out about the real reasons
for this protest, he would likely feel sorrow, anger, and even personal insult. When our founding father hears that many citizens of this
country, the country he founded, support a violent, suicidal uprising against a democratic state in the name of democratic rights of citizenry,
the rights he himself laid down, he would probably be embarrassed to have his name attached to such vile and hypocritical opinions.
But yet, such an abuse of terms and plagiarism of documents can be found in the United States, in Chicago, and even at our own
University. In the last few days I have received countless emails equating violence with violence. Our opponents would have us believe that
one person dead is the same as another person dead regardless of the circumstances. Our opponents will tell us that if suicide bombers kill to
support the human rights of their fellows and Israel kills suspected terrorists or accomplices of terrorists in order to protect the human
rights of her citizens, i.e., the human right of mere life, then in that case the deaths are equal? I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, is this
true? Are the deaths of murderers equal to the deaths of the innocent?
But our opponents might still object. Innocent people have
been killed by the Israeli army. We have seen women and children shot to death on television. In fact, several months ago, a video was
released of Muhammad al Durra, a 12 year old boy, being shot in the head. But who was doing the shooting? Not the Israeli army, ladies and
gentlemen, but hired Palestinian gunmen, as the German TV ARD reports. Why did the Palestinians shoot an innocent child? The answer is
shocking but clear: For the video, ladies and gentlemen, for the video. In order to give evidence that their human rights were indeed being
violated, they shot one of their own children and pretended the attacker was an Israeli soldier. I need not ask you ladies and gentlemen who
was violating the human rights of whom.
But our opponents might still object, "Aren't Palestinian homes being demolished unjustly?
Aren't critical natural resources, including water, oil, gas, and electric power unfairly distributed to Palestinian towns. Don't the
Palestinians have a right to their own sovereignty?" All these, I admit, may be considered injustices, and if so are unacceptable and ought to
be fought, only NOT with violence and murder of children, but with peaceful demonstrations.
We did not come together today at this
rally in order to blaspheme the Muslim religion. Our countries have freedom and toleration of religion. We did not gather here to incite
racism against the Arabs. Our countries have both Arab and Jewish citizens. We did not assemble here today to point out that this terrorism
is done in the name of the Muslim Gd and is inherently racist against Jews. No, we rallied today to show the world that we condemn violent
protest and damn suicide bombers.
If at sometime the Palestinian people protest in a non-violent manner, I am sure that they will
have not only our sympathies, but also those of the Israeli people and government.
A little over a year ago, after a long period of
relative quiet, Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians over 90% of the Judaea and Samaria, including even part of Jerusalem, on condition that
they accept peace. Rather than making peace, as we all know, the Palestinians incited a riot. Israel has shown that she is willing to grant a
state to the Palestinians and I'm sure she would grant the other lesser rights the Palestinians complain of, but the Palestinians have not
shown any desire for peace.
If there is only a one-sided desire for peace and that side is a liberal democracy, then we, as liberal
democrats who support the values of life, liberty, toleration, and the pursuit of happiness can only support Israel. We the citizens of the
United States of America must reaffirm to our nation our belief in these values.
May God bless Medinat Yisrael, Reshit Tsmichat
Geulateynu - the State of Israel, the beginning of our joyous redemption.
by Yehuda Halper
Second year in the College at
the University of Chicago.
