OPINION:
Support for terrorist organization Hamas is a notable example of adults passing hatred on to the next generation (“Ocasio-Cortez and other America-hating congresswomen side with Hamas,” web, Oct. 15).
Watching the many protest rallies and hearing the chants of hatred of Jewish people is alarming. Rationalizing the slaughter of women, children and babies by Hamas is unconscionable.
What does it say about our nation that we use the First Amendment as a disguise for freedom of expression? The First Amendment prohibits the use of “words that present a clear and present danger of inciting violence,” so why are universities and colleges allowing protest rallies that use phrases such as “Death to Jews”?
This is a recognition of how easily our education system can become an incubation center for hatred and antisemitic rhetoric.
Why has Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Israel to show restraint with regard to civilians as it pursues Hamas? What does it say about the mindset of our country that we allows the celebration of hatred while we ask the victims to show restraint in defending themselves and trying to remove an existential threat from their midst?
America has lost its moral compass.
Furthermore, why do Palestinians continue to embrace Hamas? It is a group that has told Palestinians not to evacuate Gaza, despite Israel’s repeated urgings to the contrary. Hamas wants to use its own people as human shields and for propaganda purposes. In 2007, Israel pulled out of Gaza to allow Hamas a chance at governing Gaza.
The result? Bitter infighting between different terrorist groups and soaring poverty and unemployment rates. Nothing even approximating peace has come about. Does this sound like a group that deserves popular support?
I am disappointed as a taxpayer that we allow Palestinian refugees to settle here, then provide them with education and other taxpayer-funded economic opportunities so they can appear to fulfill our values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — only to revert to their hateful values when Hamas attacks Israel.
The indoctrination we are seeing among this country’s youth is heartbreaking for the future not only of Palestinians, but America as well.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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