A little respect, please

Editorial

Emotions run high in discussions about the situation in the Middle East. Even if you can agree on the basics - Israel's right to exist and to protect itself – there are plenty of other issues on which to disagree; Israel's settlement policies, for example. In such controversial debates, there is a tendency to attack not only someone's beliefs but the person themself. Such behavior is not only immature but counterproductive.

Meir Romem, Israel's consul general, was in Vancouver at Or Shalom Synagogue last week. (See Cover Story in May 3, 2002, Archives.) He was invited to the shul by Rabbi David Mivasair to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. Romem outlined the long history of the conflict and then responded to questions from the congregation.

Obviously, Romem approached the topic from an Israeli perspective but he was polite, if passionate, when he fielded questions that challenged his stance.

While there certainly was not unanimous agreement in the room, almost everyone was respectful of each other and, when reminded by the rabbi, kept their snide comments to themselves.

There was one notable exception however. Disgusted with what he was being told, a professional in the Jewish community rose to his feet and started to storm out. Romem called out to him, wanting to respond to his concerns. Instead of asking a pointed question or offering any evidence to refute what Romem was saying, the man quoted Primo Levi: If you repeat your lies often enough, you begin to believe them. Basically, he called Romem a liar, then left the room.

Name-calling is the last resort of the intellectually feeble. Those who cannot put their thoughts into words retreat to verbal, or even physical, attacks. Those who cannot defend their own beliefs well enough, do not wish to listen to anyone who holds different views.

In any debate, whether it be with other Jews, with Palestinians, Christians or anyone for that matter, we must treat each other with respect. If we lose sight of each other's humanity, what does it matter who wins the argument?

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