Eli Wald’s description of Caf‚ Intifada in yesterday’s opinion section was full of misguided and entirely false accusations about the intent and content of the event. That he did not attend the event is evident for two reasons: None of the main organizers including myself saw Eli there, and we all know each other personally; additionally, letters to the editor are usually selected before 6 p.m. but the event did not begin until after 8 p.m.

His account of the events directly contradicts the front page article of The Daily Illini that included a summary of the entire event, and interviews of the organizers, performers, and a few of the 100+ audience members of the event. Without attending the event, he asserts that the event “brought terror,” “glorifies the deliberate massacre of civilians” and was against the promotion of “peace justice, and an equitable future for all in the Middle East.” All accounts prove the falsity of these claims: Every flier, description, performer, and individual interviewed brought awareness to the horrors of oppression – whether the oppression was a result of ignorance, domestic violence, war, or terror. The topics covered were as diverse as the creative mediums of expression.

Eli, you have thrown around very serious accusations. We cannot let our own student organizations and leaders become pawns in the politics of oppression. It is entirely sad and offensive for you to throw false accusations on the support of massacre, terror and violence. That you did not consider the weight of these accusations is apparent in the introduction of your letter: that the campus should be “concerned.” You believe that students held an event that supports such heinous acts and students should just be “concerned”?!

Address and connect with your fellow students and leaders, come to our events and participate at the open mics. We are all working for peace, justice and an equitable future for all in the Middle East; we strongly disagree on what the conflict is and how to achieve peace, but insult and accusations help no one. Communicate with honesty and sincerity, and reach out to us before creating false divides.

Reem Rahman

Council on American-Islamic Relations-UIUC