Purely Commentary
Not An LiWats Are Betraying Humphrey ,
Liberals. who have gone so far to the left that they: are unable
to remember what had happened in the crucial days when it was
necessary_ to retain a mobilization of forces in defense of civil rights,
human decencies and the basic principles inherent in our democratic
way of life, continue to undermine the foundations of democracy in
their opposition to Hubert H. Humphrey.
We have said it before and we continue to express our sense
of hurt over the actions of practically all of the so-called liberal
periodicals which seem to have united to destroy the HRH character
and thereby forgetting and ignoring the splendid record of Amer-
ica's most distinguished pioneer in efforts to assure retention of the
vital ideals that spell out the democratic principles necessary to ele-
vate our nation's aspiration for humanitarian ideals.
Fortunately, not all_ liberals have been misled; by the character
assassination campaign that has been conducted against Vice Presi-
dent Humphrey. The - statement of 1,000 distinguished university pro-
fessors in support of Humphrey's candidacy for the Presidency is
heartening. The Vice President is acclaimed in that statement as The
Thinking Man's Candidate for President.
We are pleased to note, in that list of 1,000 university professors,
the name of -Dean William Haber of Ann Arbor, among many others
of importance (including Dean Herbert Garfinkle of James Madison
College, Michigan • State University, East Lansing; Associate Dean
Louis L. Friedmand, Liberal Arts, Wayne State University, and t,others,
notable in their fields).
In our confidence that Hubert H. Humphrey has the qualifica-
tions best suited for leadership to deal with the crucial problems
facing our nation, we reiterate our support of his candidacy for the
Presidency.
•
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Politics in Many Fashions
Planks
for Political Parties, Issue Over For-
tas, Liberals Who Betray Humphrey
Political Conventions . . . Platform Planks . . . Proposal on Middle East
All the''excitement that marks political conventions, the struggles for leaderShip, the appeals to the
man who is to be King for Day. in November—the Voters—and the party chief must resort to in an effort
to attain national power—these and many other factors will enter into play when the Republican National
Convention opens in Miami Beach on Monday; to be continued later in the month in Chicago at the Demo-
cratic National Convention.
There'll be lots of noise and much passionate pleading with the voters. Party platforms will be
hailed as panacea and many elements will appear before the functioning committees with proposals of
planks that should serve as bait in securing votes.
While party platforms often are adopted with tongue in cheek, with an advance knowledge that they
are certain to be broken, tradition calls for strong declarations on major issues and there is always that
remote hope that a pledge before election will be adhered to after the balloting on the Election Day of
Judgement.
That is why proposals made by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for platform planks
to be adopted by both the Democratic and Republican" national conventions should be taken seriously. The
earnestness with which the proposals were prepared, the objectivity of their contents, the fairness inherent
in material worded by Jews in defense of Israel and at the same time striving for a just society for all
people- s in the Middle East—these combine to introduce a program of decency in an area that has been
defiled by hatred spewed by Israel's enemies.
The proposed planks of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee are:
We must do all in our power to prevent a recurrence of war in the Near East.
But the danger of war will persist unless the parties make peace. There must be no return to the
conditions which have given rise to conflict in the area in the past.
We will press for direct Arab-Israel negotiations in order to secure peace treaties which will:
—fix permanent secure boundaries
—respect the independence and sovereignty of the states directly concerned
—guarantee freedom of navigation for all nations through the Suez Canal and the Straight of Tir
—promote disarmament agreements
—facilitate refugee resettlement
—end economic boycotts
—ensure access for all faiths to the shrines of Jerusalem.
We favor economic aid to raise living standards of all the peoples in the region and we will assist
in projects like nuclear desalting plants for irrigation and power which will stimulate thte rehabilita-
tion and resettlement of refugees in lands where there is room and opportunity for them.
We will strengthen existing legislation and administration procedures to combat the Arab boycott
against Americans who do business with Israel.
We will work for effective disarmament agreements but, in the absence of peace treaties and to
give effect to our firm commitment to ensure the survival of Israel, we will provide Israel with super-
sonic planes and any other military equipment necessary to enable her to deter threatened aggression.
There is always bitter debate over such proposals. Not only pro-Arab elements but the handful of Jews
who are bent upon joining in all efforts to destroy Israel (some stem from the Council for Judaism and
some are even more extreme in their self-hatred and their venomous attitude toward the people they stem
from) are certain again to appear before the functioning committees in a campaign to prevent just .action
in the Middle East and if possible to destroy the American-Israel friendship. These enemies of hum_an-
itarian aims can not succeed. Fairness _usually predominates at national political convention when the
needs to protect Israel become apparent. What is to be hoped for is that the planks will be adhered to
—no matter what form they take when finally adopted.
Religious Issue Uncalled For in Fortas Controversy .
We have and will continue to have plenty of controversial matters
to plague us in the months ahead without condoning the injection
of the anti-Semitic angle in the issue involving the nomination of
Abe Fortas for the U.S. chief justiceship. U.S. Senator Jacob Javits
is correct in branding the charge of Paul O'Dwyer, that there was
anti-Semitism in the oposition to Fortas' appointment, as "reckless."
The position taken by Michigan's Senator Robert Griffin is not
to our liking. Even his fellow-Republican Senator Javits rates Fortas
as a "great lawyer" and has said that he will vote for confirmation
of his nomination. But it is not religious prejudice that motivates
Senator Griffin's actions: it is political preference. The Michigan Sen-
ator, like so many in his party, is so certain that the next President
will be a Republican that he would like to defer the appointment
of Abe Fortas so that the next Chief Justice can be named by
a Republican. It's most probably a dream; it is not conclusive that
turret, and had to descend for protection. His hand was blown off
President Johnson's appointment of Fortas and Homer Thornberry
as he was climbing in, but he continued to issue orders in order to
will not be confirmed in the current session of the U.S. Senate.
bring the tank to safety, and only afterward sought first aid. When
Fred Roden., in his N. Y. Times essay last Sunday on "The
the commander of the unit passed by and asked what had happened,
Complexities of Mr. Justice Fortas," stated that "even those who
the soldier still deemed it necessary to justify himself and to say
oppose his Senate confirmation for purely political or latent anti-
that
he had done his best."
Semitic reasons concede his superb legal skills, his meticulously
:thorough precision, his incredible craftsmanship." There is a recogni-
Then, calmly, in a matter-of-fact way, he told about himself
tion here of the existence of an anti-Semitic angle in the Fortas and related a personal experience:
affair, but it is a "latent" anti-Semitism and is not applicable to all of
Fortas' opponents. It is our conviction that in the instance of Senator
"Six weeks ago we were engaged in the Karameh Operation
Griffin it is the "political reason" and none other. After all, Griffin
and again I witnessed the same manifestations of courage as I had
did vote for the confirmation of Abe Fortas as a, member of the
seen in the Six-Day War. Again I saw soldiers who, in utmost devo-
Supreme Court three years ago.
tion- and abandon, crawled on the ground to extricate wounded com-
rades who were lying at a distance in front of them. They crawled
Senator Griffin's record has always rejected prejudices and cer-
under gruelling fire although it was not at all certain that they
tainly did not condone anti-Semitism. To level such a charge at him
would find their comrades alive. In all probability they were dead,
is unfair because it is an untruth. At the same time it is deplorable
but that made no. difference; they would not leave even a dead
that the "Jewish vote" issue has again been injected in the New York
comrade to the enemy. In that Karameh Operation, in which I my-
political campaign—in the effort to defeat Senator Javits for re-elec-
self was wounded — my arm was blown off — an unknown soldier,
tion. His opponent, Paul O'Dwyer, should have a better platform on
under heavy shelling, found time and courage to think of small and
which to run for the U.S. Senatorship than resort to religious bias
charges.
unimportant things; he removed the ring from the finger of the hand
* *
that had been blown off, and plaCed it on the finger of my right
hand.
`K'dai . . . K'dai'
Dramatic Motivation for Survival
If we were asked what was the most dramatic episode at the 27th
"In our military camp there was an inscription on a notice-
World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem our judgment would be that it
board to which I had never paid serious attention. It read 'Man is
was the session on the Six-Day War and especially the speech by a
the steel; armour is mere metal.' After my own experience I have
member of the Israeli medical corps who had lost an arm while in
come to realize how true this is. These are our people. I think it
active duty.
would be an honor for anyone of you to live among them, be in their
company and to fight by their side."
Dr. Asher Perlman, an emigre from the Argentine, who completed
his medical studies in Jerusalem, served in Israel's regular army and
were many appeals for aliya, a plea with the youth who
was awarded the "Citation for Valor," tne highest Israeli military dis- came There
to demonstrate to prove that they are serious about settlement in
tinction, for bravery on the battlefield.
Israel. Few of the appeals carried with them the reality of Israel's mes-
He reminisced about his arrival in Israel a decade ago, his mem- sage as strongly as this simple dissertation by Dr. Perlman.
bership, to this day, in Kibutz Mishmar HaNegev, his 18 months of agri-
Then came the chief emphasis that was marked by an explanation
cultural work at irrigation before completing his medical studies, and
that caused him to address himself to the youth who were demonstrating of the Hebrew term, so often used also in Yiddish: "K'DAI!" It is worth
their demands for total recognition and for full rights. He offered them while! Dr. Perlman explained it in this definition of his "K'dai':
this bit of advice:
"An elderly doctor who served in one of the central hospitals
"I have heard that you young students are demanding suitable
in the country during the Six-Day War told me the other day of how
they were about to operate on a solider whose hand had been blown
representation on the Executive of the Zionist Organization. Per-.
off. The soldier was in a swoon and didn't answer to questions. He
haps you are entitled to it; I don't know. But from my own experi-
was lying in the corridor waiting for the operating theater to be
ence, I can offer you several places where, if you come, you will
vacated. When the ongoing operation was completed they began
receive suitable representation immediately.
cleaning him up, and to prepare him for the operation. Meanwhile
Come to the Negev; come to the Golan Heights; there are many
the surgeons were washing and putting on their sterile coats, and in
other good places that I can mention, in the kibutzim or in the
a remote corner of the room one of the orderlies switched on his
towns. We are now in a situation where we have a country of our
transistor radio. The war was at its height. Suddenly he increased
own but no people. I might mention another place where you will
the volume, and everyone in the room heard the announcement over
receive the most suitable representation of all—Zahal, the Israel
Kol Yisrael that the Old City of Jerusalem had fallen to our hands.
Defense Forces. There you will see that, unlike students in other
A tremour of joy and excitement seized all people in the room. The
places in the world who must seek an outlet for all sorts of spiritual
injured man, too, was suddenly aroused from his stupor. He lifted
compulsions, you will find an outlet in deep spiritual experiences.
up the stump which was swathed in blood-stained bandages and
"They will not send you to defend the borders of others, or to
cried out: "It was all worthwhile!" This is what I want to tell you.
defend and fight for the ideals of others: you will fight for your own
Everything was worthwhile. It's worthwhile living here in this
borders, for your own homes, for your own homeland, and most
country of ours; it's worthwhile living here with such people."
important of all, you will get to know our people."
He had spoken in Hebrew and used the term "K'dai." It needs
Dr. Perlman proceeded with his reminiscences, told of how he
had gotten to know the people of Israel and related several instances of no further explanation. The reality of his appeal, its simplicity—its dra-
1 matic impact—are incorporated in his assertion of worthwhileness in
bravery under fire, including this one:
"I shall never forget the commander of the tank which began Israel.
accelerating when it was being shelled. He had been standing in the , We present the speech of Dr. Asher Perlman as the most dramatic
and most convincing occurrence at a great gathering of world leaders
2—Friday, August 2, 1968
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS from 51 countries.
-
By Philip
Slotnovitz
.
Friends-hip Recalled
Between Dr. Otto Hahn,
and Jewish Physicist
—
DR. OTTO HAHN
The death on Sunday of Dr. Otto
Hahn, the 1944 Nobel Prize winner
for chemistry, in Gottingen, Ger-
many, revives interest in his as-
sociation with .the distinguished
Jewish nuclear physicist, Dr. Lise
Meitner.
Dr. Hahn, discoverer of the
method of splitting the atom in
1938 was considered the "father
of the atomic .bomb" for his dis-
covery of nuclear 'fission.
A colleague quoted him as say-
ing shortly:. after the outbreak of
World War II: "If Hitler gets
an atomic bomb, I shall kill my-
self." He was arrested by the
Allies in 1945 and while on a
prison farm with 10 other top
German atomic scientists near
Cambridge, he learned that the
atomic bomb was built by Amer
ica and dropped on Japan.
Dr. Hahn's life-long friend,
-
Meitner, confirmed his crystal-
clear view of the splitting of the
atom when he submitted his find-
ings to her.
Born in Vienna, the Je‘yess Dr.
Meitner was forced out of Ger-
many and had fled to Sweden. She
had worked with Dr. Hahn in his
scientific research for 30 years.
Dr. Meitner often called him her
"cockerel," which was a play on
the German interpretation of his
name _which means "rooster."