Independent Media Center, Israel http://indymedia.org.il I stand on issues I have the power to changeWednesday 20 Nov 2002 author: Bryan Atinsky (bryan@indymedia.org.il)

Dear Yehuda, It is my duty as a moral human-being, as citizen of Israel and as a member of its society, to speak up when I see something, hear something or read something COMING FROM WITHIN MY OWN SOCIETY, which I believe is antithetical to the values which my society propounds to uphold or I believe should be (and need to be) upheld. I did not write the advertising above. Further, I did not publish it in Ha'aretz. I have merely pointed out that it was published, explained the meaning behind its publication, and demanded that it not be published again, and moreover that readers should complain to Ha'aretz about it having ever been published. Furthermore, I do understand that there are individuals and groups within the Palestinian community and within the various Islamic communities around the world who hold ideas and commit deeds, which are antithetical to my understanding of human moral conduct. I also understand this to be true of a multitude of various other individuals and communities from different religious and ethnic backgrounds around the world, including my own. However, that does nothing to justify my own actions or the actions of my own society. I refuse to accept that the questionable actions of other communities or actions done during other periods of history, give any justification for the similar behavior of individuals or groups within my own society. If that is what you are doing or propose to do, then I believe it is you, not me, who is selling out...you are selling out your humanity. Best wishes, Bryan

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