Letters about letters

Reader James Adler (“Leave it to Israel’s Right,” November 14) states that “the inhabitants of the former colonial mandates all stayed where they were throughout the decolonization process.” I think he displays more passion than knowledge.

When Great Britain “decolonized” the sub-continent in August 1947, vast numbers of Hindus, Sikhs and others, fearing for their lives, fled the newly formed Pakistan, where they had lived for generations. Similarly, vast numbers of Muslims fled from India. It is estimated that about 2 million people died, and countless more were raped or otherwise brutalized in the “process.”

Perhaps, in light of receiving this new information, Mr. Adler would like to revise his view of Israel’s history.

OSCAR DAVIES Jerusalem

As a resident of Ra’anana, I was pleased to read in “Something’s being done!” (November 13) that the problem of bicycles on city sidewalks is being addressed. However, the thought of a year and a half spent in meeting with bureaucratic officials puts a damper on the situation.

Surely, a half-hour meeting with a higher-up in the world of education to ask for three minutes twice week in all schools to teach the rules of the “sidewalk” should have been sufficient.

Beginning with the early grades is a must, and having parental reinforcement of these rules is a given. It’s like the anti-smoking campaign that was successful from the ground up, not from the top down.

I hope other municipalities will act with greater haste. Otherwise, somebody’s grandma might become a victim.

SYBIL LEVINE Ra’anana