Let's rise above

Letters

Editor: Jack Chivo writes at length ("A just peace for whom?" Bulletin, Dec. 21), attacking a number of groups and individuals and singling out several local people - myself among them - for special attention.

It saddens me that Dr. Chivo chooses to attack individuals rather than addressing arguments. I would have welcomed a reasoned debate of the issue - in this case, the question of the rights of Palestinian refugees. (Bulletin readers may recall an interesting and wide-ranging analysis by reporter Pat Johnson in this paper some months back.) But Dr. Chivo's resort to gross misrepresentation, red-baiting, guilt by association and ad hominem remarks disappoints me. I find that, when such tactics are introduced, debate tends to devolve into a mere bandying of insults. I hope we can rise above that tendency.

At issue is an online petition organized by Stanley Heller of the Middle East Crisis Committee of New Haven, Conn., and signed by about 500 Jews of widely disparate ideological tendencies. Dr. Chivo spends much ink excoriating the petition's signers and misrepresenting and conflating their views and intentions, but nowhere does he address the text of the petition itself, which reads: "We Israeli Jews and Jews from other countries support the rights of Palestinian refugees." Readers may find it useful to visit the sponsor's Web site (www.thestruggle.org), review the petition and make up their own minds whether they concur with Dr. Chivo's characterizations.

Though Dr. Chivo tries to imply otherwise, of course I support the rights of Jewish refugees. Refugee rights are human rights and a matter of international law, and I strive, however imperfectly, to work in support of such things. I do not subscribe to the myth that respect for human rights, self-determination and international law is unrealistic, weak, negotiable or a step on the road to "national suicide." On the contrary: I believe human dignity and the rule of law to be among the values our religious tradition calls on us to uphold, and I take that call seriously.

Working toward a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a profound and urgent task, one that demands and deserves courage and forthrightness. The issues are fraught with fear and anger on all sides, and respectful dialogue is essential. I hope Dr. Chivo agrees that the common humanity and human rights of all must be acknowledged and respected if a true and enduring peace is to be achieved in the region.

Stephen Aberle
Vancouver

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