Hillel: Let's Have Some Tolerance

To the Editors of The Crimson:

Peninsula's latest issue was only the latest in an escalating exhibition of insensitivity and intolerance on the Harvard campus. While nobody would argue that the staff of Peninsula does not have the right to publish their views, we must question their methods of sharing their feelings.

We refer specifically to the exploding pink triangle on the cover of the October/November issue. Whether or not it was Peninsula's intention, such imagery immediately calls up visions of violence towards homosexuals and not just opposition to their practices.

As Jews, we are especially sensitive to the fact that the pink triangle was the symbol that the Nazis used during the Holocaust to identify gays; we can only shudder to think of what our reactions to an exploding Star of David might be.

Some Peninsula writers complain of aggressive and unfair behavior by gay-advocacy groups, and we must point out that the way to combat such tactics is not through equally offensive jibes. Much of the content of the Peninsula issue does constitute valid debate on a divisive topic, but simple human decency should have caused Peninsula's editors to consider a less inflammatory cover.

Human decency is a rare commodity on a campus that often discounts emotions and psychological injury. Harvard has recently seen a spate of anti-Semitic incidents, from the dismantling of Hillel's sukkah to the appearance of swastikas, that have been largely ignored by the campus community.

As many Jews have been traumatized by the current wave of anti-Semitism, it would have been nice to hear some words of encouragement or concern from our fellow Harvard students.

No religion or other association, Judaism included, has a monolithic opinion on homosexuality or any other issue. Understanding that, Hillel can only encourage tolerance and constructive debate.

It is a shame that groups on all sides of the political spectrum cannot engage in intellectual inquiry and emotional understanding untarnished by provocation and anger. We call on members of the Harvard community to work actively on finding new ways to encourage constructive, compassionate discussion of these problems. Daniel J. Libenson '92   Chair, Steering Committee   Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel