|
|
|
January 16, 2004/Tevet 22 5764, Vol. 56, No.17
Letters to the EditorJanuary 16, 2004
Do not reward terrorism with territoryEditor:It is popular to blame all the ills of the Middle East on the settlers. In your commentary on Jan. 2, you recommended the removal of many settlements, as if the settlements are the main obstacle to peace. ("Do not lose hope for peace," Jewish News) There is a basic fact missing, though. Why did Yasser Arafat begin the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1964, three years before the Six-Day War and before there were any settlements? Perhaps the answer is that Arafat, like many other Arabs, considers even Tel Aviv an illegal settlement in disputed territory. Your call to remove as many checkpoints as possible is frightening. The last major terror attack in Israel was on Oct. 4. The murder of 21 people and wounding of 60-plus was well covered in the news. The 35 major attacks that were thwarted since then were not. Many of these planned attacks were stopped at checkpoints. Time is indeed needed, but while we are waiting for Arafat to die and new Palestinian leadership to begin, those of us living in Israel want to live and see an end to terror. That will not happen as long as we reward terrorism with territory. Ester Katz Silvers Shilo, Israel Letter smacks of Arab propagandaEditor:Issam Khoury's letter to the editor smacks of Arab propaganda. ("Israelis, not Palestinians, are immoral," Jewish News, Jan. 9) He mentions three genocides: Sabra and Shatila, Deir Yassin and Jenin. In Jenin, Israeli soldiers went house to house on the grounds of looking for terrorists. In the ensuing gun battle approximately 55 Arabs were killed, many of them armed. The United Nation's report verified this number. Hardly genocide. Sabra and Shatila were refugee camps in Lebanon. In 1982, the Christian Lebanese militia received permission from then-defense minister Ariel Sharon to enter the camps looking for PLO terrorists. As a result, many Arab civilians were killed by the militiamen. Deir Yassin was an Arab village suspected of aiding the Arabs who were fighting against Israel during the War for Independence. Prior to invading the village, the Irgun broadcast over loudspeakers that anyone who left voluntarily wouldn't be harmed. The Arabs fought back and at the end of the battle about 100 Arabs were killed. According to many sources, many of these Arabs were in fact Iraqis dressed as women and old men. And as far as the accusations of raping women and "killing children at whim," who kills women who have been raped, to protect the honor of the family? Who blows up buses with babies and old women on them? It is Palestinian Arabs who ascribe to the culture of death. Jason Knust Phoenix Ganz was Phoenix's first Jewish mayorEditor:Thank you for your article on Mayor Phil Gordon. ("Opportunity and education crown Gordon agenda," Jewish News, Jan. 9) I have been following his political career since I was in AZA and he was a regional officer. However, Phil is not the first Jewish mayor of Phoenix. As I was reading your article, I remembered having read in Jewish News about a former Jewish mayor of Phoenix. Emil Ganz was mayor from 1885-86 and 1889-1901. Saul Saulson Scottsdale Kids: take them or leave them?Editor:I was greatly insulted by Beth Olson's article, "Leave those kids at home." (Jewish News, Jan. 2) Who is she to judge who can and can't take their kids shopping? I don't think I'm "being unfair" to my daughter or "to other patrons" because my well-behaved child is sitting in a grocery cart having a good time. I understand about not taking a child to a bridal shop, but to compare that to a grocery store or restaurant is like comparing apples to oranges. As for children in restaurants, I take my daughter to only family-friendly restaurants. Perhaps Olson should confer with the restaurant industry prior to her blanket statement that restaurants aren't for children. I am proud to say my daughter does great in public places. She flies with me, shops with me, and yes, gasp, she goes to restaurants with me. I think she's a better person for learning how to behave in public places. Because time is such a precious commodity, experiencing family time regardless of the setting is extremely important to me. I was brought up believing that the family is paramount to Judaism. What kind of negative message does Olson's article suggest by leaving children at home? Ali Kamen Phoenix Editor: I'm writing in regards to Alicia Messing's letter to the editor, "Parenting column strikes a nerve" (Jewish News, Jan 9) regarding Beth Olson's column, "Leave those kids at home." (Jewish News, Jan. 2) Lighten up. Do you really think that taking your children to the store after bedtime is being a responsible "child-centered" parent? I too, think it's very inconsiderate for everyone. How can Messing throw such accusations about someone she doesn't know? It seems Olson has put much thought into what makes her children happy and where she feels they belong. Have you ever walked through shopping centers? Most kids don't want to be there. If you're one of the few whose children are well-behaved all the time, that's great. But there are too many who scream and cry because they can't have what they want. If they can't behave, then they should be left at home. I, too, have children. My oldest was more easygoing at outings - always a new, fun experience. My second is more headstrong. I sometimes find myself doing shopping when he is napping (daddy stays home). But most of the time, we all go, and we bring toys or snacks to occupy him. Does that make me bad and not a "child-centered parent"? I think not. T.K. White Phoenix
|
