Ignorance must be recognized at all levels

Ignorance must be recognized at all levels

Anti-Zionist views at rally not based on historical fact

By Yiftach Levy

"Oppression is worse than death." "Ignorance is oppression."
"Stop the ignorance." These catch phrases were painted on some of
the signs found at last Friday’s rally organized by the Muslim
Student Union and cosponsored by several campus organizations
supposedly representing students who are members of ethnic
minorities.

Unfortunately for the organizers, at least some of the speakers
they invited took these admonitions seriously. It was clear that
the student organizers’ agenda was diverted by those who truly
wished to transcend the barriers erected by ethnicity and race.

Thus, it was encouraging to note that the anti-Zionist,
anti-Jewish rhetoric spouted by a few of the speakers was mostly
overshadowed by the positive words directed at the audience by
others. The rhetoric, however, needs to be addressed.

As a Jew, I came to the rally along with some friends, deeply
concerned that it would deteriorate into a platform for anti-Jewish
and anti-Israel venom (not an unknown phenomenon on this
campus).

My concern was only heightened when the host of the event,
before introducing the first speaker, charged that Zionism is the
foremost example of oppressive and racist regimes in the last 100
years. He continued by reiterating the old standby of anti-Zionists
– that Zionists control the world’s banks – then brought this
"crisis" home by claiming that Zionists (and therefore racists)
control the administration at UCLA.

Zionism, the movement dedicated to re-establishing a homeland
for the Jewish people, is not a racist ideology any more than any
other form of nationalism. This is a fact that must be understood,
regardless of the nature of the political state of Israel. This
said, it fascinates me that some people, while espousing education
and the eradication of ignorance, insist on ignoring current
events, and use past iniquities to damn a state and a people
forever.

The host of Friday’s rally spoke as if the last three or so
years of history had never happened. There was no mutual
recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization; no transfer of authority from Israelis to
Palestinians in the latter’s major centers of population; no peace
treaty between Israel and Jordan; no contacts between Israel and an
ever-increasing number of Arab states, and on and on.

History stopped dead in its tracks in 1991, with the oppression
of the Iraqi people by a Zionist-led coalition. Never mind the
totalitarian rule exerted by Saddam Hussein over the Iraqis and his
oppression of the neighboring Kuwaitis (not to mention the native
Kurds).

It is disappointing to see and hear people accuse, condemn and
point fingers – against the advice and wise counsel of some of
their own community leaders. I hope the groups and individuals
involved in Friday’s rally, as well as any others who want to
better our world, recognize that there are racists who subscribe to
every political and religious ideology, and that it is true that
education is the best hope to extricate this vice from our
societies. Educate yourselves; the news is out there. Stop the
ignorance, indeed.

Levy is a fifth-year psychology student.

ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin

Sister Faeka Husain and Sister Anjum Aslam (l-r) were among 100
demonstrators at Friday’s rally against oppression, sponsored by
the Muslim Student Union.

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