A LETTER FROM JESSICA DIECKMAN---THOUGHTS ON RECENT EVENTS AND MORE

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To the Editor,

As I study more of the events and information connected with the October 7th massacre and terrorist attack committed on innocent citizens in Israel, I continue to feel very disturbed and concerned, not only for Israel, but for our country as well.

I recall President Obama’s 2013 shipment of pallets of cash to the terrorist state of Iran, I believe it was apx. $150 billion dollars put into their corrupt leaders' and terrorists' accounts. Another $1.8 billion in cash was used for terrorism as well. Fast forward to September 2023, wherein President Biden and his team make yet another deal where they propose giving Iran another $6 billion dollars, but stating it cannot be used for terrorism. I don’t see how our country can guarantee such a restriction, especially after the Israeli massacre that involved trained Hamas paragliders, tactical equipment, bombs, missiles, powerful guns, grenades, rockets, boats and drones. The attack killed over 1,300 individuals, with about 150+ were taken hostage. The attack was beyond barbaric, I was appalled just listening to the details about families, concert-goers and the elderly who were raped and killed for no reason.

One survivor at the festival (a musical rave for peace) described how the paraglider-terrorists were giddy, laughing, excited and smiling as they killed and abducted innocent young people who were, minutes prior, just having fun. One young girl was killed, her lifeless body being spat upon by children, then paraded around on the back of a Hamas truck in Gaza, surrounded by a cheering crowd. 

 Looking at our major cities here in America, one observes large crowds of people cheering-on Hamas and the attacks. Many appear to be college students from major schools like Columbia, Hunter and NYU. Some of these students attacked student supporters of Israel. The Israeli supporters explained fear at their fellow students' belief that the killing and rape of Jewish people is justified. Reporters shared that the Hamas-supporting college students describe Israel as a colonizer, and therefore, by default, Israel has invited such violence. 

 I then wonder how these college students (and their faculty), who tentatively believe in democracy, desire to witness Israel, the only democratically-functioning region in the Middle East, removed? Do they recognize that within Israel the Christian churches, the synagogues, and the mosques exist together, with everyone at liberty to worship as they choose to? Do they consider that women and LGBTQ people have rights and protections in Israel to the extent that many seek asylum there? In contrast, within Palestine and many other neighboring countries, LGBTQ people are jailed, abused or brutally killed, and women have no rights. In this context I’m genuinely perplexed to see these same young people claim that they support woman’s and LGBTQ rights, yet also support Hamas. I have not seen supporters of Hamas in these protests condemn the brutality of October 7th massacre. It is as though the students, faculty and others are literally being given assigned-opinions and not thinking for themselves amidst the propaganda they are getting. I dare say that if any of them spent one day in Palestine under Hamas rule they could have a serious awakening and reckoning, as many of the Palestinian people live in fear of Hamas. 

 I’m also beginning to wonder if these attacks on innocent civilians (that seem to be justified in the minds of so many in New York) would feel the same if they occurred here in New York itself? Would it be suggested that such brutality would be deserved because anyone can be labeled as a “colonizer?" Do the supporters of the attacks in Israel believe people should only live in the place their ancestors did? And then at what juncture in history would a measure of appropriate ancestral-residency be taken? 

History teaches many things (if we think critically enough to behold reason), and one of them is not to repeat the mistakes of the past. One can’t claim to be the oppressed 'good guy' after a well-planned, well-funded terrorist attack on innocent civilians. Another thing history teaches is that giving terrorists money with conditions that the funds not be used for attacks is simply not going to work. And one more history lesson: we know in New York the consequences of terrorism’s abrupt and swift impact, and that the New York area is certainly a target. Pretending what happened in Israel couldn’t happen here is simply wishful thinking.

My advice is stand with Israel and democracy, that’s what can build most viably towards peace, not supporting terrorist governments and giving them more money. In closing, all of the people protesting and marching for Hamas should take a much closer look at what the Hamas terrorists stand for, and how they “govern,” as it’s quite the opposite of Israel’s democracy and the democracy we know here. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jessica Dieckman 

(Croton On Hudson)