2
Friday, October 3, 1980
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Current Threats to Principles
of Church-State Separation
By Philip
Slomovitz
Threats to Church-State Separation Most Serious
of Political Campaign Issues ... There Is a Need
for Single-Standard Diplomatic Action in U.S. Policy
Those who hold their view today should start
taking the new political religiosity seriously. I be-
lieve most Americans want to keep church and
state separate — but they have to care enough to
resist, as voters in Massachusetts have just done.
James Madison has always been this Commentator's
idol and his principled advocacy of Separation of Church
and State has always been a source of inspiration.
Will there be enough courage always to back up these
ideas?
Admittedly, the three major candidates for President
are Born Again Christians whose firmness for Separation
is lacking. They speak of it glibly. That's where the problem
comes in at this time.
Such an attitude is hardly possible in Jewish life be-
cause there cannot be Born Again Jews. A male Jew at the
moment of the Brit Mila, a female, when named in the
synagogue in traditional fashion, both become hoary with
age as Jews. Their legacies accompany them from birth.
If Born Again Christians permit rejection of estab-
lished social-political-libertarian ideals, they render harm
to their American heritage.
come to the attention of responsible people in the media a
bit late.
Fortunately, it was not ignored, and appreciation is
due Miss Brown for having expressed her horror against an
outrageous atrocity.
Church-State Separation is a principle rooted in
American democracy. It is the very basis of the humanism
and the high goal that is pledged in the equality and free-
Yiddish to the Rescue:
dom for all.
Is it being threatened today?
Pronouncing Reagan's Name
The responses to the question relating to the Separa-
How is Ronald Reagan's name pronounced?
tion principle by John Anderson and Ronald Reagan in
Some Say Reegan, others Raygan.
their debate in Baltimore were hardly satisfactory. They
A large campaign button with the name in Yiddish and
did not confront the matter head on, as James Madison and
English provides the solution.
Thomas Jefferson did in their advocacy of the Separation of
It reads: Reish, Yud, Yud, Gimel, Yud, Nun.
Church and State.
In fact, this is incorrect. For the third Yud there sh
The new Evangelical-Fundamentalist role in the pre-
have been an Ayin. Then it would read Raygen.
sent Presidential contest adds to the concerns whether reli-
There is an old
gious factors can be permitted to affect American political
anecdote about
thinking.
early
the
This is not a matter to be trifled with. It has priority in
pioneers in pre-
the consideration of protecting the basic principles of the
Israel Palestine.
nation's rights to a life free from oppressive threats when
The giants in
religious and civil rights are concerned.
Zionist leader-
Children may be shackled with embarrassments if
ship, all masters
their school rooms are to be turned into prayer rooms and. Much Needed American Policy
of Hebrew who
an atmosphere of churches.
of a Single-Standard Diplomacy
helped in the ad-
Employed people could be thrown into medieval
Is there a double standard of morality in American vancement of the
enslavement if a church atmosphere were to invade offices, policies when dealing with Israel's role in the Middle East?
language as the
work rooms, factories.
. Allen Lesser, the well-known Washington news- spoken tongue of
Many other aspects related to the Separation princi- paperman, raised the question in a letter to the Washing- the Yishuv —
ples are invading the political spheres.
ton Post in which he stated:
Jewish National
Of concern is the fact that there is even an effort by
Home — and now
Americans
who
believe
the
Bible
is
God's
word
fundameltalists to revive the evolution theory by means of
accepted as the
must
be
appalled
by
the
hypocrisy
of
the
UN
Se-
introducing compulsory Bible reading in the schools. Such
language of Is-
curity
Council's
vote
rejecting
Jerusalem
as
the
a resolution recently was shelved in the Illinois Legisla-
rael, often spoke
capital of Israel, a vote in which the United States
ture.
Russian, and more often they conversed in Yiddish. They
abstained.
Jerusalem
is
not
holy
to
Muslims,
This is like a revival of the Tennessee Scopes Trial of
explained in self-defense that "Iddesh redt sikh," that Yid-
Christians
and
Jews
alike.
It
is
holiest
to
Jews,
1925. (The biography of Clarence Darrow, reviewed in this
dish speaks of itself, automatically. In the instance of the
somewhat less so to Christians, who regard it as
issue, quotes the text of the Tennessee resolution).
latest campaign button, Iddesh for Raygen-Reagan
second
to
Rome,
and
even
less
so
to
Muslims,
who
The Helms proposal in the U.S. Senate for withdraw-
shreibt sikhhis is the written phenomenon.
place
it
third,
behind
Mecca
and
Medina.
ing Supreme Court jurisdiction, the support compulsory
If
anyone
is
to
blame
for
the
Jerusalem
con-
Bible reading has gained in both branches of Congress, is
Mahaffey Attitude and the
troversy, our State Department must be accorded
cause for concern. The Jefferson-Madison firmness in op-
a fairly large share. In more than 30 years, it has
Tragic Misunderstandings
posing such backwardness is lacking at this time, and there
not deviated one inch from the position it took in
seems no hope for rejection of the forces that negate the
Councilwoman Maryanne Mahaffey expressed sym-
1947 that Jerusalem should be internationalized.
Separation ideals in any of the three candidates' ranks now
pathy
for Jews and added her compassion for Palestinians.
Despite vast changes in the Middle East and in the
competing for the Presidency.
It was an interesting letter that condemned prejudice and
state
of
Israel
since
then,
it
still
maintains
this
Two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives
at the same time took advantage of a platform for the
obsolete policy.
in Massachusetts succeeded in securing
Palestinians. This is where her misunderstanding entered.
To implement that policy, the State Department
the nominations on the Democratic tic-
The Detroit Councilwoman falls,into a common error of
has maintained a separate pro-Arab consulate in
ket in spite of the pastoral letter of Ar-
assuming that defense for Israel's role as a sovereign state
Jerusalem,
independent
of,
and
not
responsible
chbishop Humberto Cardinal Medeiros
negates Palestinian justice. This is far from the truth. Is-
to, the American _Embassy in Tel Aviv. The
who opposed them for their stand on
raelis also were Palestinians and they attained statehood
consul-general, Brandoit Grove, takes his orders
abortion. The Archbishop's letter con-
in a vast area, regaining their right to their ancient home-
directly
from
Washington
and
reports
directly
to
demned abortions and it condemned
land while the Arab distant cousins were ensconced in 22
Washington, completely bypassing Ambassador
politicians who favored abortions. The
vast and oil-rich sovereign states.
Lewis. It is in effect a separate embassy to a non-
result was an outpouring of support for
Former Palestinians already are endowed with citi-
existent sovereign entity called by the State De-
the successful candidates.
zenship in Jordan and "ellewhere and their fellow Arabs
- partment — and no one else — "Jerusalem,
New York Times columnist An-
deny them just rights in their Moslem countries in order to
Jerusalem." Consulate mail is sent to that ad-
thony Lewis commented on the issue in
keep alive the enigma of refugeeism at the expense of
dress, and it is also listed that way in the Congres-
an essay entitled "Religion and Politics"
Israel.
sional
Direbtory.
in
which
he
referred
to
the
traditional
MADISON
There is no precedent in all American history
American principle of Separation of Church and State.
Mrs. Mahaffey's attitude is commendable to a degree,
for this unparalleled insult to a friendly nation
but when it continues unrestricted, giving the impression
His comments merit quotation:
and ally. This most extraordinary policy is re-
Like similar groups, Moral Majority speaks out
that Israel's existence is a bar to Arab and Palestinian
sponsible for considerable Arab unrest, most par-
not only on what it calls moral issues — opposing
nationalism, at a time when 22 Arab states are ganged up
ticularly in the case of former deputy consul Ale-
the Equal Rights Amendment, for example. It also
to destroy Israel — with Egypt as an exception as a result of
xandra Johnson, who falsely accused Israel of
backs such conservative causes as the Kemp-
the Camp David decisions — them she renders an injustice
torturing
Arab
prisoners.
Arab
demonstrations
Roth tax-cut plan and opposes the Strategic Arms
and only plays into the hands of the PLO. It is by ignoring
on cunsulate grounds against Israel have not
Limitation Treaty. Moral Majority scored a major
the PLO threat and giving emphasis to the moot Palesti-
been discouraged. The State Department has
primary success recently in beating an Alabama
nian issue that the Detroit Councilwoma -n negates her own
nothing
td
remove
these
and
other
irritants,
done
Republican Congressman, John Buchanan, a
sympathies.
an inaction the Arabs have not failed to notice.
conservative Baptist minister who had voted for
accept
the
UN
censure
of
Israel,
and
Before we
some programs opposed by the New Right.
The Proper Reaction to the
before we deny Israel - the right to name its own
Governor Reagan gave his blessing to evangeli-
Redgrave Role in the CBS-TV Movie
capital, we ought to take a good look at the way
cal politics in Dallas Aug. 22. Speaking at a meet-
the
State
Department
has
continued
to
handle
Outraged public opinion on the role of actress Vanessa
ing of thousands of conservative church leaders,
Redgrave in the movie portraying a survivork from Nazism,
this situation.
he said they had a duty to get involved in politics.
This issue has been raised time and again. So much has
while she herself is a supporter of terrorisM\,, ,aimed
at Is-
"Religious America is awakening," he said, "per-
.
been said about Arabism in the State Department that this rael's destruction is understandable.
haps just in time for our country's sake."
latest of the published accusations pours salt on the
There was divided opinion whether peopleZ should e ,-
That was the day that Reagan said the biblical
have
tuned in the program. This appeared unwise to ma
wounds.
account of the world's creation should be taught
president of the
There is no objection to Arabism anywhere, as long as and the policy that was adopted here by the pre
in schools. The scientific theory of evolution was
it
is
moral
and
humane.
When
it
takes
on
the
aspect
of
Detroit
District
of
the
Zionist
Organization-
of America,
"theory only," he said, "and it has in recent years
Sidney Silverman, and his associates, may rave been the
anti-Israelism it is not to be tolerate4,..
been challenged in the world of science . . . If it
Lesser has revived a standing suspicion of prejudice. It wisest road to follow.
was going to be taught in schools, then I would
needs
to be aired properly.
The Detroit Zionist Organization oroposal read:
think that also the biblical theory of creation,
"Whether
your conscience dictates a de vision to watch or
which is not a theory but the biblical story of
on each of us as an expression of
June
Brown's
Protest
turn
off,
it
is incumbent ,
creation, should also be taught."
Jewish
self-respect
to
write
to CBS New York and Channel
Reagan brushed aside concerns about the Con-
Against Murder of Children
2 to express our displeasure with their disregard of the
stitution and separation of church and state. "The
Belatedly the injuring of 20 children and the murder of
sensitivities of so many people."
First Amendment was written not to protect the
one in the Antwerp, Belgium Jewish cultural center by
Public interest cannot be suppressed aI ad people cannot
people and their laws from religious values," he
grenades thrown by Arab terrorists has drawn a condem-
and should not be denied the opportunity .,c) see and hear
said, "but to protect those values from govern-
nation from June Brown.
even what the vilest enemies express. The refore, it is the
ment tyranny."
Always compassionate, Miss Brown expressed her protest that counts, and the protests should t': ontinue in the
James Madison would not recognize the First
1.?etroit Zionist
deep feelings in her Detroit News column.
Amendment in Reagan's version. He and Jeffer-
Her protest came some two months after the occur- realistic spirit that was proposed by the
leaders.
son and others who created this country were
rence of that horrible act. It is proof that some indignities
mortally afraid of mixing religion into politics.
.