Interesting debate

What an interesting debate it has been on Schindler's List! Before I am branded as a Zionist agent, I should inform the readers that I'm not against Palestinian struggle nor am I a Jew lover. I was just trying to be sensible and to see things in proportion, and Mr. A. Kermaputra has certainly missed the whole point of my last letter.

If he also read Mr. James Dennison's letter (April 25, 1994), he would notice that we shared the same opinion that one shouldn't overreact over one incident. We've been through the discussion of how awful the Hebron massacre was so many times, but we all know that such a crime hasn't only been done by one particular party. If we are honest to ourselves, and if we are really against injustice, we should condemn all forms of injustice and crimes regardless of to whom and by whom they were committed. We shouldn't use two different standards, one to judge our own family, and another to judge others. Excuse and understanding for our family and condemnation for others.

Since Moslems have appeared to be as one regarding the treatment of Palestines due to their shared faith, I just couldn't keep myself from wondering why so far various Moslem groups have only condemned those crimes done by other people to their brothers but have never said a word on those done by their brothers to others. As Mr. Dennison put it, he didn't recall any condemnation of those atrocities, or those nations that openly sponsor such terrorism from the Moslem groups. And why do they seem indifferent to injustice experienced by non-Moslems?

It wasn't my intention at all to judge the quality of the followers of any particular faith. Had he comprehended my first letter, he would have known that I wouldn't have generalized about one race, or one religion's followers.

Had any Jews shrieked out that they had been persecuted by Arabs, I would have said the same thing; that their brothers have also committed similar atrocities to the Arabs. I think it's wise to look at ourselves first before pointing out other people's sins.

To ban Schindler's List based on the myopic vision of some bigots will certainly be a disadvantage for Indonesia in the eyes of the international world.

RAHAYU RATNANINGSIH

Jakarta

Note: With the publication of this letter, we would like to suggest that the adage "agree to disagree" be applied.

-- Editor