Comments on: Letters to the editor: Middle Eastern issues, a challenge to ASI and more http://mustangdaily.net/letters-to-the-editor-middle-eastern-issues-a-challenge-to-asi-powerwheels-incident-and-more/ Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's student news outlet Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:12:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Grace Kirschnerhttp://mustangdaily.net/letters-to-the-editor-middle-eastern-issues-a-challenge-to-asi-powerwheels-incident-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-30246 Grace Kirschner Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:42:47 +0000 http://mustangdaily.net/?p=12191#comment-30246 Over the past several weeks, SJPME has sponsored several events that address issues relating to the occupation of Palestine and the Palestinian refugee crisis. As a group that aims to spread awareness in order to promote social justice, we have chosen to hold numerous events that focus on the issues facing occupied Palestine throughout the last four years.Critiquing the policies of a government does not make SJPME "anti-Semetic" or "anti-Israel." Personally, I have a close family friend who is Jewish, and was a prisoner in Nazi Germany. He has told me his story about escaping through Europe with my grandfather--a Luftwaffe pilot who had been drafted against his will. After the two unlikely friends risked their lives to save one another, they remained best friends for life. Growing up hearing this story has made me passionate about advocating for ordinary people who are "caught in the crossfire," or who find themselves displaced by war. Hopefully some of you have a chance to attend our events this week. I believe that SJPME consistently provides an objective portrayal of the Palestine-Israeli Conflict by bringing in a wide range of speakers, and by showing documentaries that present various perspectives on humanitarian issues. "THE PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CRISIS" Wed-Thurs, March 3rd-4th Dexter Lawn (whole day)A 2-day display that addresses the longest (4th generation) and largest (5-6 Million) refugee crisis in the world. The display will focus on the 4.7 million UNRWA registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territories."DISMANTLING THE MATRIX OF CONTROL - THE KEY TO ENDING THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION" Wed, March 3rd 12pm-2pm 03-213 (The silo)Presented by Dr. Jeff Halper, a professor of anthropology and distinguished author, and internationally acclaimed speaker has taught at universities in Israel ((Haifa and Ben Gurion) the US, Latin America and Africa. In 2006 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the American Friends Service Committee. ---> NOTE: This is an event sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts. SJPME is only involved in its promotion."ISRAEL/PALESTINE: REFRAME THE CONFLICT - CHANGE THE DISCOURSE" Wed, March 3rd 7pm-9pm Steynberg Gallery (1531 Monterey st)Jeff Halper, co-founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) , will be speaking at the Steynberg Gallery about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ---> NOTE: This is an event sponsored by local community members. SJPME is only involved in its promotion."LIFE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE" Thurs, March 4th, 6-7pm 06-124 (Philips Hall) This documentary provides an excellent introduction -in a down-to-earth, non-alienating way- to the occupation in Palestine and the non-violent movement for freedom and equality in the holy land. Over the past several weeks, SJPME has sponsored several events that address issues relating to the occupation of Palestine and the Palestinian refugee crisis. As a group that aims to spread awareness in order to promote social justice, we have chosen to hold numerous events that focus on the issues facing occupied Palestine throughout the last four years.

Critiquing the policies of a government does not make SJPME “anti-Semetic” or “anti-Israel.” Personally, I have a close family friend who is Jewish, and was a prisoner in Nazi Germany. He has told me his story about escaping through Europe with my grandfather–a Luftwaffe pilot who had been drafted against his will. After the two unlikely friends risked their lives to save one another, they remained best friends for life. Growing up hearing this story has made me passionate about advocating for ordinary people who are “caught in the crossfire,” or who find themselves displaced by war. Hopefully some of you have a chance to attend our events this week. I believe that SJPME consistently provides an objective portrayal of the Palestine-Israeli Conflict by bringing in a wide range of speakers, and by showing documentaries that present various perspectives on humanitarian issues.

“THE PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CRISIS”
Wed-Thurs, March 3rd-4th Dexter Lawn (whole day)

A 2-day display that addresses the longest (4th generation) and largest (5-6 Million) refugee crisis in the world. The display will focus on the 4.7 million UNRWA registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territories.

“DISMANTLING THE MATRIX OF CONTROL – THE KEY TO ENDING THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION”
Wed, March 3rd
12pm-2pm 03-213 (The silo)

Presented by Dr. Jeff Halper, a professor of anthropology and distinguished author, and internationally acclaimed speaker has taught at universities in Israel ((Haifa and Ben Gurion) the US, Latin America and Africa. In 2006 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the American Friends Service Committee.
—> NOTE: This is an event sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts. SJPME is only involved in its promotion.

“ISRAEL/PALESTINE: REFRAME THE CONFLICT – CHANGE THE DISCOURSE”
Wed, March 3rd
7pm-9pm Steynberg Gallery (1531 Monterey st)

Jeff Halper, co-founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) , will be speaking at the Steynberg Gallery about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
—> NOTE: This is an event sponsored by local community members. SJPME is only involved in its promotion.

“LIFE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE”
Thurs, March 4th, 6-7pm 06-124 (Philips Hall)
This documentary provides an excellent introduction -in a down-to-earth, non-alienating way- to the occupation in Palestine and the non-violent movement for freedom and equality in the holy land.

]]> By: Michael Holanhttp://mustangdaily.net/letters-to-the-editor-middle-eastern-issues-a-challenge-to-asi-powerwheels-incident-and-more/comment-page-1/#comment-3220 Michael Holan Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:54:35 +0000 http://mustangdaily.net/?p=12191#comment-3220 I am happy to see that the supporters of Israel (Jacob and Zach) continue to fight the good fight. They are still making their arguments based on fact and continually strive to present the truth.Unfortunately, it is scary to think how little has changed in the last two years since I wrote my own letter to the Mustang Daily regarding SJPME (http://mustangdaily.net/IsraelbashingdoesnothingforPalestinians). After a quick comparison one will find that Jacob and Zach have brought forth the exact same issues (and deceptions) that continue to be the focus of SJPME.Two years later they have failed to widen their scope and encompass the broader middles east. The percentage of events focused on (being anti-) Israel only serves as evidence that they continue to have a myopic focus on Israel. In practice they have proven to be an anti-Israel club – maybe “Mustangs Against Israel” would be a more appropriate club name. This club isn’t pro Palestinian or for justice and peace in the broader middles east; it is simply anti-Israel (one can only hope that they can break off of the path they have followed over the last two years).One thing that unnerves me more than ever and is a blatant lie is the portrayal of Israel as an absolute racist country. The ignorance that leads to this portrayal only comes from one’s quest to substantiate their own fantasies (at times conspiracy theories or anti-Semitic beliefs). I challenge anyone undecided on the issue to do their own research. I trust that the truth will speak for itself and people will find Israel to be a diverse nation full of diverse thought; certainly not a nation dominated by racist ideology. I am not saying it’s a perfect country. What I am saying is that it does not resemble the country that the anti-Israel movement (at Cal Poly this means SJPME) deceives it to be.Please note that I am writing this from Israel where Jews from European, Middle Eastern, African, North African, and Indian decent alongside Christians and Muslims of Arab decent just casted a vote in the recent election.I am a firm believer that what is good for the Palestinian people is good for Israel – in practice SJPME has been part of a movement that is bad for both. I am happy to see that the supporters of Israel (Jacob and Zach) continue to fight the good fight. They are still making their arguments based on fact and continually strive to present the truth.

Unfortunately, it is scary to think how little has changed in the last two years since I wrote my own letter to the Mustang Daily regarding SJPME (http://mustangdaily.net/IsraelbashingdoesnothingforPalestinians). After a quick comparison one will find that Jacob and Zach have brought forth the exact same issues (and deceptions) that continue to be the focus of SJPME.

Two years later they have failed to widen their scope and encompass the broader middles east. The percentage of events focused on (being anti-) Israel only serves as evidence that they continue to have a myopic focus on Israel. In practice they have proven to be an anti-Israel club – maybe “Mustangs Against Israel” would be a more appropriate club name. This club isn’t pro Palestinian or for justice and peace in the broader middles east; it is simply anti-Israel (one can only hope that they can break off of the path they have followed over the last two years).

One thing that unnerves me more than ever and is a blatant lie is the portrayal of Israel as an absolute racist country. The ignorance that leads to this portrayal only comes from one’s quest to substantiate their own fantasies (at times conspiracy theories or anti-Semitic beliefs). I challenge anyone undecided on the issue to do their own research. I trust that the truth will speak for itself and people will find Israel to be a diverse nation full of diverse thought; certainly not a nation dominated by racist ideology. I am not saying it’s a perfect country. What I am saying is that it does not resemble the country that the anti-Israel movement (at Cal Poly this means SJPME) deceives it to be.

Please note that I am writing this from Israel where Jews from European, Middle Eastern, African, North African, and Indian decent alongside Christians and Muslims of Arab decent just casted a vote in the recent election.

I am a firm believer that what is good for the Palestinian people is good for Israel – in practice SJPME has been part of a movement that is bad for both.

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