Last Thursday’s Collegian included a comment in the “Rants and Raves” section that
first referenced the University’s offering of kosher meals for Passover, asserted
the tardiness of the University in displaying its Christmas decorations, and
concluded with this thought: “It was starting to look like the Jews were taking
over.”
Now, we realize that the whole point of the “Rants and Raves” section–mimicking radio shock jocks–is to provoke readers by flirting with taboo subjects. (In the same piece, women are dogs and gargoyles, blacks are “gangsta,” and international students are ignorant and annoying.)
And we also understand that newspapers ought to be free to publish unpopular ideas, even if they are racist, sexist, or anti-Semitic.
The bigger test, though, is how we respond to those ideas as members of the UR
community. So here is our discussion question for you: In light of the holiday season and this example of anti-Semitism in particular, what do we need to say to one another to ensure that we progress toward real inclusion here at UR?
As always, we invite your comments.
If you would like to read about one Montana town’s response when the homes of Jews were vandalized during Hanukkah in 1993, click here.
Glyn Hughes and Lisa Miles, Office of Common Ground
