July 8, 2010
Dear Editor
Following the arguments of Elliot Levin, and Rhonda Spivak about Libby Davis’ comments in an impromptu interview at a protest in Vancouver, (Winnipeg Jewish Review.com July 7/10) Mr. Levin in his rejoinder to Ms Spivak’s response, graciously, in my opinion, acknowledges the weakness of his own initial argument in the face of her strong response. The exchanges between them are informative, a good exposition of the issues, and were good reading.
There is one fact about which I think some clarification is required before any real argument can be made regarding the inference of Davis’ remarks being uttered in front of Chapters. Levin says:
“An amateur blogger with a camcorder accosted Davies during the course of the rally and asked her a series of questions about Israel. The spot at which he stopped her happened to be in front of a Chapters branch.”
If, as is suggested, this was a moving protest, and the blogger just happened to stop her at that location, I think no real significance, in terms of her possible anti-Semitic sentiments, can really be imputed.
Bob Kopstein