Last week, in “Palestine Awareness Week needs to advocate peace,” Ben Goodman wrote, “during the Palestine Awareness Week, Amir Abdel Malik Ali … talks about Israel as an apartheid country, calls her a Nazi regime and vocally advocates a one-state solution: Palestine. No Israel.”
Ben, please don’t put words in our speaker’s mouth. This is Palestine Awareness Week, and Malik hasn’t given his speech yet, so how can you claim to know what he has said? While I have never heard Malik speak, I understand he is a man of peace and only wants to see an end to the conflict in Palestine. Also, you claim he has been brought here “for propaganda, for inciting hate and for advocating the annihilation of Israel.” Unfortunately, I think you have confused anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. Just because someone criticizes Israel’s policies, does not mean they hate Jews.
I encourage anyone who objects to Malik’s views to come to his speech on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m. in building 3, Room 213 and share your opinions. Those who wish to learn more about Palestinian culture are encouraged to go to attend other Palestine Awareness Week events. For more information, see one of the many Palestine Awareness Week flyers around campus or you can e-mail me at polygreens@calpoly.edu.
David Kirk
Social science junior
Poly Greens, Co-Director