Student Distressed by Anti-Semitism

To the Editors:

I’m writing to express my distress at the recent spate of overt anti-Semitism I’ve heard is occurring on campus. As a recent Oberlin graduate, I am no stranger to the clash of ideology that frequently characterizes students’ interactions, nor am I unfamiliar with the passion that so many Obies express when championing their causes, both legitimate and less so. What is upsetting is when students who most likely think themselves the paragon of liberal-mindedness and the crusaders against all evil in the world resort to actions as ancient, ignorant, and debasing as prejudice. We don’t like to admit that we who are the lucky recipients of costly educations and, in many cases, sheltered upbringings, can be as susceptible to backward ideas and undue righteousness as anyone else, but it is true.
Why do people continue to believe that the most complicated issues in the world today can be reduced to either/or situations, overly simplified to right or wrong, righteous or evil, to (if you’ll pardon the expression) black and white? The conflict in the Middle East is, like any other major current event, made up of as many intricately textured shades of gray as any other. It so happens that, although I am Jewish (not a Zionist), I am a strong supporter of Palestinian rights. I am not on the side of Israel, because though I support its right to statehood, I oppose much of its policy; nor am I on the side of Palestine, insofar as Yasser Arafat has continued to undermine the peace process and encourage poor people to kill themselves in a uselessly escalating conflict. I am on the side of all the innocent people, all the civilians on both sides, who all have legitimate grievances and all have the right to be defended, to be respected, to safety and life without fear in a homeland of their own.
That is my personal opinion and I am willing to engage in an intellectual dialogue with anyone who agrees or disagrees because that is the backbone of democracy. Change may be born in a pool of blood more often than not, but I don’t think it is born of Oberlin students who write anti-Semitic slurs on bathroom walls. As educated citizens it is your duty and your right to respect each other and engage in debate when you disagree. Anyone on campus who believes in this so-called “money-lending constituency” should consider taking a class in the Jewish Studies department; likewise, those of you who blindly accept everything Ariel Sharon stands for would be well-served by a little investigation, and learning about the beautiful people he is currently persecuting.
There are many sides to every story, and almost as many subjective truths. Oberlin students, please get your facts straight and be at least as ready to listen and learn as you are to blame.
For those of you still firmly convinced that Israelis are uniformly supporting state-sponsored terrorism, I refer you to Yesh G’vul, a “selective resistance” faction of the Israeli Army who perform their duty to protect their people but refuse to invade Palestinian territory or attack civilians.

–Elizabeth Bernstein
OC ’01