fortunately fulbright is still filled with bright stars

Submitted by simona loberant (United States), Oct 29, 2003 at 06:30

Its a shame that a few rotten eggs must mar the name of Fulbright so much. The first Fulbright scholar I'd ever met was just the opposite. His grandmother was a Nazi Youth and particpated in Women's activities during the Nazi regime in Germany. She lived and died as a virulent anti-Semite. This young man instead of inheriting her hate decided to investigate what these Jews who his grandmother hated were all about. He learned Hebrew and Yiddish and Jewish culture and religion with so much gusto that I could not believe he was Jewish. While he had no intention of converting he made a point of making Jewish friends in America and when he felt comfortable revealed his family history and why he learned so much about Judaism.

He was an example to me about learning about Judaism and Israel, if the grandchild of a Nazi could do it then so could I.
Its is a shame that any representetive of a group of such amazing intellectuals could conspire with terrorists. It ruins our pre-concieved notions that education is the key to ending hate and violence. Unfortunately hate transcends educational levels and with every new academic and intellectual who uses their mind to spread further hate instead of peace and understanding the hope for a better world dimishes slightly.

I hope that the Fulbright Committee recognizes that hate and works to denounce it while seeking out people who will use the power of their intellect for promoting peace and prosperity and understanding instead of anti-semitism and otehr forms of hate.

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