Letters to the Editors
Dear Editors,
How clever of you to recognise Tom Paulin as a champion of free speech in last week's editorial. If only more people had the courage to pronounce death sentences we might create a utopia of free expression. In fact, a lot more people should have pronouncements of death on them. Why stop at Jewish settlers when we can shoot all the Israelis and Palestinians as well? I can feel the world becoming a better place with every pronouncement. Anyway, I'm off to find a soapbox so I can really make a difference. Who should I pronounce death on today? Maybe the editors of the OxStu and Mr Paulin? Now that might make a difference.
Saul Doctor St Peter's
Dear Editors,
As Tom Paulin would no doubt gladly reiterate to you, misrepresentation of the truth is one of the most dangerous ways of inciting our already unstable political climate. I therefore fear your misrepresentation of the Jewish community in your last editorial. To claim the Holocaust as an excuse on the part of the Jewish community for being "sensitive to anti-Semitism" is the most shocking insult to our race... [Extremely lengthy anti-Palestinian polemic] Why does the world's media insist upon painting a one-sided picture of the bilateral suffering in the Middle East...? In the light of today's French political developments, it is more necessary than ever to allow free speech to minorities, and not to endorse the language of fascism as "dissent" against some form of wider authority, an authority of morality that is fast disappearing.
Aron Gelbard Jesus
Dear Editors,
The infuriating thing about the Israel-Palestine debate is its polarisation between uncritical supporters of Israel and those whose criticism is based on opposition to Israel's very existence. In fact, the Israeli government's brutal occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza no more invalidates the Israeli people's right to self-determination than the existence of Israel necessitates the oppression of the Palestinians. The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is the only solution which takes account of the legitimate rights of both sides, and so the only one with any hope of success.
Sacha Ismail Somerville
Dear Editors,
Desperate not to sound overly sentimental, your paper launched an anti-American campaign after September 11 to show how cutting-edge and daring you are. While I expected this from trotgimp Buckley, I am sorry to see it has continued [in new feature 'Letter from America']. Had I written an article on any other country and said the same things as are frequently said about America, you'd have called me a racist. [Libellous yet highly entertaining remarks about OxStu editors] So stop with the anti-American campaign, and it's no use saying that there isn't one, because all American's [sic] I have spoken to, including Miss Clinton, agree with me.
Drake Slaikeu-Lawhead Somerville
The author of the best letter will receive a pair of free tickets to see the film of their choice at the Phoenix.
2nd May 2002