Letter to the Editor
Indifference, not hate is the true evil
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Views
Dear Editor,
Having been in San Angelo only a month or so, and more or less confined to Goodfellow AFB, I greeted with excitement an announcement for Thursday's viewing and panel discussion about The Monster Among Us, a documentary film about growing anti-Semitism in Europe. By the end of the evening, my anticipation became more than just disappointment. I was shocked and angry.
The film itself was more or less what I expected. Though as someone who lives in Europe (Germany), I couldn't help but imagine the exact same film being made about anti-Muslim sentiment on that continent, and making many of the same points. The sad truth is most of my German neighbors would much rather have a Jew living next door than a Turk or an Arab. Despite the films concern over certain anti-Semitic acts in Europe, there is no danger at this point of a state-sponsored holocaust as occurred under the Nazis. The more poignant criticism in the film was aimed at the Muslim world itself, where anti-Semitism is not only widespread, it is well-nigh universal.
After the film was aired there was a panel discussion, with a representative for each of the monotheistic faiths. Mrs. Rahman, who represented Islam, volunteered to begin. She read a pre-written statement about the need to be aware that many people other than Jews were victims of the holocaust. The film wasn't fair in its depiction of Muslims, she said, who had been victims themselves of western colonialism and most recently the depredations of Israel. The Christian representative did not engage these ideas or comments at all, but said something about the necessity to be inclusive of people who look or act differently. We still had one more speaker to go, Mrs. Rosenberg, who aside from representing the Jewish community also worked for the Anti-Defamation League. But again, there was no clear address of Mrs. Rahman's comments, only more vagaries regarding how bigotry and hatred are bad things (obvious statements which any human being would agree with), and some other comments regarding European history which completely failed to take into account Mrs. Rahman's brewing criticisms.
As much as I felt Mrs. Rahman was hinting at views that were at the very least problematic, and indicative of that greater anti-Semitism I have personally witnessed in much of the Muslim world, the ire boiling up inside of me was not really directed at her. At least Mrs. Rahman had tried to engage the question; at least she had raised some serious issues and attempted to enter a discussion. She was the only one. We had all sat through a 71-minute film about anti-Semitism, about the importance of dialogue and challenging others' pre-conceptions, and not only had the panelists refused to engage, the audience itself was silenced. I can only think of two reasons for this. Perhaps the moderator felt apprehensive, going into a film which was somewhat critical of Islam, that an inflamed West-Texas audience might ask questions or make comments overly derogatory towards Muslims.
To save embarrassment to ASU, it would be best to cut off the conversation and keep the audience out of it. If this was the case, then it is sad that real dialogue had to be sacrificed out of fears over political correctness. The only other possible reason: she was tired and wanted some punch and cookies.
I know that we have our own specters of hatred, most recently with a rising bigotry towards Muslims. These should also be our concern, and perhaps on another evening that could be the topic of a panel discussion. But on Thursday night the topic was something else, and the unwillingness of anyone except Mrs. Rahman to earnestly discuss it was more frightening than I can express, frightening because it simply seemed to me that no one wanted to be bothered.
The academic campus is the sanctuary where individuals should feel free, indeed must be encouraged, to debate ideas and issues with no fear of bullets or fists or stones. If there is any place where anti-Semitism and/or interfaith relationships can be honestly and openly discussed, it is in the auditorium of a university.
So was it anxiety about awkward confrontation, or simply apathy that led to everyone, except Mrs. Rahman's, silence? I would rather it were the former, but I fear it is the latter. The monster among the audience and the panelists last night wasn't hatred; it was the insidious but equally destructive monster of apathy and indifference. Perhaps the most ironic moment of the evening was when the moderator closed with an oft-quoted warning of Sir Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Last night, Angelo State University, you did nothing.
John Jefferson
U.S. Army,
Goodfellow AFB
Having been in San Angelo only a month or so, and more or less confined to Goodfellow AFB, I greeted with excitement an announcement for Thursday's viewing and panel discussion about The Monster Among Us, a documentary film about growing anti-Semitism in Europe. By the end of the evening, my anticipation became more than just disappointment. I was shocked and angry.
The film itself was more or less what I expected. Though as someone who lives in Europe (Germany), I couldn't help but imagine the exact same film being made about anti-Muslim sentiment on that continent, and making many of the same points. The sad truth is most of my German neighbors would much rather have a Jew living next door than a Turk or an Arab. Despite the films concern over certain anti-Semitic acts in Europe, there is no danger at this point of a state-sponsored holocaust as occurred under the Nazis. The more poignant criticism in the film was aimed at the Muslim world itself, where anti-Semitism is not only widespread, it is well-nigh universal.
After the film was aired there was a panel discussion, with a representative for each of the monotheistic faiths. Mrs. Rahman, who represented Islam, volunteered to begin. She read a pre-written statement about the need to be aware that many people other than Jews were victims of the holocaust. The film wasn't fair in its depiction of Muslims, she said, who had been victims themselves of western colonialism and most recently the depredations of Israel. The Christian representative did not engage these ideas or comments at all, but said something about the necessity to be inclusive of people who look or act differently. We still had one more speaker to go, Mrs. Rosenberg, who aside from representing the Jewish community also worked for the Anti-Defamation League. But again, there was no clear address of Mrs. Rahman's comments, only more vagaries regarding how bigotry and hatred are bad things (obvious statements which any human being would agree with), and some other comments regarding European history which completely failed to take into account Mrs. Rahman's brewing criticisms.
As much as I felt Mrs. Rahman was hinting at views that were at the very least problematic, and indicative of that greater anti-Semitism I have personally witnessed in much of the Muslim world, the ire boiling up inside of me was not really directed at her. At least Mrs. Rahman had tried to engage the question; at least she had raised some serious issues and attempted to enter a discussion. She was the only one. We had all sat through a 71-minute film about anti-Semitism, about the importance of dialogue and challenging others' pre-conceptions, and not only had the panelists refused to engage, the audience itself was silenced. I can only think of two reasons for this. Perhaps the moderator felt apprehensive, going into a film which was somewhat critical of Islam, that an inflamed West-Texas audience might ask questions or make comments overly derogatory towards Muslims.
To save embarrassment to ASU, it would be best to cut off the conversation and keep the audience out of it. If this was the case, then it is sad that real dialogue had to be sacrificed out of fears over political correctness. The only other possible reason: she was tired and wanted some punch and cookies.
I know that we have our own specters of hatred, most recently with a rising bigotry towards Muslims. These should also be our concern, and perhaps on another evening that could be the topic of a panel discussion. But on Thursday night the topic was something else, and the unwillingness of anyone except Mrs. Rahman to earnestly discuss it was more frightening than I can express, frightening because it simply seemed to me that no one wanted to be bothered.
The academic campus is the sanctuary where individuals should feel free, indeed must be encouraged, to debate ideas and issues with no fear of bullets or fists or stones. If there is any place where anti-Semitism and/or interfaith relationships can be honestly and openly discussed, it is in the auditorium of a university.
So was it anxiety about awkward confrontation, or simply apathy that led to everyone, except Mrs. Rahman's, silence? I would rather it were the former, but I fear it is the latter. The monster among the audience and the panelists last night wasn't hatred; it was the insidious but equally destructive monster of apathy and indifference. Perhaps the most ironic moment of the evening was when the moderator closed with an oft-quoted warning of Sir Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Last night, Angelo State University, you did nothing.
John Jefferson
U.S. Army,
Goodfellow AFB
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jennifer Prichard
posted 5/07/09 @ 10:39 PM CST
Mr. Jefferson,
First let me say that I was involved in the planning of this event. I understand your viewpoint and your opinion, what I don't understand is your anger and your accusation of apathy. (Continued…)
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