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The core of the problem in the Middle East is in the cultural differences between the East and the West. The social rules that the West believes in are totally estranged to the Arab culture. With the introduction by the English department of a course to be taught by a fifth-year graduate student, Snehal Shingavi, and titled “The Politics and Poetics of Palestinian Resistance,” that very same problem may become the core of a major problem in UC Berkeley. 

The United Nations charter states its purpose: “to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people.” “Dignity” as defined by Webster’s Dictionary is: “the quality of being worthy of esteem or honor.” How can you deal with people whose grand ideas of being worthy of esteem and honor are “martyrdom” and suicide? There is more to it than “just a failure of oversight on the part of the English Department in reviewing course proposal descriptions.” 

The Hamas is educating children by informing them of the virtues of suicide bombing – What do you expect from known followers of the Hamas to teach our kids? 

Now, if you were to choose two instructors, an Israeli and an Arab, perhaps you could take credit for trying something new and different. Otherwise, the University of California at Berkeley is misappropriating public funds for its own selfish and destructive purpose. 

- Giora Stavi 

Berkeley