To the editor: Contributing author Josh Hammer’s considerate piece on the overlapping non secular holidays developing this week turns darkish when he warns us towards the “bad-faith actors” whose subversive ways are inflicting an “unprecedented pressure” within the West (“Passover and Easter remind Jews and Christians to face collectively,” March 27).
The three threats he mentions are Islamism, “woke neo-Marxism” — the invisible and mythological bogeyman conservatives wring their fingers about — and globalism. Nowhere does he point out white Christian nationalism, which can as nicely be printed on our paper cash together with President Trump’s signature. Nowhere does he point out the corruption on full show within the Trump administration, which has enriched the Trump household.
Nowhere does Hammer point out the battle on range and fairness, erasing hard-fought good points over the past century. Nowhere does he point out the tax adjustments which have funneled more cash to the highest to the detriment of the center class. Nowhere does he point out the basic must fund healthcare, schooling and infrastructure amid the budget-busting tax breaks and elevated regulation enforcement and army budgets.
Nowhere does Hammer point out our president’s fawning allegiance to Russia, his implicit assist of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged battle crimes and his blatant, taunting disrespect of our NATO allies.
There may be hassle brewing, nevertheless it isn’t Islamism, wokeness or globalism that threatens Individuals.
Bethia Sheean-Wallace, Morton Grove, In poor health.
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To the editor: As a Jew, I used to be appalled to learn Hammer’s current op-ed. Though the general sentiment of unity is admirable, he contrasts this with criticism of Islamism (amongst different issues), which he describes as totalitarian and in search of dominance over peaceable coexistence. Think about, for a second, if the phrases had been reversed and Judaism was described that means. This could instantly be known as antisemitism. And, in truth, the Jewish state has sought dominance over peaceable coexistence — word the ever-present horrific violence within the West Financial institution as only one instance.
At a time of such intense world battle, it’s harmful and albeit irresponsible to plant concepts of division amongst varied faiths. The issue just isn’t inherent to any of the non secular traditions. Quite, it’s the extremism that exists in all of them. To cite Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, in one other current op-ed within the Los Angeles Instances: “The issue just isn’t Islam, neither is it America, each of that are based mostly on the foundational ideas to uphold justice, dignity and the equality of all folks … [War] narratives … marginalize the overwhelming majority of Muslims who search peace whereas empowering extremists on all sides” (“American Muslims’ distinctive position towards anti-U.S. sentiment and Islamophobia,” March 25).
Maybe we must always think about the simultaneous observance of Passover and Easter, in addition to the current observance of Ramadan and the emergence of springtime, as a name to encourage reflection, renewal and rebuilding of a brand new world order for all of humanity.
Annette Gottlieb, Los Angeles
