Richard Clifford: We all need to look in a mirror first

No matter a person’s bias against another due to gender, religion, race, sexuality or politics, not one person has the right in our truly free country to wound, impair or abuse another. We all put on our socks the same way. No matter your wealth, fortune or place in society.

The horrible events of Oct. 7 have lead to an uprising of antisemitism that I have never witnessed in my short 60-year-old life. The hatred I have witnessed on campuses and in rallies is truly abhorrent. It is disgusting to see it unfold the way it has.

The Hebrew definition of Hamas is violence. I ask, is this what anyone truly thinks the answer is? Lifting up violence as a means to express oneself? Not one country in the world is an innocent player. Not one country in the world has no blood on their hands. If this is what we as a nation have bowed down to, backing others who want others eliminated, then how far have we fallen?

They chant death to America. Death to Israel. I say life to all! If only it were so simple for the naysayers to understand this. Then maybe find their own happiness living it.

Richard Clifford

Easthampton