I would like to address Torrick Ward’s letter (Feb. 7), and I would like to ask him a few questions.

First, I am amazed that Mr. Ward is trying to compare suffering. One group’s suffering does not outweigh another’s. Mr. Ward, what type of balance do you use to compare the systematic murder of one group of people because they believe one way and the years of enslavement and oppression felt by another? Why do you feel it necessary to use “one-upmanship” in the area of human suffering?

Some black slaves in this country used biblical imagery of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt as a source of hope in their suffering. These American slaves did not try to determine who had suffered more, but instead used the biblical slave as a source of hope and strength.

Jewish history spans over 2000 years. Jews were tortured in the name of God during the Crusades and the Inquisition, our great rabbis were burned alive for worshipping our holy words and many of us live in a quasi-fear that what happened in Europe could happen again.

Mr. Ward, you state that the Jews were welcome in many countries after Hitler’s regime. We were never welcome in any country until after World War II and the establishment of Israel. The “welcome” we received was a limited acceptance of tortured people by a world that felt guilty.

In a perfect world, one man does not rise up against another because of the color of his skin or the way he decides to worship. I have read the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I have studied some of the long traditions of black history in this country and in the island countries. I know it is full of beautiful traditions that were shattered by slavery and bigotry.

Why can’t we emulate the beauty of our past instead of trying to determine which group of people suffered greater? I have many wonderful stories my grandparents shared with me of Jewish life in Europe and Asia. I am sure you have stories you could share with me of your ancestors. THESE are the stories we should share, not the ones of torture.

Elaine Schwartz

Graduate Student

Geology Dept.