The Middle East is Not An Arab Reservation

To the editors:

I am writing in response to "Native Americans and Native Palestinians" by Charles D. Cheever '03 (Opinion, Oct. 15).

Cheever presents a veiled anti-Zionist stance in his article, but he is without foundation. When Cheever writes that "many Arabs feel that they were forced out to make room for Israel," he generalizes the thoughts of some Palestinians and other Arabs who live in Israel and its territories to the entire Arab community, which is nonsensical. Clearly Saudi Arabians, etc., were not forced out of anywhere. Let's not forget that that Israel (including the territories) comprises 28,177 square kilometers, or only 0.4 percent of the entire 7.3 million-square-kilometer Middle East. Even if it could be argued that Israel is an imposition in the Middle East (which it cannot), Cheever's comment about "a future where Arabs are confined to a small, reserved, corner of the desert" is still completely nonsensical. Furthermore, Cheever's calling the creation of Israel "land seizures" completely delegitimizes the 53-year existence of the country (which was created by the United Nations, no less).

What exactly does Cheever mean when he says "[bin Laden's] motivations are ... a desperate attempt to unite the Arab world against encroachment by America and the West"? Of what sort of encroachment is Cheever thinking? These justifications for bin Laden's actions only serve to scapegoat Israel.

Of course both the Native American and Palestinian causes deserve our attention. However, it serves no useful purpose to blame the only democracy in the Middle East, and America's only firm ally there, for bin Laden's terrorism. Finally, Cheever's complete lack of critical thought or analysis is best illustrated in his parting shot, a ridiculous stereotype of Native Americans as "accompanied only by destitution, alcoholism and casinos..." Perhaps if Cheever had thought critically and intelligently before writing, he would not have had to resort to baseless arguments and tired stereotypes.

Joshua I. Rosenbloom

Oct. 17, 2001