Israel's Violence

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives, with a disturbing lack of debate and depressingly low dissent, passed a resolution condemning violence by Palestinians, while turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Israel army. As a matter of fact, the resolution, which passed with a vote of 365-30, did not simply ignore raids by helicopter gunships on Palestinian neighborhoods or the brutal killing on Sept. 30 of a Palestinian boy returning from a used car lot in the town of Netzarim by Israeli soldiers (who claimed they thought the child was a gunman), it included a pledge to "stand in solidarity with the state of Israel."

While resorting to violent means of gaining independence by the Palestinians is lamentable and not to be condoned, there are two sides in this conflict. There have been brutal killings of Israeli soldiers and saddening desecrations of Jewish holy sites, but of the nearly 150 people killed since Sept. 28, only a handful have been Israeli. In an election year where the candidates for president of both major parties laid total blame on Yasser Arafat without even mentioning Ehud Barak's name, one has to wonder how much these condemnations have to do with violence and not politics.

What is perhaps more disturbing is the relative lack of debate about this issue on campus. Oberlin does, sadly, have a tendency to be rather insulated from events and consequently may not be aware of this most recent action; but it has been nearly a month since violence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip erupted into the worst conflict in Israel in decades, and it's probably safe to say that most members of the Oberlin community are aware that the peace process has nearly been destroyed. Granted, there were some discussions about this issue on campus before Fall Break, but none on the scale of the debate over the U.S.-led intervention in Kosovo. Why is there no demonstration? Where are the teach-ins?

With the significant Jewish population at Oberlin it's a surprise that more members of that community are not publicly expressing their dismay with the actions of the Israeli government and their disappointment about the tattered state in which Israel's peace lies.

Most students at Oberlin grew up in a world in which violence in the Middle East seemed the norm and Palestinians, not to mention Muslims at large, were portrayed as terrorists. When we entered adolescence we saw the possibility of peace with the Oslo accords of 1993. Now that we are adults, the violence is returning and we must become committed however we can to promoting peace, something we can most effectively do by dispelling the myth that terrorism is only committed by one side of the conflict. We must demand that the American government and the American people condemn all violence by all sides in all conflicts.

Ambulances At Risk

In 11 days this country will be voting on a variety of candidates and issues. In the past few weeks new and experienced voters on campus have had to decide between voting in their home state and voting in the state of Ohio.

In all these efforts and attempts to have an effect on the outcome of the political landscape of the nation by electing a new president, those individuals who may have decided to vote in Oberlin may not be aware of the other choices to be made. Not having been a part of the Oberlin community for many years, students and even some faculty may not feel they have a stake in the local elections

One of the most important of the measures on the local ballot is Issue #39. It is a sad day when someone who faces an emergency must consider the cost of services before requesting them. It is made even sadder when such a basic service as an ambulance faces extinction for such a small cost.

Those who decide not to vote in their home districts must realize the issues that are at stake in the district they do decide to vote in. First of all, initiatives such as Issue #39 have a much more direct impact on everyday life than the choice of a president. All of us can get in an accident just walking to class or going out to a party, and it is doubtful that any of us will be too happy to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a ride to the hospital. This and all local issues are much more pressing reasons to vote in Oberlin. 3,000 student votes may not have much effect on the presidential race when millions are voting for president. On the other hand, even a few hundred votes can affect a local election in which the electorate consists of only a few thousand voters.

If those students who chose to vote in Oberlin really want to change the world, they should start by changing the community they live in at the ballot box.

Editorials in this box are the responsibility of the editor-in-chief, managing editor and commentary editor, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the Review.

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