DETROIT SWISH CHRONICLE and The L

Personal Problems

Chronicle

Friday, August 16, 1946

Plain Talk

By DR. W. A. GOLDBERG

By ALFRED SEGAL

Your questions on personal problems will be answered by mall as far
as possible. send a self-addressed. stamped envelope to Dr. W. A.
Goldberg, 1314 Eaton Tower, Detroit 20, Michigan, or to the Editor
of this paper.

Who Counsels the Counselor?

Some of our friends, in a friendly dig
or half-hearted jest, want to know if
there are any problems in the household
of a counsellor. Yes, I must admit, there
are two, Mrs. G. and our son.
Our main problem, of the moment, is our
son's request for a raise of two bits" in his
weekly allowance. We believe in an allowance
and he has had one ever since he could count.
His allowance 'Is commensurate with our ideas
of his modest needs. But it seems that he
read, the other day, about the increased cost
of living, the demand for higher wages and
higher prices. How, then, he says, can we
expect him to do the same things with the
same amount of money as before this inflation
came along?
He says that he needs more money, since
he is dating. We are still debating this ques-
tion in our household how much spending
money, during vacation, for a fifteen-year-old,
who gets additional money during the school
terms for lunch, haircuts, bus fare, Sunday
School, etc.?
Our second problem, or rather mine is what
to do about Mrs. G., as a parolee friend
named her. She is really angry about the
picture used in this column. She just doesn't
like it. It doesn't do you justice, she says.
She wants me to go to a society photographer
and have a portrait made. So far, I have
resisted. She, admits that this picture is a
better one than that taken in prison when I
was a prison visitor. That was too utterly
candid for any use, showing all my pores, all
the blemishes, all the marks which nature
put on my face. So far I have successfully
fought all attempts to coax me into a society
salon. I don't know how much longer I can
hold out. If you see me as a glamor boy in
these pages, you will know who won. In the
meantime, we have our problem.
Other Pepoles' Ideas
There is another matter which disturbs
other people but not us. In our house we
can act silly when the occasion demands, as
it does often. We can laugh at ourselves. We
try not to act as stuffed shirts just because

we are parents or because we have reached
"middle age." (Note to Mrs. G.: I am talking
about myself only, not you, dear!) We laugh
at ourselves and let the youngster laugh at
us, too. In that way we do not permit tensions
to build up, not in minor matters. The major
ones are entirely different, in a class by them-
selves.
Mrs. G. says that meals are a pleasure.
Everybody eats whatever is on the table. No
one is allergic to food. We do have a prob-
lem, however, in the matter of quantity. Our
son was born hungry and today remains so,
in spite of his 71-inch height and 180 pounds.
He eats two portions at each meal and then
goes to the corner for a milk shake. Someday
we may be able to fill him up.
There had been discussion, in our home,
about asking for small sums for the paper
boy, for pressing a pair of pants. So Mrs. G.
came up with the idea of a petty cash fund
in the house, reserved for small items. Who-
ever takes any money out places a report of
the expenditure in its place. The fund is re-
plenished when low. It acts beautifully, and
saves all of us a lot of nuisance.
Both Mrs. G. and I have out-of-the-ordinary
ideas of child-raising. She too sees the mis-
takes of parents when she sees how their
children act Ina school situation. So nature
and her efforts have given her a sense of
humor and made her shockproof.
She is quite familiar with all the ditties
which children pick up as they grow. Some
of them are colored as only children can
color verses. But she stops their use by
chiming in with the youngster and finishes
the verses he begins. That takes the novelty
off the stories. It de-glamorizes them. The
youngster soon realizes that we are not the
old fogies he would believe. We are "sharp,"
we are alert to the current trends.
Mrs. G. is also shockproof. The boy can tell
her anything and everything. He can ask any
question and get a 'straight answer. If his
mother doesn't know the answer, she is expert
at passing them on to me.
So you see that a counsellor also has prob-
lems. But this counsellor takes pride in hav-
ing fewer problems because he has an un-
usual family.

Capital Letter

By CHARLES BENSON

Jordan Valley Authority

WASHINGTON—The severance of Trans-
jordan from Greater Palestine has been con-
demned by Dr. Walter Clay Lowdermilk,
author of the proposed Jordan Valley Author-
ity, because it "prevents the carrying out of a
coordinated and full development of irriga-
tion and power possibilities of this unique
area."
The development of a Jordan Valley Au-
thority, similar in scope and function to our
own TVA, was proposed by Dr. Lowdermilk
In 1944 in his book, "Palestine, Land of Prom-
ise." By taking advantage of the Jordan Val-
ley's extraordinary difference in altitude—it
is the greatest inland deep on the face of the
earth—the Jordan Valley Authority was to
provide water and power for Palestine and
to work toward reclamation of the soil which
had been worn out by centuries of abuse
and neglect.
An important phase of the work of the
JVA was to integrate the farming and grazing
economies which exist side by side in Pales-
tine. By showing that the two economies
could be complementary rather than antago-
nistic Palestine was to provide an example for
other countries of the Middle East cursed
with the same problem.
On March 22 of this year, "without con-
sulting either the Jewish Agency or the
United States," Britain and Transjordan
signed a treaty of mutual assistance and alli-
ance. Transjordan was thus removed from the
original Palestine Mandate to become an in-
dependent state. On May 25 the tiny Emirate
became the Kingdom of Transjordan.
In a letter to the "London Times" in which
he discussed the effect of the partition on the
proposed Jordan Valley Authority, Dr. Low-
dermilk said:
"To set up Transjordan as a separate state
can neither be in the interests of the Arabs
nor of the Jews, nor of the land. It is a
gross violation of the geographic unity of the
area and of principles of conservation, and is a
barrier to a long-range constructive solution to
the problem of Palestine."
Dr. Lowdermilk's strongest objection to
the partition in terms of the Jordan Valley
Authority was that It would not now be pos-
sible for Transjordan, a largely non-agricul-
tural, grazing land, to benefit from the devel-
opment of the farms of the Jordan Valley.
In his opinion it would negate that phase of
the JVA which sought to harmonize the two
economies. He finds it "inconceivable" to see
how this detached area can become a self-
supporting country. He points to the fact that
it has been regarded as a parasitic area, that
it has been unable to raise running expenses
under its "backward and undeveloped condi-

tion," and inquires how, if separated, the two
areas can be developed "to the full possibili-
ties of their unique features and resources."
Dr. Lowdermilk characterizes this conflict
picturesquely as "the persisting curse of Cain
and Abel (conflict between the Bedouin—the
nomads, and the Fellaheen—the farmers)
which dates back to the time when Cain, the
farmer, killed Abel, the shepherd.
Those who have lived or traveled in south-
ern California would find much to make them
feel at home in Palestine. The climate, the
topography and the agriculture are strikingly
similar. They both share the problem of hav-
ing more good land suitable for irrigation
than water for that purpose. Water is the
limiting factor in both areas. "What is pos-
sible in southern California is possible in
Greater Palestine on a proportionate basis,"
Dr. Lowdermilk said.
The principal difference is the damaged con-
dition of the land in Palestine, a difficulty
that is not insurmountable as demonstrated
by the remarkable efforts of the Jewish set-
tlements in applying conservation principles
and making full use of the resources.
When Dr. Lowdermilk's book was published
two years ago the Jordan Valley Authority
was a blue-print for the future. In his recent
letter Dr. Lowdermilk says, "Especially will
geographers find this move hard to under-
stand in view of established possibilities of a
Jordan Valley Authority. This proposed project
has been engineered and passed upon favor-
ably by able engineers of international repu-
tation."
Nor is the cost of such an undertaking
prohibitive, in his opinion. He quotes esti-
mates that the irrigation and hydroelectric
power development should pay out in 50 years
at 3 per cent. Dr. Lowdermilk had originally
considered the plan a war expenditure, "for
the survival of a people rather than a corn-
mercial venture." He now suggests that the
project be financed to the extent of 250 mil-
lion dollars from restitution of the 8,000 or
so millions in Jewish property that was de-
stroyed, confiscated, and appropriated by
governments of the Nazi dominated countries.
One of the chief justifications for the plan,
as first propounded in his book and reiterated
in the letter, is Dr. Lowdermilk's belief that
the Jordan Valley Authority would expand
Palestinian economy to a great absorptive
capacity. He believes it would permit all Jew-
ish refugees of Europe who want to go to
Palestine "to work out their own salvation
in dignity and liberty" to their own benefit
and that of the Arabs "despite protests of
their exploiters."
If, then, the plan needs even more justifi-
cation he suggests it as a solution to Pales-
tine's many problems, antagonisms and dit.
ferences.

AIL

We Wm a Bet!

Mr. Hillel—he's the occasional condtkor of
this column—called on me with more than a
casual desire to write this column this week.
Ordinarily, Mr. Hillel has written' this column
for recreation by which to get away from the
exactions of the Hillel Widget Corporation.
Mr. Hillel has his best times when he di-
vorces himself from widgets to write this
column.
But this time Mr. Hillel wasn't in a mood
for mere recreational writing. Mr. Hillel was
serious. He had a message...''Here it is," he
said, as he put the manuscript into my hand.
"I think it's most timely. Certainly, this is a
time for frank speaking. I bet you don't
print this, though."
I thought Mr. Hillel was quite insulting to
say this. The idea of his suggesting that I
might suppress his writing merely because I
might disagree with its content!
"What do you bet, Mr. Hillel?"
"I bet you a good dinner with martinis. I do
like martinis. But If you prefer Manhattans
it's all right with me."
Well, he e is Mr. Hillel's column of which I
must say tlhe start that it is like something
out of my wn mind and typewriter.
Mr. Hillel writes:
Double Liability
The other day I met my Gentile friend,
George. Maybe he isn't exactly a friend of
mine but a good acquaintance, anyway. This
Is to say, I have never had him up to my
house for dinner but when we meet we ex-
change information about our children. This
time I met him at lunch.
I have always regarded George as a friendly
man. So, when in the course of our table
talk, he brought up a certain question, I
wasn't at all offended by its possible implica-
tions. George is a great fellow for joking;
this was one of his jokes.
He asked: "Haven't you been embarrassed
lately?"
"Embarrassed? About what?"
George mentioned some recent revelations
in Washington. That Yankel business. The
prominent presence of Jews in the munitions
investigation.
I knew George was kidding and I promptly
kidded back.
"Yes, George, I feel as embarrassed as you
must feel on account of the hundreds of
thousands of Gentiles In our penitentiaries.
Doubtless, too, as a Gentile, you are em-
barrassed because of that fellow-Gentile of
yours, the late Hitler, who was responsible
for the murder of six million Jews. Your
Gentile cheek must have been mantled with
blushes of shame when you read the devasta-
ting indictment by Justice Jackson of the
Gentiles on trial at war criminals in Nurem-
berg. If some of them are hanged you will
feel deeply ashamed to think how, by their
savage behavior, some Gentiles who, pre-
sumably, may be Christians, defame the good
name of the whole Gentile group."
George thought I was getting too serious
about the matter..."Skip it," he said. "Any-

way, you made a good point"...We changed
the subject.
Yet what George had said remaine,
in my consciousness, even though he w-*
kidding. I could well guess that an ids
was so light on George's mind might be
something cancerous on other minds le
bright and well-disposed than his.
In fact, I had an intimation of that, riding
home on a bus the other evening. Two pass.
engers, directly behind me, were discussing
the Washington matter.
"You know, don't you," one said, "that
they're all Jews."
The other replied: "I'm not surprised."
So, after leaving George, my mind revolved
the duty of Jews in their social behavior.
Sure, it was hideously unfair that all Jews
are made to take the taint of the sins, or
the alleged sins, of some Jews. Even the
friendly-minded George had been entertaining
In the back of his head the idea that, some.
how, all Jews should carry the burden of the
alleged sins of a couple of them.
(Though, in fact, nobody has been indicte
or convicted of anything as yet.)
Yes, it was a dirty outrage that a whole
group—any group—had to take as its own
burden the offense—real or alleged—of a few
of its individuals. But what are we going to
do about that? Our anti-defamation leagues
can't re-educate human nature out of old
mental habits.
(Only a few weeks ago, in the Book of
Esther, I was reading about the ancient vii.
lain Haman condemning the whole Jewish
people and wrapping all.of them up in one
bundle of his spite. It's a prehistoric custom.)
Well, I thought about the matter this way
and that and came to a conclusion. I sald,
all right! If my conduct, in any of Its worse
phases, is made to reflect on all other Jew
then I must behave like a man who carries a
double liability.
First of all, I must always behave decently
because of what I owe to myself as a man
and to my Inheritance as a Jew; then my
conduct must always be above reproach be-
cause of my responsibility to my people whom
it is the practice to blame for my misbe.
havior.
I must avoid even the appearance of wrong.
doing.
True, such discipline never is put on men
of other faiths and races; they are never
made to carry double liability in relation to
their social group. Their sins are all their own.
But what of it? What concerns me is only nn. ,5
double liability as a Jew. I must carry It
faithfully.
And what, even if after every Jew became
a saint, Jews still were despised? That would
be all right with me. Jews would have at-
tained the noble eminence of loftiest char.
acter, and what if men kept on reviling them,
anyway? It would be enough that they had
fulfilled themselves and their teaching.
*
Thanks, Mr. Hillel! It was about time to
say this, even though Jewish wrongdoers are
comparatively few in the population. And
when do we have dinner?

Strictly Confidential

By PHINEAS K. BIRON

Tidbits from Everywhere

THE TIME IS NOW

We agree with L. M. Birkhead of "The
Friends of Democracy". . . He is urging
Henry Ford, Sr. to clear himself completely
of his anti-Semitic past . . . Birkhead says
that Ford should carry out an Intensive cam.
paign in the press and radio counteracting
the use of his name by Fascist groups abroad
and in this country . . . Birkhead writes:
"A campaign of this kind could easily be
carried out by a man of Mr. Ford's means . .
Furthermore it should be launched now while
Mr. Ford is alive and can speak for himself.
After he is gone the Ford family can do noth-
ing to prevent his name from being linked
with the sinister racial and religious passions
of our time."...Yes, THE TIME IS NOW!

YOU'RE WELCOME, MRS. ROOSEVELT . .
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt asked us to give
space to the following letter . . "Since my re-
turn from Europe at the beginning of this
year I have been deeply concerned with the
problems of the people for whom the United
Jewish Appeal must raise a minimum of
$100,000,000.
"In Germany I visited four displaced per-
sons camps, where I saw Jews—men, women
and children—crowded together in tiny rooms
or in underground shelters, without any pri-
vacy, living on a diet based on potato soup,
the prey of all kinds of disease. In the short
time I was there I became more conscious
than ever before of what hufnan misery can
be.
"Seeing how these people must live today
gave me the feeling that we Americans have

been saved untold misery, and that we must
have been saved for a reason. That reason
must be that we were expected to give leader-
ship—spiritual, moral and physical leadership.
We have the capacity to see that they get the
things they need. We can help them to get
to Palestine—this uprooted people who have
no other home to return to; and we have
the added responsibility of helping some of
than find a home here among us.
"I think that the most important thing for
us to realize is that a great responsibility lies
upon our shoulders and that we must give
beyond what we have ever given in other
years. I have attended United Jewish Appeal
meetings and seen men and women give as
much as ten times what they gave last year,
aware that only sacrificial giving cats help
these unhappy people find a future. If we
Americans don't give them that help, I don't
know where in the world it is going to c
from.
"I do hope you will send in a contribt
in keeping with the tragic needs."
Eleanor's appeal is for the United Jewish
Appeal and if you feel like sending an extra
contribution mail it to her at 29 Washington
Square West.

"OF THESE OUR PEOPLE"...

Hats off to Vicki Masson, former dancer ,
who saved up nine thousand dollars and
spent all of it to make a film against anti.
Semitism...Vicki's film "Of These Our
People" is a survey of the Jews in America.
It Is a documentary film presenting evidence
that the history of the "children of Israel" in
our country is inseparable from the history of
America itself .

