This short letter is in response to Eliot Kalman's recent inflammatory remarks. In the October 20 issue of The Post, he was able to connect a Christian holiday used in an expression by the director of Ohio's Marching 110 to his apparent discovery of that same man being religiously intolerant.
As both a member of the student leadership in the Marching 110 and a proud member of the local and international Jewish community, your ignorance, Mr. Kalman, astounds me. The Marching 110 is one of the most welcoming groups, musical or not, that Ohio University has to offer. Along with being able do what we love, perform music for others, every member of the 110 is part of a intimate and accepting group of individuals and alumni. Within the 110, I am good friends (and even live) with students that come from vastly different cultural and religious backgrounds. None of which, have ever felt like they have been unwelcome in any way due to their personal religious beliefs.
I don't understand why you need to personally defame the director and leader of such a diverse and excellent group with the ignorance of a bigoted 5-year-old. I'm not sure what frustrates me more: Your assumptions about the absolutely false, intolerant beliefs of someone I'm assuming you've never had contact with? Or that you somehow got so upset over an accepted, federal holiday being used in an expression.
Perhaps if the President of a major university ever makes mention of Christmas (winter) break, I'll be blessed to stumble upon another of your ramblings. Until then, as a Jew, I will proudly state that my Christmas this year (OU homecoming), was a great Christmas.
Eric Muhlberger is a senior studying management information system and finance and is the marching section leader of The Most Exciting Band in the Land's drumline.
4 Opinion
