On culture and facts

With regard to “Miri Regev’s illtimed tirade” (Comment & Features, September 26), the “culture crowd” in Israel obviously believes that culture is culture. Whether it supports our continuation as a democratic country in this minuscule piece of land or seeks our demise, that which is written is holy. And since it is holy, not only should it be presented on stage or published, but the state has an obligation to support it financially.

That, of course, is some people’s idea of democracy. That, they believe, is what a real democracy would do.

Wrong. Works dedicated to our demise or otherwise opposed to our existence have no right to such expectations and should definitely not receive the state’s approbation or support. That is the way of a democracy that seeks to strengthen itself.

Such was the attitude of the United States in World War II toward Ezra Pound, by all estimates a very fine poet, but a strong, outspoken supporter of Nazi Germany and Hitler. His poems were neither published nor read publicly during the war years, and it took more years for him to be able to reestablish himself in the opinions of those he valued.

A democracy’s obligation is not to its enemies, but to itself and its citizens.

RHEA ISRAEL Rehovot

The only thing ill-timed about Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev’s comments is that they should have been made a long time ago.

Why should the Israeli government financially support art that proposes terror and violence against Israeli citizens and the state? Should we expect a government minister to remain silent while attending an event where a public reading, using Israeli citizens’ taxes, calls for people to “eat the heads and flesh of our oppressors”? Why was this not mentioned in the article?

On the facing page, Susan Hattis Rolef, in “Our refusal to contend with historical facts” (Think About It, September 26), writes that Jewish records show Arab villagers at Deir Yasin “were simply executed.” She presents this as fact and as generally accepted from Jewish sources, yet there are numerous Jewish sources saying that Arabs were simply caught in the crossfire when used as human shields.

Why does the opinions editor allow such headlines and deceptive representation presented as facts to be published on an almost a daily basis?

MAURICE MOSHE ERNST Jerusalem

I appreciate Susan Hattis Rolef’s emphasis on the Lod and Ramle expulsion orders having been issued by Yigal Alon. He made the right decision: The flight of thousands of refugees at a crucial time saved Israel.

However, I wish to recognize Palestinian refugees alongside Jewish fighters as those who suffered losses in the establishment of the state.

RUTH LANDAU Safed