Ilwaco sign

As we learn more about bloody Oct. 7 as the day of the massive murder and kidnapping of civilians, including young children, a major counter-effort has emerged to blame the victims for the crimes of Oct. 7, an effort that has adopted the Hamas slogan “From the River to the Sea.”

This is a slogan that intrinsically calls for the destruction of Israel and its replacement by a Palestinian state. What then would happen to the Jewish population of Israel? And who could possibly expect that any such newly created state would be one of democracy, law and order, and respect for human rights? Given the slaughter that has already occurred, what this could only mean would be further violence and the wholesale slaughter of civilians.

“From the River to the Sea” is the slogan of the Hamas terrorists and its use endorses the use of terrorism as a legitimate political tool.

Here in Ilwaco, on a vacant lot located near to my house at Spruce and Williams, has been posted a despicable sign of division and anti-Semitic hatred stating this same slogan — “From the River to the Sea,” along with “Occupied Territories.” This contemptible sign has been cravenly posted by a man who hides in anonymity — anonymity because with just this sign on a vacant lot his actual identity is unknown to the casual observer, who are likely to incorrectly attribute this shameful sign to the neighboring house. The result of his anonymity is that whatever trouble and dishonor this man brings to our block and to our city is of no concern to this man and his vile messages of intolerance and purposely divisive political rhetoric.

Yes, we enjoy the privileges of freedom of speech such that even a scoundrel can enjoy, but this person hides in anonymity while disseminating the malicious and poisonous propaganda that promotes and justifies terrorism.

RICHARD D. BONESTEEL, Jr.

Ilwaco