October 29, 2004/Cheshvan 14 5765, Vol. 57, No. 9
Letters to the EditorOctober 29, 2004
Proposition is good for the EarthEditor:Of particular importance to me and our region in the Nov. 2 elections is Proposition 400, the Regional Transportation Plan. An Environmental Impact Statement shows that pollution will drop if the plan is built. As Jews we are charged with doing what is in our power to protect the Earth. Midrash tells us that after creating the world, God takes Adam around the Garden of Eden for an orientation to the realm of nature. "See how beautiful all My creations are," says God in this legend. "Take care not to foul or destroy My world. For if you do, there will be none to repair it after you." The Regional Transportation Plan would provide 344 miles of new or improved freeways and highways; 275 miles of new or improved arterial streets; 34 major intersections and right-of-way protection; new buses and new or expanded bus service on 28 routes; 13 park-and-ride lots and 13 transit centers; 1,000 new dial-a-ride vehicles and increased dial-a-ride services; tripling of vanpool services; $50 million for Intelligent Transportation systems projects intended to improve traffic flow, coordinate signals and provide road information. Opponents of Proposition 400 have focused on light rail, which is a relatively small component of the plan. Voting no on Proposition 400 would not stop construction of the 20-mile light-rail starter segment, which is already funded. It would stop freeway construction. Proposition 400 would help us to to take care of the Earth. Wendy Feldman-Kerr Mayor, Town of Queen Creek RJC ads misleading and wrongEditor:I am absolutely appalled at the recent three-page ad in the Oct. 15 issue of Jewish News by the Republican Jewish Coalition. There are several issues involved with the circulation of this profoundly misleading ad. One is the matter of the First Amendment, which I concur, whether I like it or not in this instance, covers free speech even in the context of this nasty endeavor. That is to the good. What is not to the good and should enrage every Jew, whether Democrat, Republican or whatever, is the heinous content of the ad itself, and the sordid implications the RJC wants to draw:
The underwriters of the RJC, obviously radical Republicans, feel Bush is their man. But at his first cabinet session in January 2001, Bush washed his hands of any continued mediation and diplomacy in the Israeli/Palestine problem. His so-called "road map" was empty rhetoric. I lived in Massachusetts for more than 25 years and was active both in Jewish community affairs and the Democratic party. In those years I got to know Kerry very well, and I can attest to his full support for Israel both personally and through his Senate record. He always has been, and always will be, a staunch supporter of Israel. And that is truly to the good. Laura C. Roskind Scottsdale Editor: Until two weeks ago, I was worried that the Kerry/Edwards ticket was in serious trouble in Arizona. However, after reading the Oct. 15 issue of your publication, my optimism was restored. It was not anything your editorial staff wrote, but instead it was the desperately distorted three-page ad placed by the Republican Jewish Coalition blaming "leading Democrats" for being anti-Israel and/or anti-Semitic. To respond with chapter and verse to the wild-eyed RJC allegations would only dignify statements that are patently false. Furthermore, in the same issue of your paper Professor Gordon Weiner eloquently debunked the Republican effort to demonize John Kerry. My initial anger in reading the RJC's false indictment of the Democratic Party's leadership was tempered by the knowledge that Sen. Kerry must be rapidly gaining on President Bush, if not already leading him - otherwise, why would the RJC spend three pages of advertising dollars in a panicky attempt to make the good guys look like the bad guys? Any doubt as to the RJC's state of mind, it was dispelled yesterday when I received another pro-Bush mailing featuring Ed Koch, former mayor of New York. What's next - an 8"x10" framed glossy of George Washington? Richard H. Bernstein Scottsdale P.S. I do not consider, nor do I know of anyone else who considers, Fritz Hollings or Jim Moran to be "leading Democrats." Kerry is friend to IsraelEditor:I am an Israeli/American, a former Israeli infantry soldier, and an advocate for Israel. This is the first time I've ever sat down to write to people about an election or a candidate. I'm doing it now because I believe that the decision we are faced with on Nov. 2 will shape our future. I am deeply committed to Israel, to the welfare of the Jewish people and to upholding the Jewish ethic of striving for justice and righteousness. I am also supporting John Kerry for President. Kerry has a 20-year history of working to support Israel. AIPAC has given him a perfect 100 percent score on Israel-related votes. Even more important than his voting record is his personal commitment to Israel. He has traveled there nearly a dozen times throughout his long career of public service. He flew in an F-16 with Israeli pilots in order to better understand Israel's security challenges. He visited army bases and went to hospitals to speak directly with victims of terror. Kerry has also worked closely with the Jewish community on legislation concerning Israel's security, and he has built real personal relationships with Jewish leaders. There are two equally important things that I believe the president of the United States must do in order to truly be considered a friend of Israel. The first is supporting Israel in its efforts to defend itself. Kerry has stood firmly with Israel and defended the necessary actions the Israeli government has taken to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. He has always supported American military and financial aid to Israel, even in the face of Republican efforts to reduce both. The second one is the president must be committed to trying to move toward peace in the region. It is an incredibly difficult task. I don't think that the current leadership in the region is ready. I do think that it is essential to keep making every possible effort to move in that direction. Bush has withdrawn the U.S. from involvement is the one issue on which Israel's future rests: an eventual peace with the Palestinians and peace in the Middle East. I spent nearly three years wearing the uniform of an Israeli soldier, and many years since then working for Israel and for the Jewish community. I believe that the single most important thing that we can do for America and for Israel is to cast a vote for John Kerry. Hadar Susskind Takoma Park, Md. Republican hackeryEditor:During this presidential campaign, I would expect the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix to be non-partisan, but unfortunately, it has been nothing but Republican hackery. Tobye Weiss-Nydick Scottsdale Seek Jewish consensus, not separationEditor:Gordon Weiner has been an astute and insightful observer of the Greater Phoenix Jewish community for many years. In his article of Sept. 24, however ("Sectarian discrimination?" Jewish News), he makes proposals that are troubling and do not merit support. Weiner suggests that since many Jews, including himself, do not observe the laws of kashrut, community funds should not be expended to support the Va'ad Hakashruth but instead, the funding should come from the Orthodox community. Weiner assumes, in this suggestion, that only Orthodox Jews observe the laws of kashrut - not a supportable assumption. He further proposes that community funding not be directed to support of the Orthodox Phoenix Hebrew Academy because of a perceived narrow constituency. By the same token, it may be assumed, he would not direct community funds to the Pardes Jewish Day School since it is sponsored by several Reform congregations. Would it not be more meritorious for Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Jews to see value in all the streams of Judaism and to seek, in a consensus fashion, to direct community funds to deserving programs across the ideological spectrum? Let us not look for ways to separate ourselves from each other. Let us find ways to value and support each other. Sherman Minkoff Scottsdale ClarificationEditor:In Gordon Weiner's commentary ("No more venomous attacks," Jewish News, Oct. 15), Mr. Weiner states that "Kerry ... supports Israel's right to ... build the fence." On Page 8, a Republican Jewish Coalition ad states that "Kerry ... incredibly questioned Israel's right to defend itself from terrorists by condemning Israel's construction of a security fence." Can the Jewish News resolve the contradiction? Arnold Weinberger Scottsdale The editor responds:
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