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Bill Falconer’s letter
published August 8 criticizing Duke University for its plans to host the
fourth annual conference of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement in October
seems as filled with hate as the “hate fest” he attributes to the planned
event. Obliquely linking the PSM to the ideology motivating the slaughter of
non Muslims in the Sudan is reckless at best and dangerous at worst. His
position denies the right of students to express their views on Israeli
occupation and their vision of a future for Palestinians.
The road to peace requires a
willingness to fully understand all sides of an issue. It does not require
agreeing with all beliefs. The PSM conference is an essential step along
that road. Claiming the meeting to be a “festival of Israel-bashing” is as
preposterous as asserting a conference of citizens concerned about the
future of Israel to be a soapbox for Palestinian-bashing. One can be engaged
in the support of one without advocating the elimination of the other.
The Mission statement of the
PSM says it all. “The National Student Conference of the Palestinian
Solidarity Movement (hereafter the Conference) is a diverse group of
students, activists, and community members, organized to promote justice,
human rights, liberation, and self-determination for the Palestinian
people.” To address the fears that Mr. Falconer and others may have, we
must learn about both sides of the crisis, rather than draw conclusions
based on assumptions, misconceptions, and political agendas promoted by
media spinners.
-----Brooks
de Wetter-Smith
Chapel Hill
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