Letters to the Editor | March 5, 2024

I usually read the Opinion section last — like saving the best dessert for last. I savor the paper sections, and so it was with real dismay that I read that the recent column by The Grammarian, Jeffrey Barg, would be his last. Through the years, I have looked forward to his columns, both for his grammar tips and probably more so for his snarky and right-on political views and observations. He has a way of succinctly and accurately writing about a subject while pointing out the irony of some idiotic political position or occurrence. I’ve signed up for his Substack “rantings” and look forward to getting my regular fix of his thoughts.

Judy McDonald, Pottstown, juicemcdonald@gmail.com

Are we that shallow that there are Americans who will vote for someone because of the sneakers and shirts they are designing and selling to pay their legal bills? Someone who won’t debate or even discuss what they would do to help the country? Someone who insults people of color (and yet some continue to applaud him)? Aren’t you tired of hearing about him being the victim? Please, let’s bring respect back to America. This bully mentality must stop. We are much nicer than that. I refuse to give up on human intelligence and kindness. Solutions, not blame. Please, please, please, let’s stop all of this ugliness.

Susan Gross, Cheltenham

Philadelphia School District officials censored a video about Palestinian resistance art because of complaints of antisemitism. Now, there’s pushback. As a former district teacher, I am appalled by the censorship of a student project that examines connections between art as resistance in Black history and similar creative expressions among Palestinians today. As a Jew, I am dismayed by the knee-jerk reactions of some Jewish teachers and parents who seem to recoil at the idea of Palestinians being presented as full-fledged human beings. I hope district officials will reconsider the decision to bow to the fragility of a small number of people who objected to the video’s content — many of whom have probably not even seen the students’ work.

Amy Cohen, Philadelphia

Kristen A. Graham’s article regarding charges of antisemitism being raised in response to a Northeast High School student project on Israel-Palestine is deeply troubling. Increasingly, we see such charges being made where the main purpose is to silence the speaker. Israel is a Jewish state, but to take the leap then to considering any criticism of Israel to be antisemitic is to assign Israel a unique place among all nations — i.e., one that is immune to criticism. Antisemitism is evil, and everyone should stand with our Jewish friends and neighbors in resisting it. But to use the charge of antisemitism to shut down discussion regarding the oppression of Palestinians is an insult to all that Judaism stands for. I grieve for the Palestinians being slaughtered, but I also grieve for the young Israeli soldiers. One day they will wake up and recognize what they have been ordered to do. The injury to their souls will run very deep.

Arlene Kelly, Philadelphia

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