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The United States must lead in getting a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war much like we did in the Middle East conflict of 1956. (See the op-ed “Gaza will need a Marshall Plan of its own to rebuild,” Dec. 15.)
President Dwight Eisenhower was opposed to Israel, Britain and France invading Egypt over control of the Suez Canal in 1956. Eisenhower believed war was not the remedy for the problems of the Middle East. In fact, Eisenhower believed lifting the standards of living in the region was the key to stability.
When the Suez Crisis erupted in 1956, Eisenhower worked with the United Nations in getting a cease-fire and ending the conflict. The cease-fire saved lives and prevented a wider war and humanitarian catastrophe.
The Food for Peace program, which Eisenhower started under a different name, subsequently provided aid to Suez war victims.
Today, the humanitarian suffering is much worse in the Israel-Hamas war. Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have died already. Many thousands of Palestinian civilians could starve to death as food shortages worsen in Gaza because of the fighting.
Humanitarian agencies such as CARE, the World Food Program and others cannot do their lifesaving work when bombs are falling. There needs to be a cease-fire to stop the violence and allow needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.
There cannot be peace between Israelis and Palestinians amid extreme hunger and poverty. Food, as was the case with the Marshall Plan, will be the foundation for reconstruction in Gaza. Palestinians need food, hope and peace.
Diplomacy, backed by humanitarian aid, is the best chance to end the decades of war and have peace.
— William Lambers, Cincinnati, Ohio
What is Israel expected to do?
When pro-Palestinian protesters scream, “Cease-fire now,” do they realize there was a cease-fire prior to Oct. 7? Are the aspirations of the Palestinian people to have a vibrant state? What does the chant “From the river to the sea” mean? What does “End the occupation” mean? Occupation where? The West Bank or Gaza? Or is it a not-so-veiled reference to Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat, to name a few? How about “Free Palestine”? Define Palestine; define the borders being described in this chant. Do they include what is now Jordan, known as Transjordan during the British mandate? And where are the calls for peace? For a two-state solution? For anything that implies a better life for all inhabitants of the area, not just Arab citizens?
Palestinians and their supporters can’t utter the words “the Jewish state of Israel.”
With Israel having been attacked, on Oct. 7 and other occasions, by groups such as Hamas, with televised promises for more, what do you expect Israel to do? To just die? To move?
No, we fight.
— Dave Turner, Chicago
Make US assistance contingent
Many of my fellow citizens were not alive during President Bill Clinton’s presidency, so they have no sense of the atmosphere in 1993 and 1995 when the Oslo Accords were signed, I welcomed Storer H. Rowley’s op-ed (“Extremists on both sides of Israel-Hamas war are determined to kill a two-state solution,” Dec. 17), which brought that moment back to mind.
The sharp contrast between that hopeful time in the Middle East and the depths of despair to which we have sunk is a cruel motivator for change. As Rowley recommends, however, the current occupant of the White House must couple efforts toward resumption of peace negotiations aimed at a two-state solution with making U.S. aid contingent upon the Israeli government ceasing settlement in occupied lands and other affronts to Palestinian rights.
— Margaret Sents, Glenview
Antisemitism has deep roots
I was surprised at the Rev. Martin Deppe’s letter (“What is antisemitic?” Dec. 17). Deppe is a respected historian and longtime interfaith activist, and his letter seems almost naive.
For an exercise, imagine a white person using the same list of reasonable and socially responsible (albeit rhetorical) queries about their work on a community level to ask, “Is it is racist to ...?” Or add another: If I change #BlackLivesMatter to #AllLivesMatter, am I sidestepping the point? So what’s missing? Context, history, and social politics.
For a recent background summary, although it lacks analysis of the accountability of the current Israeli government’s war strategies, see Ted Deutch’s op-ed from Dec. 14, “Stop with the global gaslighting of Jewish people and Israel.” And keep meeting with interfaith groups. Please.
All of the actions Deppe lists are laudable, but none of them addresses antisemitism, which, like racism, has deep roots in our lived and unconscious experience and assumptions.
— Lauren Miller, Chicago
ICC is not a rubber stamp
How refreshing it is to have an Illinois Commerce Commission that does not rubber-stamp whatever our greedy utilities want. My least favorite utility was ComEd, and I never thought that would ever change. Surprise, Peoples Gas now rivals ComEd.
The result is a tie. They’re both terrible!
— Richard Prince, Chicago
What about female athletes?
Where are the women? This is the question I asked as I looked through the Tribune’s 2023 Photos of the Year magazine. Of the sports photos it showcases, only one of them depicts female athletes. Where is Alyssa Naeher, arguably the best athlete in Chicago? Where is the Northwestern University women’s lacrosse team, which won the 2023 NCAA championship?
Unequal coverage of female sports is part of a broader national trend. According to researchers at Purdue University, “Women’s sports receive the same amount of news coverage as they did in the 1980s,” even though girls’ sports participation has significantly increased since Title IX became law in 1972.
This is not only bad for professional female athletes. It is also bad for the millions of girls who don’t play sports because they don’t feel represented and consequently don’t enjoy the benefits sports provide. I’m only 12, and sports have already taught me so much about leadership, teamwork and assertiveness.
The Tribune’s Photos of the Year make some of Chicago’s best athletes invisible. I hope the Tribune will cover Chicago’s superstar female athletes better in 2024.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
— Sojourner Shirley Fitz-Green, Evanston
Get on the Holiday Train
It’s not too late to experience the joyous spirit of the season aboard the CTA Holiday Train. Santa rides in his sleigh to the delight of the kids, and his elves share candy canes and special badges to everyone in the cars. The cost is just a regular fare — there is no jacking up of the price. If you cannot take the Holiday Train, ride the Holiday Bus to absorb these same wonderful feelings, at the same bargain price.
This fantastic experience is made possible by Allstate with the efforts of hundreds of volunteers. Get on board to build memories and absorb the good feeling of the holidays.
— Mary Ann McGinley, Wilmette
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