Jilting at windmills.I love reading The Washington Monthly. I especially love reading Charles Peters's "Tilting at Windmills" column for its readiness to skewer sacred cows of the liberal establishment. That is why I was dismayed to find in his December column three--count them, three--items blaming Israel unilaterally for the continuing violence in the Middle East. Describing Arafat as "slippery" hardly does justice to a man who has lied, broken sworn agreements, and fostered violence. One may have issues with Ariel Sharon (I do), but he is the only Middle Eastern head of state to have taken office in a contested election. Arafat's election was as contested and democratic as that of Mubarak in Egypt or Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. in Iraq. I know that it has become "politically correct politically correct Politically sensitive adjective Referring to language reflecting awareness and sensitivity to another person's physical, mental, cultural, or other disadvantages or deviations from a norm; a person is not mentally retarded, but " in liberal circles to bash Israel, but it is Palestinian violence that is preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state The Palestinian state (Arabic (دولة فلسطين) is a proposed country. The proposed location includes the Gaza Strip and the autonomously controlled areas of the West Bank, currently controlled by the Palestinian National . Were the violence to end and were the Palestinians to give up their dream of destroying Israel, they would have their state within months. I expect more balance from Peters and from The Washington Monthly. Rabbi Harold Kushner Harold S. Kushner is a prominent American rabbi aligned with the progressive wing of Conservative Judaism. Education Born in Brooklyn, Kushner was educated at Columbia University and later obtained his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in Natick, Mass A New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times reporter and Charles Peters ("Tilting at Windmills," December) both discussed the wisdom of removing all chairs from conference rooms. They must be avid readers of your publication--specifically, the May 1996 letters column--because it was there that I distilled all the wisdom I had gained from working a lifetime inside the bureaucracy. Repeat after me: "When meetings cannot be avoided, there are two ways of lessening their impact. Rule No. 1: All meeting rooms should be provided with office supplies--but not with food, drink, or chairs. Rule No. 2: All meetings should be scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Fridays." William M. Burke San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , Calif. Charles Peters replies: William Burke William Burke (1792 - January 28, 1829) was an Irish-Scots serial killer who, along with William Hare committed a notorious series of murders in Edinburgh in the 19th century. Burke was born in Urney, County Tyrone. was clearly. first with "no chairs." And his 4 p.m. Friday suggestion is absolutely inspired. In response to Rabbi Kushner, I very much want Israel to survive, but I'm against the Israeli right wing and its American allies who I believe are out to sabotage any peace that would be fair to the Palestinians. Such a peace is the best guarantee of Israel's survival. |
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