OPINION:
Last week, the Israel Defense Forces found the body of 22-year-old German Israeli tattoo artist Shani Louk in Gaza, along with the bodies of two other murdered Israelis (“Israeli army finds bodies of 3 hostages in Gaza killed at Oct. 7 music festival,” web, May 17).
Louk had been stripped half naked and dragged through Gaza on Oct. 7. Yet it seems she and the other victims of Hamas have already been forgotten, as evidenced by the lack of media coverage of these findings.
What about the horrific sexual assault of Amit Soussana, the Israeli woman who was held hostage by terrorists in Gaza for 55 days? Her awful account has been denied and ignored by college protesters. What if she were their relative? Would they still be yelling for a “free Palestine” then?
While we continue to learn of the butchery of Hamas, college students, with their administrations’ endorsement and encouragement, continue to protest Israel’s right to self-defense (indeed, its right to exist). What does this say about us as a nation?
President Biden’s No. 1 priority is a cease-fire and humanitarian relief for Gaza. Yet more than 125 Israeli hostages remain unaccounted for in Gaza. The White House seems to be pretending these people never existed, or that those who have not yet been murdered endure horrific conditions and torture at the hands of terrorists every day.
Recently, some African American graduates at Morehouse College denounced Mr. Biden because of the president’s stated support of Israel (“Biden in Morehouse address says scenes in Gaza break his heart, too,” web, May 19). They did this while showing support for Hamas. What’s heartbreaking is the long history of unity between African Americans and Jews.
The moral confusion we’re now seeing is shocking and it affects all aspects of society: Police are instructed not to make arrests, city officials are told not to prosecute criminals and Department of Justice officials instruct judges not to enforce sentencing for criminal activities. Meanwhile, it is football player Harrison Butker, kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, who gets publicly shamed — for expressing joy that his wife chose to be a stay-at-home mom rather than have a corporate career.
If we cannot accept the dissenting views of others, we lack an understanding of the definition of hate speech and there is no accountability for violence, we are on a terrible path as a society.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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