Editor,
The trend for universities in the U.S., including UNM, to approve, either directly or tacitly, increasingly direct anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric is very disturbing.
Richard Berthold's column published in the Daily Lobo on March 14 comparing Israel with Nazi Germany and saying Jews have used up their karma is a good example.
This is nothing but hate speech and does not become accurate analysis simply because a retired professor has it printed in the Daily Lobo. Unfortunately, he is not simply a crackpot who slipped a bigoted letter when nobody was looking.
His view, reminiscent of pre-World War II European academic views, is becoming very common in U.S. academia today as well as in Europe.
It's more than sad. I can't begin to guess if those who write and speak as Berthold does are simply parroting a party line, unaware of the bigotry and hypocrisy of their views, or if they are aware of what they are doing.
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In the end, it doesn't matter. The gullible and uncritical followers of such views do the same damage as they would if they had been the originators of the views.
Again, as Berthold suggests, look at Nazi Germany. Some Germans agreed wholeheartedly with the Nazi agenda, but most simply followed the herd, taking the path of least resistance. Some joined the resistance.
However, there is a bright spot in the UNM picture. Stand With Us, in conjunction with the Communication and Journalism Department, will be bringing Khaled Abu Toameh to speak at UNM on April 7. Toameh is an Israeli-Palestinian journalist who is internationally respected for his courage and honesty in reporting.
He will be giving an account of what's happening in Israel and in Palestinian organizations and society. The Communication and Journalism Department should be congratulated for stepping out of the rut and bringing in a truly educational speaker for the benefit of all at UNM. Knowledge and honesty are some of the best cures for prejudice.
Lynn Provencio
UNM student
