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2 Friday, April 4, 1980

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Purely Commentary

Definition of the 'Ethnic'
Term Clarified in Relation
to the 'Jewish Vote' Myth

These are times that try the politically-minded and
test,their interests. Since polling of population interests
has become much more than a sport — it is utilized as a
basis for ascertaining results of crucial elections — it is a
normality in the testing to arrive at the sentiments of racial
groups, of those with certain nationality backgrounds,
especially if they are numerous in the population; of quiz-
zing the religious elements.
No wonder, therefore, that there are occasional refer-
ences to the so-called "Jewish vote." There has been a
tendency to study "the ethnic vote," and in the process Jews
were tested as if they were an ethnic element.
Therefore, the curiosity: what is an "ethnic vote" and
do Jews belong in such a listing?
Here is the definition for an "ethnic" standard in the
American College Dictionary, 1948 edition:
ethnic adj. 1. pertaining to or peculiar to a
population, esp. to a speech group, loosely also to
a race. 2. referring to the origin, classification,
characteristics, etc. of such groups. 3. pertaining
to nations not Jewish or Christian; heathen or
pagan: ancient ethnic revels.
Here ig a related definition in the Random House Dic-
tionary of the English Language,_1966 edition:
eth-nic adj. 1. pertaining to or characteristic of a
people, esp. to a speedh or culture group. 2. refer-
ring to the origin, classification, characteristics,
etc., of such groups. 4. pertaining to non-
Christians. 4. belonging to or deriving from the
cultural, racial, religious, or linguistic traditions
of a people or country, esp. a primitive one: ethnic
dances.
One fact becomes clear here: Jews are not in the ethnic
group. Therefore the wisdom of pollsters who usually
explore the Jewish attitude as an element in the religious
denominations categories is shown.
This is where there can be no complaining in the sensi-
tive sense because the "Jewish vote" is scrutinized on a par
with the Catholic or Protestant.
The Jewish categorization nevertheleSs is different.
Jews are judged on the basis of their concerns about Israel,
their interest in the racial and social issues, their own
divisiveness in matters relating to the Separation Principle
and federal aid to religious schools.
When there are irritations, they are usually resultant
from linking the social attitudes with the monetary- as-
pects. It is when "Jewish money"' in support of candidates is
counted as a measure of political acumen, then the resent-
ment sets in. It really should not be resented. If Jacques
Torczyner, Maxwell Rabb, others in prominence, choose to
support Ronald Reagan, why shouldn't they be expected to
give a few dollars to their candidate? If Gordon Zacks
wishes to be the treasurer and financial adviser in the
George Bush campaign, how can he act with a clear con-
science unless he gives support to his candidate? Since Max
M. Fisher consistently glories in the friendship and politi-
cal party association of Gerald Ford, what's the wonder that
he envisioned him as a successful candidate for return to
the White House?
Often there is a meanness in search of "Jewish aspects"
in a political campaign. Those who would attach to some in
Jewish ranks the label of lobbyism occasionally do it, even
if unconsciously, with an inherited venom. So it is in poli-
tics. Perhaps it is part of the game.

State Dept. Secretaryship:
Who's Next in Line?

While the anxiety in the American constituency is over
the Presidency, an equally puzzling question is: who will be
the next secretary of state?
It is already taken for granted that Cyrus Vance, the
man who committed the big gaffe on March 1, having ad-
mitted his personal guilt in the matter, who would have
had the USSR as a partner in a resumed Middle East
Geneva Conference, will be returning to private law prac-
tice come January 1981.
In a recent Periscope article, Newsweek speculated:
If Jimmy Carter is re-elected, who will be his
next secretary of state? National-security adviser
Zbigniew Brzezinski is the most obvious candi-
date to succeed Cyrus Vance, who intends to step
down next January. But White House officials say
that Vance's deputy and personal choice, Warren
Christopher, has the inside track. Christopher, a
skilled lawyer, is now handling the day-to-day
negotiations with Iran.
Four others may also be in the running for Van-
ce's job: UN Ambassador Donald McHenry, who
has impressed Administration officials with his
cool head and precise diplomacy; Presidential
counsel Lloyd Cutler; Mideast trouble-shooter Sol
Linowitz, and Carter's campaign chairman,

Votes and Money in Political Campaigns Have Their
Legitimate Roles . . . 'Ethnic' Factor Is Tested and
the So-Called 'Jewish Vote' Is Under Scrutiny

By Philip
Slornovitz

Robert Strauss. Carter would owe his re-election
the White House to brief Carter and his national
in part to Strauss and might feel compelled to
security affairs adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski. "I
reward the gregarious Texan with a Cabinet posi-
gave Jimmy my impressions and my opinions,"
tion.
she said. Does she have an influence on the
Selection of a secretary of state will, of course, be the
President? More in the psychological than in the
prerogative of the next President. In the past, however,
political area, she said. But she added cautionsly:
there had been speculation. It will be recalled from an
"There would be an influence there, in the fact
earlier Commentary, that when George McGovern was the
that he would be listening and weighing every-
candidate, it was feared that he would name a staunch
thing I say."
anti-Israeli, ex-Senator William Fulbright, to the post.
Not to be ignored in Anderson's revelations is the
Confronted with the problem, he told this Commentator he reference to the Arab connections of Burt Lance and this
would not select for the post an anti-Israeli.
comment about Brzezinski:
There have been other instances when prominent
Within the White House, Carter is also sur-
people, becoming aware of what was in the offing, cam-
rounded by advisers who have been accused of
paigned against certain candidates for the Big Job. Will it
having a pro-Arab bias.
be necessary again to be on guard lest candidates with
The most important of these is Brzezinski, who
reputations for animosity to Israel, to certain racial groups,
as long ago as 1975 called for a U.S. guarantee of a
to important causes, get into dominant positions? It's some-
Palestinian state. Brzezinski met and shook
thing to think about in addition to the Presidency.
hands with Palestine Liberation Organization
leader Yasir Arafat at a reception in Algiers last
Uncovering the Shenanigans
Oct. 31, four days before Iranian militants, some
of them trained by the PLO, seized the U.S. Em-
of the Anti-Israel Manipulators
bassy in Tehran. He reportedly told Saudi Ara-
In more than one sense, some of the anti-Israel man-
bian officials, "We talk every day to members of
ipulations are scandalous. Differences of opinion must
the PLO."
never be denied. When, however, public officials knuckle
Brzezinski's strategic view of the Middle East
under to pressures from oil interests and then seek to block
puts great emphasis on currying favor with the
every progressive movement in Israel, the situation be-
oil-rich Arab states, giving them every possible
comes intolerable.
concession in return for a guaranteed oil supply
Jack Anderson, in his syndicated column, is authority
and hoped-for military bases. He puts a corre-
for this statement:
spondingly low value on the longstanding U.S.
At the State Department, anti-Israel, pro-Arab
ties with Israel.
elements appear to have gained the ascendancy.
What an ugly story! How much it must weigh on the
Although he was carefully exonerated by the
President's mind and on the conscience of Americans in-
White House explanation of the UN vote, Ambas-
volv0 in scheming in the Middle East!
sador Donald McHenry's role in the fiasco did not
surprise the Israelis, who have long regarded him
Personality of Dr. Joseph E. Zeltzer:
as a staunch advocate of the Palestinians.
Veteran
Zionist and Veterinarian
On his recent trip to Israel, McHenry conferred
Dr.
Joseph
E. Zeltzer was a remarkable personality.
with Arab mayors from the West Bank, who told
He had the role of a pioneer, professionally and ideologi-
him, "You're negotiating with the PLO. We are the
cally.
PLO." McHenry told the mayors that the Camp
To his obituary was attached an autobiographical note
David accords were failing "because of the set-
that expressed the type of modesty that is seldom possessed
tlements issue," and later complained to an aide
by people with achievement. He gave dates and names,
that "our failure to make some progress on the
never elaborating, yet every notable person mentioned as
settlements issue was draining our reserve of
an associate in his Zionist idealism was in the class of
good will with these people."
superb leadership in Jewish ranks. He shared in it, yet was
At the same time, McHenry showed no great
silent about his own achievements.
concern for Israeli good will. On four separate
This applies also to his veterinary skills and his record
occasions, the U.S. embassy asked McHenry to
in the science of animal husbandry.
lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, the memorial to the
As a pioneer Zionist he earned admiration, and his
six million Jews who died in the Nazi Holocaust.
devotion was chronicled in associations and activities. He
McHenry refused this traditional diplomctic ges-
was remarkable in a multitide of respects.
ture, on grounds that he was afraid of Arab reac-
tion.
With advisers like these surrounding the
President, it's small wonder that the White House
story of a "mistake" on the UN vote has found few
By WARREN FREEDMAN
box-like concrete walls; the
buyers.
metal grills on the windows
While
Spanish
Prime
The Anderson column relates to members of the family
and doors depict menorot.
Minister
Adolfo
Suarez
of President Carter, to Brother Billy and to Sister Staple-
The Sephardic synagogue is
woos
the
Arab
world,
ton, and this, too, should be recorded from that column:
Jewish communities in situated on the ground floor
President Carter's recent United Nations gaffe,
while the Ashkenazi
Spain continue to thrive.
first ordering a vote against Israel, then disavow-
Barcelona's twin com- synagogue is upstairs. The
ing the vote, has been attributed to ineptitude.
munities of Sephardim and "cheder" has 108 pupils
But there may have been a deeper. cause.
Ashkenazim even occupy from age 6 to 14 in the eight
Sources with access to the Oval Office have heard
the same building as they classes and is staffed by 16
Carter privately express annoyance with Israeli
grow. But each community teachers:
Prime Minister Menahem Begin. They also say
Interestingly, Spain's
leads its own life — the
that advocates of the Arab cause surround the
Aliansa Popular political
Sephardim number 3,000,
President.
most of whom returned to party has called for the es-
Few people are closer to him than his sister,
tablishment of full diploma-
Spain from Turkey, the
Ruth Carter Stapleton, who guided him through
tic relations with the state
Balkans and Austro-
the religious experience that transformed him
Hungary as well as fiorn the of Israel. This is a right-of-
into a born-again Christian. She has just returned
center party whose chaff
Argentine.
from an Arab world tour financed in part by an
man was the minister
The building in Bar-
Arab-American businessman.
tourism in the 1960s.
celona, opened in 1955, has
Stapleton came back persuaded that the Pales-
tinians "have got to have recognition in som
Mayors Meeting in Jerusalem
way." One of her traveling companions, Cliff Cus-
NEW
YORK — The Peoria, Ill., Pittsburg
ter, also quoted her as being "confused" about
American
Jewish Congress Springfield, Ill., Toledo ana
Begin's statements. "She has a gut-level question
and
the
U.S.
Conference of Mayor James Rutherford of
mark about where he's coming from," said Cus-
Mayors will co-sponsor a . Flint will participate.
ter.
Mayor Teddy Koilek of
three-day International
Stapleton was careful to disassociate her views
Conference of Mayors in Jerusalem will serve as host
for the conference, which
from Carter's. "My brother knows I travel and am
Jerusalem April 8-10.
interested in politics," she said. "Early in his
Mayors of 12 U.S. cities will deal with the chal-
presidency, he reminded me that I was not ap-
will join their counterparts lenges to municipal ad-
pointed as his private ambassador to the world."
from municipalities in Is- ministrations inherent in
Nonetheless, she had private audiences with
rael and around the world at major cities with popula-
several Arab leaders who spoke to her about the
the conference, whose topic tions of different races, reli-
Palestinian problem. She communicated their
will be the urban problems gions, culture, ethnic origin
views to the President by overseas telephone. He
of heterogeneous cities. The and language. Opportunity
responded to the call, she said, by reassuring her:
mayors of Birmingham, will also be offered for the
"You really did the right thing, and I'll follow
Ala., Chicago, Cleveland, participants to visit various
through right away."
Cincinnati, Ft. Lauderdale, Jerusalem neighborhoods
After her trip, the President's sister dropped by
Minneapolis, New Orleans, and other cities in Israel.

The Jews of Spain