|
|
August 17, 2001/Av 28, 5761, Vol. 53, No.45
Monica and Chandra are not all of us
MARTY LATZ
Special to Jewish News
Joseph Aaron, in his column, "Chandra, Monica and us" (Jewish News, Aug.3), charges that Monica Lewinsky and Chandra Levy are "reflective of Jewish life today" and are "products of an era in which Jewish values play less and less of a role in Jewish life, in which power and money and might are valued above all else."
Levy and Lewinsky, he says, if you strip away what made them famous, constitute our "best and brightest, the role models of what we want our kids to be." Yet he believes they, overall, had "so little in the way of Jewish values, so much wanted to be close to power, felt so little self-worth, so much were willing to do anything to get ahead."
Aaron then makes a huge, illogical leap. He states this values problem is not "just about Monica and Chandra. It's about the fact that there are lots and lots of young Jewish women, and men, just like them."
He then expresses shock that Jewish drug dealers, assassins and vigilantes also exist.
Aaron's column is offensive, irrational, and makes no sense.
First, Aaron draws his overly broad conclusions about "lots and lots" of young Jews solely from the isolated examples of Levy, Lewinsky, a wealthy Jewish publicist who rammed her SUV into a New York nightclub crowd, several drug-dealing Israelis, Yitzhak Rabin's Jewish assassin and some Jewish "vigilantes" in Israel.
Are "lots and lots" of young Jews having relationships with married individuals, bowing down to "power and money and might" and doing "anything to get ahead?"
Where is Aaron's evidence?
Unfortunately, he presents nothing other than an unsubstantiated personal belief. No studies are mentioned, no detailed interviews of representative Jews.
Second, Aaron presents no evidence that Jews behave differently today than 10, 20 or even 2,000 years ago. History is filled with examples of Jews and non-Jews engaging in adultery, committing murder and valuing "power and money and might" above all.
Of course, Aaron appropriately condemns the immoral behavior of Lewinsky and these others. No one who fully adheres to fundamental Jewish values would engage in these activities. But we know of no evidence - and Aaron presents none - substantiating a legitimate causal relationship between these individuals' Judaism and their actions.
Finally, I find offensive Aaron's statement that Levy and Lewinsky "so much wanted to be close to power, felt so little self-worth, so much were willing to do anything to get ahead."
True, each had inappropriate sexual relationships with politically powerful married men. But does it necessarily follow that each is "willing to do anything to get ahead?"
This is especially egregious regarding Levy. Despite commentators consistently jumping speculation about the matter, we know next to nothing about the Condit-Levy affair.
Plus, Aaron's blaming Levy and Lewinsky - and ignoring former Pres. Bill Clinton's and Rep. Gary Condit's responsibility - is inexcusable.
Aaron is certainly entitled to his opinion. Fortunately, we have the right to evaluate it. In my opinion, Aaron needs to study logic.
Marty Latz owns a negotiation seminar, training and consulting company and writes this column monthly. He can be reached at 602-870-9301 or at Latz@NegotiationInstitute.com.
|
