The Triangle

Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: Ed-Op

Dear Editor,

In the past two weeks, the Palestinian and Israeli clash has erupted into a scathing and bloody war. This is a region ravaged by destitution and violence on a daily basis - but the sole thread that has continually linked the Israelis with the Palestinians is hope. Hope, that one day, they will not have to "hope" for their lives, they will be able to live them.

In your Jan. 9 issue, the Op-Ed section presented an article on the Gaza conflict that, in our opinion, was inaccurate. The crux of "Israel acts in defense of citizens" by Hannah Alexander was to make the point that the media is unfairly presenting Israel in a negative light. Yet, as young Muslims, we beg the opposite. Living under the stereotype of "terrorists" and "extremists," we collegiate Muslims are trying to live relatively normal and egalitarian lives. We are the first ones to concede that bloodshed, on either side of the issue, is a travesty the world could live without. We maintain, however, that it is Israel that enjoys a vastly more positive view in American media than Palestine. Most major politicians, from the likes of Hillary Clinton to Michael Bloomberg, back Israel, and the Palestinian image is forced to suffer constantly under the notion that every Palestinian is a member of Hamas. That is incorrect.

"While a percentage of the deaths are civilians, the majority are members of Hamas," Alexander nonchalantly puts it. We would merely like to point out that as of the 17th day of the conflict, around 384 women and children were killed out of 919 total Palestinians killed. That is over one third of all casualties (not including the over 4,000 injured). These numbers will inexorably climb even higher by the time this letter sees print. So you see, the author of the article attempts to belittle the plight of an exorbitant death toll that only continues to increase.

We understand why reporting on this issue is such a hot subject. Whenever large amounts of people are dying, the world not only takes notice, it usually takes a side. But we are writing this letter in order to tell the Drexel student body that for one night, put your side aside, and hope for the seemingly hopeless. On the night of Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. a candlelight vigil for the victims on the Israeli side as well as the Palestinian side will be held in the Quad. We urge every student to make an attempt to support this unified cause.

Thank you,

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