I would like to respond to Torrik Ward’s letter which was in response to William Crumbaugh’s letter to the paper last Monday.

Well Mr. Ward, congratulations. At least that’s what I think you want to hear. People have been persecuted throughout history. But it seems you have decided to turn misfortune into a contest to see who has suffered more. That’s kind of a childish attitude to something that shouldn’t be bragged about.

Instead of being so damn proud of how long and hard the African people suffered, be proud of how much they’ve done to fight for their rights and become an important part of the world today.

In fact, be proud of what all those who have been persecuted have achieved despite their previous misfortunes and handicaps.

To clear something up, Mr. Ward, Israel is the land of Israelites. Whether the people who live there are Jewish or not, it is a land for everyone who wants to peacefully share it, and has fought for its independence since biblical times.

I didn’t add this to continue Mr. Ward’s game of ‘my people have been worse off than yours’ like a child claiming he’s sicker than another. I just want to make sure Mr. Ward realizes that there is and will always be a lot of suffering in this world that people haven’t “seen pictures of.”

Never should a people be treated different than any other, but also, never should one who cares about their people be told their suffering is “absurd.”

Lauren J. Kurtz

Sophomore

Art/Visual Communications