"The banality of evil as Arendt wrote about, after the Adolf Eichmann trial, can only be prevented in this generation by the teaching and practise of universal values, human rights and critical thinking, not escaping into echo chambers of victimhood."
December 8, 2023
Why does the National Post and the Ottawa Citizen continue in its reporting to fan flames of polarization and extremism? Despite your clearly right-wing, pro- Israel bias, some standards of journalistic balance and fairness should apply. It is indeed a difficult and stressful time in schools and on campuses given the October 7 scab pulled off the bloody wounds of Israel and Palestine, after 75 years of continued conflict and animosity on all sides.
Teachers, whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim or non-affiliated with any religion, must exemplify for all students the respect for persons. I learned this from Jewish teachers of the past like Martin Buber, Hannah Arendt, Norman Finkelstein and many others. They must also be willing and able to teach critical thinking and analysis, especially given the excesses of powerful forces, including the media, in our world and communities.
I live in Peel region and would be more than willing to support Jewish teachers who feel abandoned, how to teach from the wells of universal Judaism. The banality of evil as Arendt wrote about, after the Adolf Eichmann trial, can only be prevented in this generation by the teaching and practise of universal values, human rights and critical thinking, not escaping into echo chambers of victimhood.
William Roberts