Editor:

There are a number of buzzwords that get passed around the university: tolerance, hate, diversity, unity. These are all noble things, but it seems that people have a hard time identifying them in real life.

What is missing is an understanding of when to apply these principles. There is a time to tolerate, and a time to condemn. There is a time to hate, and a time to love.

The past months have been filled with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that same conflict is being held here at UCSD. The war being fought is a war of words, rhetoric and public opinion.

The Jews have their “”week”” and the Muslims have their “”week.”” Each side uses “”buzzwords”” to build itself up and tear down its opponent. I am convinced they believe that truth is secondary to winning an argument.

Words that are loaded with meaning are being used as weapons so much that now they are empty words.

This kind of trend is subtle, dangerous and has no place at a university — a place where intellectual thought is supposed to reign over rhetoric.

The Muslim Student Association has crossed the boundary and has stepped all over the truth in order further its goals. Every week it has set up its booth on Library Walk promoting the cause of the Palestinian people.

Now they have gone too far. They have posted Palestinian propaganda regarding a supposed “”massacre”” at Jenin. They accuse the Jews of running an apartheid. Both these accusations are without merit and are simply slandering the Jewish organization on campus.

How is it possible that people take these accusations lightly? These are serious charges that should only be made with ample evidence and a reasonable argument in support. Their only evidence was the Palestinian propaganda machine.

The most recent estimate was that the Palestinians suffered only 56 dead — mostly militants with guns in their hands. The Israelis suffered 33 dead soldiers.

The destruction seen on TV turned out to be a small area of Jenin where the battle raged between the militants and Israeli soldiers. This was to be expected of a battle zone.

As these accusations were made in public, a public apology is in order from the Muslim Student Association. This was a prime example of hate and intolerance and for the most part has escaped people’s attention.

Diversity of thought and opinion is healthy, but lines need to be drawn.

The rhetoric and propaganda need to stop; facts, not empty words, need to prevail.

— Michael Dufel

Earl Warren College