Summers Conflates the Racist with the Political

To the editors:

University President Lawrence H. Summers is either uninformed or a dupe to equate our anti-Israel petition with anti-Semitism (News, “Summers Says Anti-Semitism Lurks Locally,” Sept. 19). We have not unjustly singled out Israel for criticism. Sharon’s policies deserve every bit of criticism we direct at it. If Summers wants to lend Sharon the support of Harvard, let him do so openly and not hide behind slurs against faculty members exercising their right of political expression. Summers’ ill-considered statements only show again how unsuited he is to lead Harvard. Israel’s security lies in withdrawing from the occupied territories, not in continuing the attempt to occupy them fully. If Summers has nothing constructive to say, he should say nothing at all.

Patrick Cavanagh

Sept. 19, 2002

The writer is professor of psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.