Ever since the Aug. 28  article on Harel Rush, there has been a dialogue on the events over in the Middle East, even if the dialogue is similar to what can be seen on Fox News.

Even though this dialogue has lead to nothing, I do have a problem with the most recent Letter to the Editor on this issue. The letter was from Hillel and HJSU and was featured in the Sept. 4 edition of The Daily Orange. While I am impartial to the events going on between Israel and the Palestinians, I feel that a statement made in the letter needs to be reexamined by Hillel and HJSU.

Hillel stated that they understand the importance of having an open dialogue on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but they go on to say that the comments made Mr. Chamber in a previous letter on Sept. 2 should have not been published by The Daily Orange and asked for it to be retracted from publication

This is a college with the best communication school in the nation located in a country that offers us the freedom of speech. This means that everyone has the right to voice his or her opinion and have it published by anyone willing to publish it. We might not like what that opinion is, but it has the right to be heard. We cannot simply allow the favorable opinions to be heard and for the hateful opinions to be erased and not heard. This country was founded on that basis that freedom of speech is important, including freedom of the press.

If you want an open dialogue on tough matters then all sides must be heard, no matter how radical they are. The statement made by Hillel is a contradiction on itself and they must remember that every opinion should be heard, no matter how “hateful” they are.

Ben Castaneda
Broadcast & Digital Journalism
Class of 2017