Why I stood for Dick Cheney

I am a Democrat. I am definitely a Democrat. And yet, on Tuesday morning, I found myself giving Dick Cheney a standing ovation. I was most certainly not standing after Cheney's speech because I agree with his domestic policy, nor was I standing because I agree with the way he and the rest of the administration are handling the general situation abroad, particularly in Iraq. I was standing because there is one issue that I know the vice president and I agree on: Israel. Cheney was addressing AIPAC's (the American Israel Public Affair Committee's) Policy Conference in Washington DC. I was one of the 11 student delegates representing Tufts at the annual gathering of over 5000 pro-Israel activists from all over the globe. It was there that those from both sides of the spectrum both literally and figuratively joined hands in a declaration of their unwavering support for Israel and, more importantly, called for action on the part of their colleagues and constituents to protect Israel. It was clear that while us Democrats may not see eye to eye with our GOP counterparts on most things, Israel is the one issue that can cause John Edwards to praise the words of John Bolton. "Support for Israel," said AIPAC President Bernice Manocherian, "is not a Democratic value or a Republican value; it is an American value." So, why, in the minds of many, has support for Israel in its fight against terrorism become so associated with the Right? Historically, it was the Democrats that pushed the hardest for Israel in its fight to exist. And currently, the Democratic Party is definitely not new to the notion of global peace and prosperity through democracy - this has been a core party principle since the days of FDR. Israel's establishment as a nation of immigrants and a safe haven for the oppressed reflects the ties between Democratic and Israeli values; its position as the only democracy in the region makes it a valuable partner in the furtherance of the progressive ideals we hold so dear. Yet, I have been approached by far too many people asking how it is possible to reconcile my liberalism with being pro-Israel. The current administration's words are perhaps to blame for this terrible misconception. Because of the White House's rhetoric regarding its "War on Terror," it seems as though any war on terror has become too taboo for many of those on the Left. Because our confrontation with Iraq is a mess right now, many are afraid to confront the clear-cut threats to freedom, like Iran and Hamas. Because our nation is so divided along partisan lines, it is impossible for many people to conceive of an issue that could unite both sides. However, now is the time for us to grab hold of any potential unifying issue, rather than allowing political generalizations and falsities to get in the way of our doing what is necessary and what is right. Whatever your personal political leanings are, the world out there is becoming an increasingly dangerous place. Iran poses perhaps the single greatest security threat to not just Israel, but to the United States and the entire world. There must be real democratic change for the Iranian people, which includes a government in place that will not flout its non-proliferation agreements, nor deny the Holocaust and call for the destruction of the United States and Israel. Even closer to Israel, Hamas poses just as great of a problem. The "purple finger" theory of defining a democracy is insufficient and inaccurate: While it is wonderful that the Palestinian people were finally able to vote in democratic elections, peace (and the two-state solution that will go along with it) cannot be made with a government whose charter and actions consistently calls for jihad against and the destruction of Israel. Until Hamas moderates and establishes itself as a legitimate partner for peace, it cannot receive funds from any member of the international community. Asking Israel to have a relationship with the Hamas of today would be like asking the United States to have a relationship with Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Those on both sides of the spectrum can see these problems: Iran is, unlike some other characters in recent U.S. foreign policy, indeed developing WMD's; Hamas is refusing to establish itself as a government with which Israel can have an actual relationship. And those on both sides of the spectrum have recognized these problems as issues that must be dealt with immediately: John Edwards and Dick Cheney, Steny Hoyer and Roy Blunt, Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice... the list continues. Yet there are still countless Americans who view being liberal and being pro-Israel as two irreconcilable ideas. This misconception flies in the face of traditional progressive Democratic values of freedom and democracy, and it is only when this misconception is shattered that our progressive values can be furthered not only at home, but globally. I urge you all to check out tonight's Friends of Israel and Tufts Democrats-sponsored discussion with Steve Grossman, former Democratic National Committee chair and AIPAC president. It's at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center's large conference room. Perhaps, finally, we can build a united front - Democrats and Dick Cheney included! - to do what is necessary and right for not only Israel, but for our entire international community. Amy Spitalnick is a sophomore majoring in political science and minoring in communications and media studies.