SPJME should focus less on Israel, more on other Middle Eastern issues
I have an issue with SJPME’s wall display brought to campus earlier this week. For a club that purports to “promote awareness and dialogue of issues dealing with the Middle East” and promotes the banner for “Justice and Peace,” (1) the club’s events have not shown to deal with any issue but Israel. This week’s events, 60 percent of which focus on Israel, give the impression that issues in the Middle East are mostly due to Israel.
Back in March, Grace Kirschner, co-president of SJPME, told the Mustang Daily that “The club will hold a week long event in May, focusing on a different country each day to further expose the culture and new issues each country faces.”(2) This week’s events highlight only two — Israel and Iraq.
When does the discussion regarding the women’s rights in Saudi Arabia begin? How does Israel (which comprises 0.17 percent of the land) become the majority of the Middle East discussion?
Perhaps this club should amend its title to Students for Justice and Peace in Palestine, as this has been the modus operandi for the last three years. I call on you, members of SJPME, to show us that there are other causes of instability in the Middle East. Inform and engage us about topics other than Israel, and stop dominating the discussion about Israel/Palestine.
Jacob Kory
electrical engineering junior and president of Cal Poly Israel Alliance
Footnotes:
- Club charter, ASI Club directory accessed May 20, 2009
- “Students For Justice and Peace in the Middle East bring politics to the forefront.” Mustang Daily, March 3, 2009
———————
SJPME lacks objectivity in presentation of Middle Eastern issues
Students for Justice for Peace in the Middle East claims to be neutral on Middle Eastern issues and yet focus most of its energy on defaming and deligitimizing Israel. I can understand complaints about Israeli policies and actions towards the Palestinians but calling it apartheid is wrong, inflammatory and eliminates any chance of a meaningful discussion. Apartheid in South Africa was systematic racial discrimination against South Africa’s Black population. The Israeli security barrier is part concrete wall, and mostly chain linked fence that Israel erected to keep itself safe from terrorist attacks.
The barrier has nothing to do with race since it was only built after the wave after wave of suicide bombings in Israel in the wake of the second intifada. The security barrier has in fact almost eliminated terrorism from the West Bank coming into Israel. In addition, Israel is a free and democratic country that affords all of its citizen full civil, political, and religious rights to not just the Jewish majority but also the 20 percent Arab minority.
SJPME never takes the time to mention that most of the people in the Middle East have limited political and civil rights. By making the majority of your events about criticizing Israel, and encouraging divestment from Israel, SJPME is implying that Israel is the major cause of instability and injustice in the Middle East, which we all know is not true. Until SJPME stops applying this unfair double-standard to Israel, they will have very little legitimacy.
Zachary Goldstein
mechanical engineering senior
———————
A shout out for the libertarian column
I just wanted to throw it out there how fantastic Jeremy Hicks’ column “War on drugs puts the fight in otherwise peaceful exchange of goods” is. Thanks! Keep up the good work Mustang Daily!
Morgan Perry
agricultural business freshman
———————
An open challenge to ASI
Dear Associated Students Inc.,
Even though I was only a measly volunteer with Poly House this past weekend I felt like I did more for the community of San Luis Obispo than ever before in my four years here. I challenge you to provide opportunities to all students on projects similar to what Poly House does. Student Community Sevices is a start but certainly not adequate.
The joy we were able to bring to a family in the area was something that I would like to see happen again and again. I ask that you focus less on providing on-campus opportunities and promoting your events with the creation of expensive promotional material (full-color posters and T-shirts) and put this money to use so that the community of San Luis Obispo and surrounding towns can see a much more instructive and caring presence of the Cal Poly community.
I would like to thank everyone that allowed me to help with their class project. If I could, I would do something like that every weekend; however, I feel that the possibilities are either not available or not advertised. So please, ASI, do more to allow Cal Poly students to get involved with the community we live in so that we can give back to a community that sees us as the noisy, partying neighbors and not the caring individuals we are all capable of being.
David Hansen
biological sciences senior
———————
Local police departments wasted resources by pulling over the Powerwheels rider
Today on Cal Poly’s campus I witnessed a great injustice taking place: Three motorcycle officers and an SUV-driving officer (all of whom I assume are fully armed) pulling over a young man driving a Powerwheels. While the ridiculousness of the situation rightfully provokes a good chuckle at least, I must ask: What the hell, campus police? Really? Four cops to nail a guy in a Powerwheels? Were my tax dollars or student fees or whatever really paying the salaries of those guys?
In light of the recent spending spree by the department on those goofy tricycle things to supposedly “go green,” I can only scratch my head. I guess they’re right; cops riding bicycles aren’t very green, or for that matter letting a kid ride a Powerwheels to school instead of driving a real car isn’t very green either. God forbid they would let us ride a skateboard or chain our bikes to tree!
University Police, give me a break.
Mark Paulick
biomedical engineering senior
———————
Previous letter mistaken on Powerwheels situation
Mark Paulick, I hope that the rest of the biomedical engineering department isn’t as dense as you are.
1)Three of the four officers were SLOPD (ever notice UPD doesn’t have a motorcycle unit?).
2) If by fully armed you mean they were carrying their sidearms, yes. If you mean SWAT team loadout, no. Why the heck wouldn’t they have their duty sidearms?
3) UPD already has officers on bikes. But when your sorry butt needs them to get there faster than those bikes can take them, but can’t get there using the cruisers, that is what they are there for.
4) If you don’t like a law, go to the city council and do something about it instead of whining that the police have to enforce it like a little baby.
Mark Paulick, give me a break.
William Blakely
agriculture systems management freshman
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.
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.