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July 14, 2000/11 Tammuz 5760, Vol. 52, No.44
Letters to the EditorJuly 14, 2000
Fervor no excuse for poor word choiceEditor:Marty Latz's commentary, "The Hitler Analogy" (Jewish News, June 30), points out the importance of forethought and discretion when drawing parallels between people and events. Recently, when criticizing the creation of the Ironwood Forest National Monument, I drew a parallel that was inappropriate, and I am sorry for any offense it may have caused. As a public official, I am expected to take a strong position on issues that affect our community. In doing so, I understand that any remarks I make may have far-reaching implications. Let me make it perfectly clear that my inappropriate reference was not preplanned and was in no way intended to elicit media attention. I made a mistake for which I am deeply sorry. I am a second generation native Arizonan, and I believe that our lands are a precious resource worthy of protection. The recent monument designation poses a threat to another one of Arizona's precious resources - the state's education trust lands. More than one-third of the land within the boundaries of the Ironwood monument belongs not to the federal government but to the State Education Trust. Yet, federal law authorizes the designation only of federal land as a national monument, and this violation of the law reflects a disconcerting pattern of conduct by this administration. Including state trust land in the Ironwood monument will deny our children and Arizona schools needed funding. I am not attempting to make an excuse for my poor choice of words. No matter how strong my feelings are on this issue, there is no comparison between the atrocities committed by Hitler and the president's recent actions, nor was it my intent to try to draw one. I acknowledge that such a comparison can have the effect of trivializing the Nazi horrors. Once again, I understand that my comment was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize. U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (Via the Internet) Who's monitoring Hillary's friends?Editor:In New York, Hillary Clinton publicly courts Jewish voters. But what does she do privately? Recently, Mrs. Clinton attended a private fund-raising reception at the Washington mansion of Hani Masri, a close associate of Yasser Arafat. The event raised about $50,000 and was closed to the press. I understand that Mr. Masri's company, Capital Investment Management Corp., is awaiting the delivery of a $60 million loan backed by American taxpayers through the Overseas Private Investment Corp. This event was not listed on Mrs. Clinton's public schedule. A week later, Mrs. Clinton quietly slipped into Virginia to attend another fund-raising event at the home of Rafat Mahmood, a Pakistani-American real estate developer. This event raised more than $70,000. It was also closed to the press and, like the other event, was not listed on Mrs. Clinton's public schedule. I have read that Mr. Mahmood just happened to be vacationing in Pakistan coinciding with President Clinton's visit there. It is beyond my imagination as to why Jewish leaders are not raising concern over events such as these. Hy Rosenfeld Phoenix Risks of making peace may outweigh benefitsEditor:Pressure exerted by the U.S. government in pursuit of Mideast peace appears related more to winning the Nobel Peace Prize than to securing peace for Israel. Although Israel is pressured to make more and more concessions, the Palestinians are not forced to honor their commitments. As Israel strives for full peace with its neighbors, the Palestinian Authority teaches hatred of Israel and Jews in school, beginning in kindergarten. It is presented in schoolbooks, on children's TV programs and in children's camps. The PA teachers' guide instructs teachers to foster hateful views of Jews and Israel. The Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace has documented this in a review of 140 textbooks that demonize Jews and deny Israel's right to exist. A fifth-grade text includes this statement: "Remember: The final and inevitable result will be the victory of the Muslims over the Jews." Similar hatred is instilled in their adult population by means of newspapers, radio and TV. Evidence of unfulfilled PA commitments include doubling of their allocated police force, release of terrorists, smuggling banned weapons through underground tunnels from Gaza to the West Bank, encouragement of riots, PA police shooting at Israeli soldiers and recent PA maps that show no evidence of Israel. Does this sound like a responsible people striving for peace? Several years ago, a visiting group of retired American military personnel advised the Israeli government to keep a wide strip of land along the Jordan and all high places to ensure its defense. To meet these defensive requirements, Israel was counseled to give up only about 50 percent to 60 percent of the West Bank. Israel has already given up 53 percent of the West Bank, lands inhabited by more than 95 percent of the Palestinian population. But the more Israel has given up, the more the PA demands. Now, with outside pressure, Israel is considering giving up 86 percent to 96 percent of the West Bank. Israel is prepared to do almost anything for peace, but such a concession would leave it defenseless. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is apparently alone in making these decisions for peace. I have always argued that we should keep hands off and allow Israelis to decide for them, but we cannot sit idly by and permit Barak to commit suicide for us all. The situation is critical. Contact President Clinton, Barak and members of Congress and the Knesset calling for a defensible Israel. M. Herbert Nathan Phoenix (Via the Internet) |
