MAILBAG:

I feel compelled to respond to the “In Theory” piece in last Saturday’s Pilot (“Does UCI need racism inquiry?”).

The question as I read it in the paper pertained to whether or not UC Irvine needed to hold an investigation regarding anti-Semitism or if pro-Jewish programming would be a proactive way to raise consciousness and promote Jewish life on campus.

Rabbi Marc Rubenstein’s response focused on the state of Israel and its plight against the Arab world. I failed to see the connection, but perhaps I am missing information about what exactly occurred at UCI. However, I found his comment that, “Israel has bent over backward to share the land with the Arabs. You give out your hand in friendship and they seem to want your whole hand,” as extremely offensive.

We all know the situation in Israel-Palestine is complicated by ancient feuding, American money and the horrors of the Holocaust. However, to say that the Arabs have not learned the words “to share” is completely neglecting the situation on the ground in Israel-Palestine.

I am sure we all (including Palestinians) concede that all of the lands settled by the Israelis will not be returned to the Arabs, but at the same time, the settlements need to responsibly acknowledge the fact that there are displaced Palestinians who deserve equal rights.

I have to disagree with Rabbi Mark Miller when he says, “No matter their demurrers, that their vitriol is directed at Israel as a state is a veneer for their Jewish hatred.” I do not believe that being critical of the situation in Israel-Palestine is to be anti-Jewish, and I fear that to perceive such a criticism about a clearly volatile area, is to read racism where it does not actually exist.

The truth is there are Jews in America and Israel as well who are working toward finding peace in the Holy Lands who, implicit in their Judaism, are not anti-Semitic, but do feel the situation in Israel can and should be handled differently. That being said, I concede I am responding solely to what was in print.

Rev. Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

Pinch pennies where necessary, government

Sometimes I wonder about the intelligence of the folks who run the government. The latest example of “What were they thinking” is when I received my Orange County property tax bill from Orange County Treasurer Chriss Street. Besides putting his name in the largest type possible on the bill, he had the bill printed in four colors. What a waste of our money. Is our county so flush that we can squander funds on a four-color tax bill?

Robert Johnson

Costa Mesa

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