CAPTION.
CREDIT
After reading Alan Dershowitz’s column, I have one question: Why is there such an outcry when someone makes a sideways comment about Jews, yet people like Larry David can urinate on the face of Jesus (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and no one says anything (“Why the Jews?” PostScript, March 6)?
Dershowitz can whine and complain all he wants about people’s negative comments directed at the Jews — and heaven forbid anyone says something bad about Muslims — but it’s open season on Christians.
His argument is empty and meaningless.
Beth Snyder
Traverse City, Mich.
***
Dershowitz is on target with his analysis of the current state of anti-Semitism.
However, both Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu, while formerly important in world affairs, are largely ignored by the world today.
For Carter to accuse Israel of apartheid is stretching the truth quite a bit, but it is perfectly legitimate for him to criticize Israeli policies.
Israel is in a precarious position, perhaps even more so than in the past. Those of us who value her friendship and love her light are concerned for her future.
Regarding Tutu, Dershowitz may have misunderstood his comment about Jews being “a peculiar people.”
Those of us who were raised on the King James translation of the Bible recognize a quote from First Epistle of the Apostle Peter. Peculiar, in this sense, simply means particular, or chosen.
If you are going to condemn Tutu for his Christian beliefs, then you will have to condemn that portion of American society that most staunchly supports and champions Israel.
When we Christians are asked, “Why do we support the Jews?” we respond, “Because they are a chosen nation, a peculiar people, loved by God.”
Edward Crim
Saint Louis, Mo.
***
Dershowitz, while accurately addressing the return to respectability of blatant Jew-hatred, fails to illuminate the ancient sources of this hatred.
By introducing ethical monotheism to the world, the Jews brought moral accountability to all men. Previous belief systems merely enshrined tribal values — our group versus theirs.
With the God of the Old Testament came a universal moral code that applies equally to all of us. For that, they will never be forgiven.
Stephen Quinn
Huntington Beach, Calif.
***
It is easy for Tutu and his ilk to be anti-Semitic as long as they utilize the contributions of the Jews. Imagine Tutu’s life if he had polio, couldn’t use penicillin or had no knowledge of vitamins?
Since he’d be unwilling to live in an iron lung and remain diseased, it would be accurate to say that Tutu’s actions indicate he not only loves Jews, but also that he cannot live without them.
David Bergstein
Manhattan
