Seeing anti-Semitism in yet another light

Re “Why God chose the Jews,” Opinion, Jan 14

It may appear churlish, unpatriotic and even anti-Semitic to point out that there is not a shred of evidence that the god Andrew Klavan refers to actually exists, much less that he ever singled out any group of individuals for “chosen” status.

Klavan’s argument rests on undemonstrated and unverifiable assumptions. When Klavan suggests that the “Big Guy” stood by and allowed Hitler to perpetrate the Holocaust to teach us about the hazards of anti-Semitism, I have to suppose that this same deity also used the Hiroshima bomb to teach us about the dangers of dynamite. One expects better teaching methods from an “almighty.”

I condemn anti-Semitism in all its manifestations, just as I condemn any kind of bigotry or prejudice. I also condemn irrationality. Klavan should stick to writing fiction, where make-believe is permissible. And The Times should do better in its choice of commentators.

WALTER A. CLARK

Murrieta

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Klavan deftly exposes the fact that throughout history, anti-Semitism has been a staple of all evil empires and current Middle East tyrants and terrorist fanatics. And yes, the presence of such rabid hatred of the Jews does help solidify faith that this present time is likely the final stanza of the long-running fight between good and evil.

The mind can play tricks and convince the easily led that evil deeds are good for their particular country. An example: Israel firing a missile into a car carrying known terrorists, and Palestinian leaders answering by sending someone’s bomb-laden child onto a bus filled with innocent Israelis. And in the end, the difference is simple to identify: sanity.

GREGG FREEMAN

Simi Valley

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I must take issue with Klavan’s contention that anti-Semitism, above all other kinds of prejudice, should be considered an “early detection system” for evil. Klavan did say that all bigotry is wrong, but he strongly conveyed the message that bigotry against this particular group of people is in some way more wrong than any other. The flip side of this sentiment, whether intentional or not, is that this particular group of people is of greater worth than all other groups of people who have been targets of racists.

Setting up any group of people as being superior, even as a detection system for the evils of bigotry, is in itself a form of racism.

JOYCE STENBERG

Irvine