Discuss issues before jumping to conclusions

Every time I read a viewpoint or quote by Rachel Hoff in the Daily, I cringe. But when I read her letter to the editor on Monday ("Student response disappointing") referring to a student yelling rudely at her in the campus center, I became angry in a very different way.

I disagree with Ms. Hoff on 99.9 percent of issues. I am a liberal democrat who supports a woman's right to chose, gay marriage, safer sex education in schools, condom fairs at Tufts, and thoroughly enjoyed and supported the V-day efforts at Tufts. Ms. Hoff is a devout Christian and active in TCF, I do not even believe that Jesus was the son of God. And while most of campus is enraged by her comments about the Vagina Monologs, I am still reeling from her comment a couple months back that likened third trimester abortion to "infanticide."

Despite these differences, and Ms. Hoff's uncanny ability to make my blood pressure rise, she is a dear friend of mine. She is a warm and open person who is more than willing to maturely discuss her views. She and her family welcomed me (and two other of our friends) into their house in England for Christmas during our junior year abroad. Ms. Hoff made us feel comfortable in her home, at church, and on the military base (two places that can be uncomfortable for a war-in-Iraq-opposing Jew like myself). We have spent hours discussing religion, politics, and the like. Fear not, I am still a liberal, but Ms. Hoff has taught me how to understand and respect different viewpoints than my own. I have never met anyone so willing to agree to disagree and explain her views rationally.

In the future, I urge anyone who disagrees with Ms. Hoff or anyone else about an issue affecting our campus, to approach the person. Most likely he or she is eager to tell you about his or her opinion and hear your side. You may never see eye-to-eye on the issue, but at least you have been open to hearing the opposition and respected the person's views and passions.