Puzzled by the ‘Kurdish question’

Re “No easy answer to ‘Kurdish question,’ � Oct. 27

Am I the only one who is mystified why the Kurdish question seems so far off liberals’ radar screens? How is it that the Kurds, an ethnically distinct people with their unique history, language, customs and cuisine, living in their own ancestral territory, are universally denied the right to nationalist aspirations?

Palestinians, an Arab population that is culturally, linguistically and in every other way undifferentiated from its neighbors in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, and who have never had any tradition of independence or self-government, are the darlings of the liberal community. Could it be that it is much easier to beat up on Israel than it is to confront Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq to demand that they give up the Kurdish homeland and let a truly deserving people achieve independence?

LASZLO REGOS

Santa Monica