Israel in film

Repps Hudson has written a very comprehensive and excellent review of films  “Reeling in the years” (June 12) by Israeli filmmakers that cover the broad spectrum of events that have taken place in that country since 1948: the founding of the state, wars, relatively short periods of calm and relations between Israelis and Arabs. I was pleased to see two outstanding films, “Beaufort” and “Waltz with Bashir,” included in his list.

I wish he had included what could be a third film to this trilogy: “The Gatekeepers.” I saw this extremely controversial film in January at its premiere showing in Los Angeles at the Museum of Tolerance with the director, producer and writer present to answer questions.  The subject, interviews with six retired directors of Shin Bet/Mossad and their honest, candid views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, so enraged some members of the audience that people were yelling at each other and at the director, who in typical Israeli fashion never “lost his cool.” “The Gatekeepers” is a very challenging and provocative film that should be seen by all of Israel’s friends.

Rosalyn Borg, University City

Civil unions and marriage

Allow me to take issue with the Light’s June 5 editorial (“Race to the Bottom”). If I understand the editorial correctly, I would be denying same-sex couples their civil rights if I didn’t believe in their right to marry. As one who considers himself a conservative ideologically and politically, but one who also prides himself on being a social liberal, I find such a premise to be nonsense. I have always been in favor of civil unions with all the legal and social benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples, with no exceptions. However, I am adamantly opposed to gay marriage, and voted for the 2004 amendment to the Missouri Constitution that defined marriage as a union only between a man and a woman.

I have no doubt that same-sex partners love each other as much as the love derived between a man and a woman, and most assuredly, the commitment is just as great, but does this mean that legally, they should be allowed to marry? Is receiving a high school GED the same as receiving a high school diploma? Of course not, but in essence, a GED shows a proficiency for doing high school-level class work and is enough to be considered for acceptance into a college or university.

In the same vein, if same-sex partners are granted all the legal and social benefits granted to heterosexual married couples, can it honestly be said that they are being denied their civil rights, notwithstanding the absence of marriage?

Are those gays and lesbians who have committed to civil unions — legalized partnerships — being denied their guaranteed civil rights? Of course not. Under my proposition they would also derive the same legal and social rights accorded their counterparts. Such a compromise should be fulfilling to both the majority and the minority while mitigating the vitriol that has permeated both sides.

Gene Carton, Olivette