West metro letters to the editor

letters

Rice visit goes too far

Gary J. Krupp, president of Beth El Synagogue, in defense of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's invitation to speak in the synagogue's National Speaker Series, argues against political polarization and demonization of those with opposing viewpoints. He writes of the Jewish tradition's "strong support for a diversity of ... perspectives that encourage dialogue as a pathway to tolerate differences." (Oct. 7 West Extra section)

Tolerating differences is good. But there are lines that should not be crossed. I would be utterly shocked if Beth El Synagogue invited a neo-Nazi leader to speak so we can hear from those with a differing viewpoint. It wouldn't do so, and it shouldn't. There are limits to toleration.

The question is whether Secretary Rice crosses that line. I think she does. She was intimately involved in decisions that led to torturing detainees, in violation of international law by any rational measuring stick. She sat in meetings where this was discussed, she conveyed authorizations to participate in such practices, and she still refuses to say that waterboarding is torture, against the judgment of virtually every international jurist. Make no mistake about it: In future years, Secretary Rice will do considerable advance work to determine where and when she will be able to travel abroad. Legal authorities in many countries will not be as tolerant as Beth El Synagogue.

Moreover, Secretary Rice was complicit in dozens of misstatements of facts, gross exaggerations and outright lies leading up to the invasion of Iraq. That has led to several hundred thousand deaths. She continues to be an apologist for the Bush administration, with false statements about the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Security in Europe calling Guantanamo a model medium-security prison, and misleading claims that the ICRC made no allegations about interrogations at Guantanamo. She still says that we did not torture.

I realize Beth El Synagogue leaders do not feel they can disinvite Secretary Rice at this time. However, if they were truly interested in having a dialogue on "difficult topics," they could easily invite a second speaker to appear along with Secretary Rice. Locally, we have an internationally renowned expert on torture issues in Dr. Steven Miles, a University of Minnesota bioethicist. I am sure he would be willing to discuss these "difficult topics" with the secretary at a fraction of the price she must have required.

Fifty years ago this December, I was bar mitzvahed at Beth El Synagogue. I expect more from it than to traffic in war criminals to assist in its fundraising efforts.

CHUCK TURCHICK

MINNEAPOLIS

A Nobel, for what?

One must wonder what has become of the Nobel Peace Prize selection process.

President Obama is continuing the killing fields of Iraq in Afghanistan, and spreading death in Iran and Pakistan. At home, he continues the police state activities of the previous administration. Yet after only a few months in office and doing little to stop the killing or ensure freedom and civil liberties at home, he gets what used to be a highly regarded Nobel Prize. It appears the selection process has become so corrupted as to make the prize an embarrassment.

DELL ERIKSON

MINNEAPOLIS

Thanks to the Twins

A big thank you to the Twins for not using game 163 to overcharge their fans. Though we would have paid more, we were charged the same for our seats to game 163 as for any regular season game. In a world where it seems fans are robbed of every potential dime at every opportunity, the Twins and Major League Baseball came out as a class operation. Again.

LEAH OLSON

ROGERS