In response to Frank Roberts’ column ”Protests against Israel sow hatred, dread,” [Recorder, Oct. 30], the author asserts that those protesters waving Palestinian flags are celebrating the success of Hamas. The Palestinian flag has been used by other governing bodies — PLO, the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians themselves and those who support them against an apartheid regime. By the same logic, it would be akin to suggesting that anyone who sported an American flag was a Republican and therefore a Trump supporter. The American flag represents more than one narrow ideology. For the record, I support the state of Israel’s right to exist, and its right to defend itself. The recent attack of Israeli civilians by Hamas was abhorrent, cruel and unnecessary. The sad reality is that many equally innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip will pay with their lives. I’m betting that one to two hundred civilians in Gaza will die for every Hamas militant killed or captured by the time this military engagement is over. If I had a Palestinian flag I’d wave it around myself. It wouldn’t be hatred of Jews or the love of violence that induced me to wave it, but to show solidarity with a people who are oppressed and paying with their lives, and to protest the system of apartheid responsible for it.

Roland Ward

Brattleboro, Vermont