Speak out against hate

For Floridians, there are lessons in Kristallnacht | Column, Nov. 10

Having just now read the opinion piece written with such elegance and grace by Michael Igel on the challenges we all face from the recent repulsive acts of Hamas upon innocent Israelis on Oct. 7, I feel compelled to speak out. To those who march on our streets in defense of innocent Palestinians, I say please include innocent Israelis in your consideration. There is no moral excuse for the behavior Hamas has visited on both Israelis and the Palestinian people for whom they claim they raise their swords. They are driven by hate, not compassion. I encourage all of us to speak out against hate, no matter the form it may take. Step one, as the author states, is education. Stand up to those who preach hatred. It may be you and yours who are targeted in some future world of insensitivity. Pray for us all.

Kevin J. McCauley, St. Petersburg

Life is precious

For Floridians, there are lessons in Kristallnacht | Column, Nov. 10

Since when is a person anti-Palestinian when he abhors the senseless killing of 1,400 innocents or is labeled antisemitic when he cries over the slaughter of 10,000 civilians, including women and children? Since when?

David Bailes, Safety Harbor

Why she said it

Yes, a Florida lawmaker really said kill “all of them” in reference to the Palestinians | Editorial, Nov. 10

A GOP Florida lawmaker responded “all of them” when a Democratic lawmaker who was “pushing” a “poorly worded and ill-timed” cease-fire resolution for the Israel-Hamas war said, “We are at 10,000 dead Palestinians. How many will be enough?” The GOP lawmaker did not use the term “kill,” and here is why she might have reacted as she did: (1) Gazans voted for Hamas to rule them in 2006, knowing that Hamas advocated killing all the Jews on the planet; (2) when Jewish military or civilians are killed by terrorists, some Palestinians have passed out sweets; (3) Palestinian textbooks used to teach their children to glorify their members who have killed Jews. Hateful statements made during pro-Palestinian demonstrations and by some progressive members of Congress might cause folks who understand the historical plight of the Jewish people to be on edge and say things in the heat of the moment. I strongly disagree with your editorial’s statement that the remark came from “profound ignorance — or maliciousness” and reject it was a “stain on Florida.”

Lawrence Goldberg, Gulfport