The following letter by Thea Paneth of Arlington was published March 14 in BostonGlobe.com under the headline “Protests vs. Israel are distinct from relative quiet over Ukraine.” It is republished with the permission of the author, a member of Arlington United for Justice with Peace.
I write in response to Jerry Rubin’s letter, “Two wars going on. Why aren’t protesters taking to streets over Ukraine?” — which was included among readers’ reactions to Super Tuesday (”After Super Tuesday: And then there two,” March 8).
I would like to point out that there is broad political support in the United States for Ukraine, despite the mammoth danger of a great-powers confrontation that could include the use of nuclear weapons. Ukraine is the underdog, Russia the aggressor.
There is not only U.S. military support for Israel’s attack on the people of Gaza, following the brutal Hamas incursion on Oct. 7, 2023, but also broad political and institutional support for it, which has included the suppression of political dissent on campuses. In this conflict, the people of Gaza are the underdog.
These distinctions need to be made.
I have been in the streets protesting to end all wars for decades. In my view, wars cannot be won. Wars and militarism are disastrous. Demonstrators, including me, have taken to the streets in recent months to decry support for what we consider to be a genocide happening before our eyes, to tell our policy makers to stop arming Israel with our tax dollars.
This letter was republished Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Last I checked, 50 Muslim countries. One (1) Jewish country.
Who exactly is the underdog? As Golda said, “If the Arabs lay down their arms, there will be peace. If the Israelis lay down their arms, there will be no more Israel.” Wake up, my dear.
Hamas & Co. (Hezbollah, Houthis…IRAN) want first to wipe out the “Little Satan” (that is, Israel). “After that, the Big Satan (USA).
Your head is next on the chopping block.