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June 11, 2004/Sivan 22 5764, Vol. 56, No. 38
Letters to the EditorJune 11, 2004
We must stand up for ourselvesEditor:Michelle Hicks was surprised by the lack of young Jewish professionals at the recent AIPAC conference ("If not now, when?" Jewish News, May 28). I am not. I don't know what occurs in big cities, but in small metropolitan areas such as the one in which I live, our young weren't taught by their elders to become activists on behalf of Jewish issues. Hicks suggests that it is time for this younger generation to pick up from our older "doers" on behalf of Israel. Well, the young professionals could learn to do it themselves, but it probably would take a major crisis of some kind before they do so. And what about the next generation, the offspring of the young professionals? If their parents won't advocate for Jewish causes, what can/or will they teach their own children? If anything, the kids face a very difficult environment for action: a well-documented anti-Israel atmosphere on many college campuses; "politically correct" views on the part of younger primary and secondary school teachers that force all issues to be discussed in a "balanced" fashion; and slanted media reports of events in the Middle East. I recently read that Israel gets about 20 times more news coverage of any other country roughly its own size. These things require that the younger generation be taught to stand up and speak out on a variety of Jewish issues, including European anti-Semitism and Israel. But who is going to teach them? Regrettably, I don't see a lot of work being done right now. Hicks is right to shout "fire," but no one is bringing a hose to extinguish that fire. Her article makes me think of the intermarriage issue. We kvetch about it, but relatively few attempts are made to deal with the issue creatively. We'd rather fight among ourselves. We fail to remember the possibility that "they" - the ones our European grandparents always feared - may actually once again be waiting for us out there. Irwin Flack Manlius, N.Y. Old Glory: public and personalEditor:Patriotism seems to be cresting again in America. The "Greatest Generation" finally received its due May 29 with the formal dedication of the World War II Memorial in the nation's capital. President Bush traveled to Europe June 3 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of two landmark events that contributed to the end of the war, the liberation of Italy from Fascism and the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. That brings me to Flag Day on June 14. When I was in elementary and high school in Brooklyn, Flag Day was a day off from school. Of course like many other patriotic holidays, Americans celebrated by spending George Washingtons, Abraham Lincolns, Alexander Hamiltons and Andrew Jacksons at the mall and at the movies. Soon after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, we began adorning our cars, trucks and SUVs with our national flag. And the flag is personal for the mothers and fathers, husbands, wives and children of American men and women who have gone thousands of miles from home to fight in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Whether we think the war in Iraq is justified is besides the point. The remains of U.S. troops - men and women, some still in their teens - who have made the supreme sacrifice are returning home in flag-draped coffins. This Flag Day we can do more than just wave the flag. We can reflect on what Old Glory means to us not only as a nation, but also as individuals. Hank Neyer Phoenix Hank Neyer is a Jewish News Contributing Editor Internet connectionsEditor:Thanks to the Internet and you, I found an article regarding Italian protection of Jewish children during World War II ("An unexpected homecoming," Jewish News, July 18, 2003). Most interesting to me, a non-Jew, is the name Wininger, which is my maiden name. We have traced the Winingers a bit, but there are gaps somewhere around the 1700s, when the family shows up in Virginia and perhaps Pennsylvania. I'm so taken by Mr. Wininger's account of the Italian people's watchful care over the young German children. Dorothy Wininger Fairchild Charlotte, N.C.
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