• OPINION \ Sep 23, 2002
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    James Dobson responds to Bishara Awad's open letter
James Dobson responds to Bishara Awad's open letter Dear Dr. Awad:

It was with great disappointment that I received your "open letter" last week. Naturally, I was especially troubled by your characterization of me as "an instrument of hate and division." I have been criticized a number of times over the years, but rarely has one of my detractors painted me in such harsh terms. You accused me of maligning the character of Dr. Ashrawi, when I said nothing to that effect. You did to me what I didn't do to her. Then you chose to air your unsupported claims publicly, by sending copies to both Christianity Today and MIFTAH, without first giving me a chance to respond personally. What could have been an opportunity for private dialogue between two Christian brothers who disagree on complex Israeli-Palestinian issues has instead become front-page news.

At this point, I can only attempt to clarify the intent of the brief, two-paragraph statement to which you took such offense. The purpose of that statement was simply to question the timing of Dr. Hanan Ashrawi's visit to Colorado College, and nothing more. At no point did my comments make a judgment one way or the other about Dr. Ashrawi or her views, other than to note that she is a "controversial figure," as indeed she is. Long before I released my statement, Colorado media outlets were writing about the rising tide of public concern surrounding her impending visit. That visit is now history, and local papers have reported that Dr. Ashrawi's presentation at Colorado College was decidedly "middle of the road." Nevertheless, considering her association with Yassir Arafat and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, I still believe that Colorado College was insensitive in giving her a forum to speak during a week of mourning and reflection for so many Americans.

At the same time, it is no secret that there are a great many political issues on which Dr. Ashrawi and I would strenuously disagree (Mother Jones magazine has described her as "a wealthy, Christian, feminist, ex-Marxist"). In a recent address, Dr. Ashrawi suggested that Palestine is "a tortured nation, guilty only of an unwavering commitment to freedom, dignity, and independence." That is an egregious claim, particularly coming from someone who is on the payroll of the father of modern-day terrorism (Dr. Ashrawi's non-profit organization, MIFTAH, receives $850,000.00 a year directly from Yassir Arafat), and who has gone on record to suggest that Hamas is a legitimate political entity rather than a terrorist group. Dr. Ashrawi has also claimed that the 9/11 attacks were America's comeuppance for supporting Israel, and in 1998, she told Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, an official newspaper of the Palestinian Authority, that the Holocaust is "a deceitful myth which the Jews have labeled 'the Holocaust' and have exploited to get sympathy." What could Colorado College have possibly hoped to gain by inviting an individual with such radical views to take part in its 9/11 symposium?

In stark contrast to Dr. Ashrawi, on the few occasions when I have made public statements about the conflict in the Middle East, my remarks have been supportive of the nation of Israel. But does that mean I that have labeled Dr. Ashrawi?a fellow Christian?as "unclean" because of her Palestinian heritage, as you have accused me of doing? Have I "said things against my own writings and beliefs" or "considered all Palestinians as the enemy of America" as you charge? Most certainly not! Those are strong accusations, Dr. Awad, and I believe they are without basis or merit.

One final note concerning my reference to the news footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks: I do not believe that every citizen of Palestine rejoiced over those terrorist acts. I'm aware that there are many in Palestine and throughout the Middle East, including Christian brothers and sisters like yourself, who do not advocate or celebrate violence. Indeed, my good friend, Dr. Michael Youssef, made this very distinction on a recent Focus on the Family broadcast. However, even if the news footage in question depicted only "a very few irresponsible young Palestinians," to use your own words, those images were significant. When innocent civilians are killed in either Israel or Palestine, regardless of which side initiated the attack, I can assure you that Americans, including the "young and irresponsible ones", do not dance in the streets.

I hope this brief reply clarifies my intentions for you, Dr. Awad. I'm truly sorry that you feel my comments were tantamount to "the hate propaganda and deceitful ways of the enemy of righteousness." Surely you are aware that there are countless opinions about the situation in the Middle East, and that even among those who consider themselves "pro-Palestinian," there is considerable debate about how to best address it. Wildly divergent views can likewise be found on the "pro-Israel" side of the equation. That being the case, my prayer is that our honest differences of opinion will not lead us to hurl accusations and heap condemnation upon those with whom we disagree.

God's blessings to you and your staff at the Bethlehem Bible College.

Sincerely,
James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
President
Focus on the Family
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