The ‘Munich’ audiences continue to disagree

Re “Defending ‘Munich’ to my mishpocheh,” Current, Jan. 22

It’s obvious that Tony Kushner is good with words, but I wonder how good he is with asking the right questions. He seems to be asking whether violence is an appropriate response to violence. This is a question that the Jewish people have asked for centuries and that Israel has been asking since its inception. Better questions might be: Why isn’t the Arab and Muslim world concerned about this issue? When will we see a thought-provoking film made by Arabs or Muslims?

How does a country survive in a region that does not allow any type of questioning or discussion whatsoever? I fail to see how words, no matter how prosaic, will be able fend off suicide bombers who find Arab honor more precious than any life.

KLARA SHANDLING

Los Angeles

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The murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics by Palestinian terrorists was an act of pure evil that deserves the response meted out against this senseless killing of young, innocent people. No amount of fancy wording by Kushner in his Times justification piece can change that reality.

MICHAEL H. MILLER

Los Angeles

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I saw the movie twice because I wanted to understand what the opponents of the film find so terrible about it. I am Jewish, a great supporter of Israel and have lived in Israel myself. I thought the film was good but too long.

Forget “moral equivalence.” I think the opponents of the movie are outraged that the Israelis and Palestinians are both shown with a human face. As Kushner said, these people wanted to see good versus evil, and keep it simple. Just go kill the Arab terrorists. In fact, it would have been much easier to make the movie that way, and it would have been a good movie too.

To its credit, the movie goes deeper and asks what drives people to do these terrible things. After 60 years of war between the Israelis and the Palestinians -- and no solution in sight -- it’s OK to ask these questions.

ROBERT NEWMAN

West Hills

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Kushner is a brilliant playwright and an insightful human being. His piece is astounding in its clarity and humanity. A few phrases need to be repeated and memorized. For example: “governments -- and our souls -- are nourished by honesty, open-mindedness and public debate”; “understanding the enemy”; and “violence exacts a psychic toll.” The article should accompany any publicity with regard to this movie.

WILLIAM SCHWIED

Laguna Woods