2
Friday, December 19, 1980
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Fisher, Ford and Reagan:
Marking Notable Friendships
MAX FISHER
RONALD REAGAN
As testimonials go, few can match the effectiveness of
the Detroit Round Table encomia for Max M. Fisher.
Mr. Fisher, scrapping prepared notes, therefore speak-
ing extemporaneously, gave an excellent account of himself
as one of Detroit's most dedicated leaders, with confidence
in the city's future. He proved inspired and able to inspire
others.
Henry Ford II gave credence to friendship. He was a
master over the 1,000 in the audience as chairman of the
event, and he gave effect to the Jonathan-David loyalty as a
friend of the honoree.
Governor William Milliken and Mayor Coleman
Young added to that aspect of friendship and admiration for
a fellow citizen.
Charles Benham, as regional director of the Detroit
Round Table of the National Conference of Christians and
Jews, was the masterful organizer of a notable event.
Most important, however, was the role of President-
elect Ronald Reagan. While it was treated as a passing
phase of any evening's program that was marked by many
participations, each significant in its own way, the message
of the next preside -it of the United States had great signifi-
cance. It proved that honoree Max M. Fisher made an
impression on the President-elect. It also evidenced that
the next President does not forget a friend and a supporter.
That the man chosen for the world's most important
socio-political-diplomatic position, and his wife, should re-
member and honor a man in the ranks is a great tribute to
the honoree and a credit to those who honor him for not
forgetting.
The Ronald and Nancy Reagan message to Max M.
Fisher is certain to be emphasized in the records of the
current political story. It assures a place of honor for Mr.
Fisher in the family of the incoming American ruling polit-
ical family. All the more credit to the Detroit Round Table
of the National Conference of Christians and Jews for hon-
oring Mr. Fisher.
Does Hatred Beget Hatred?
Deplorable Conditions Which
Cause Antagonism in Israel
Dr. Torn F. Driver, the eminent theologian and Paul F.
Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture at Union
Theological Seminary, New York, made a very important
statement on anti-Semitism in an address at a teach-in on
anti-Semitism at Columbia University. His statement, de-
ploring the emergence of the rightist religious movements
in this country, commenced with the following:
There is a rising anti-Semitism today among
people who are very religious and very
nationalistic. I am deeply troubled by this, most
especially by the recurrence of anti-Semitism
among Christians and its recent rapid growth
among them. For they are my people, and they are
right now very powerful in the politics of Europe
and America.
Unlike some, I believe that a great danger of
anti-Semitism comes from the right. In my view it
poses a serious threat not only to Jews in this
country but also to other minorities, to women
and to the democratic heritage of this land. That is
why it is important to deal with anti-Semitism in
right-wing evangelical Christianity and to search
out its roots.
Having lengthily analyzed the anti-Semitic trends and
the menace of the new rightism, Prof. Driver concluded
with a challenge to Jews and to Israel, assailing prejudices
against the Arabs in the Jewish state. Dr. Driver stated on
this score:
Having said all that, I must add a very sour note
in my conclusion. It is this: Although I was born
and grew up as a WASP in the Bible Belt of this
country and have been exposed to Christian
anti-Semitism all my life, the most blatant ex-
pressions of anti-Semitism I have ever heard were
in Israel in 1965 from the lips of some Israelis
talking about the Arabs. I heard from otherwise
Theologian's Rebuke to Anti-Semites and Concern Over
Jewish Bitterness in Arab Relations, With Analysis of
Hate Begetting Hate . .. KKK Gets Its Due From Conyers
calm, humane and well-educated people that all
Arabs are scum, vermin and dirty animals who
ought to be exterminated. The only time I had
heard such language before was in my Southland
as I grew up, when it was the language of white
people talking about "niggers." Even when I dis-
counted 80 to 90 percent of the Israeli invectives
as the kind of thing people say on the verge of war,
the residue appalled me.
In more recent years, a fundamentalist-type
nationalism has grown stronger in Israel, at-
tempting to claim a divine biblical mandate for
any and all territorial rights demanded by the
state of Israel.
I believe that when war and politics claim a
divine right we are in the presence of anti-
Semitism, whether the target be Jews or Arabs.
Often one can speak similarly of theologically
rationalized animus targeted against blacks or
women or, for that matter against the hostages
held in Teheran.
When the synagogue in Paris is bombed, and
when the Baptists' president in Texas makes
anti-Semitic statements in the name of Christ, we
have to cry out. We have to shriek that we will not
have it.
But we have to do more. We have to repent.
Jews and Christians alike must cease claiming to
be the specially chosen instruments of God in this
world. That hubris, if not repented, will lead to our
destruction.
Prof. Driver's impressions, his sense of shock at what
he had experienced in Israel, will not be taken lightly. They
are as serious as if Jews were condoning KKK against
blacks in this country and were thereby collaborating with
the bigots and with the neo-Nazis who are in partnership
with the racists.
Yet, what the distinguisRed theologian had heard that
became cause of resentment must be granted more
thorough analysis.
Jews and Arabs live side by side in Israel. They work
together. Arabs benefit from the labor affiliations in the
Histadrut—Israel labor movement. But the Jews are on the
defensive. They are surrounded by enemy nations
threatening their very existence. The result has been an
animosity of deplorable dimensions. Many Arabs look at
Jews with daggers in their eyes, and Jews respond with
suspicions.
Golda Meir and others who shared leadership in her .
government often commented that the one thing they can-
not forgive Arab leadership is that it inspired hatred of
Jews. This created the regrettable hatreds.
There is the brandishing of new venom by rioting Arab
students in their endorsements of the PLO, and the at-
tempts to crush these outbursts called the Israeli military
into action.
It is a battle for existence on the one hand, of endOrse-
ment of those who would endanger such existence in the
form of PLO advocacy on the other.
This is the tragedy of the occurrences involving not
Israelis alone but their antagonists as well.
The Driver rebuke is understandable. The cause of the
hatred is a matter of fact. Would the craving for peace could
be realized. That could eliminate the hatred alluded to.
-- Just as Jewish bitterness towards Arabs needs to be
reproved, so also does the Arab antagonism call for rejec-
tion. For having fanned such hatred, the PLO and its
cohorts cannot be forgiven.
John Conyers' Treatment
of a Spokesman for the Bigots
Congressman John Conyers did the proper thing when
he ordered a bigot out of a Congressional hearing last week.
He didn't pull punches when he responded to a KKK advo-
cate with the rejection due to one whose inhuman utter-
ances inspired contempt.
It is difficult to believe that there are still believers in a
code that rules out fellow humans from normal society.
The KKK representative invited the contempt adminis-
tered him by Rep. Conyers, and it is to be hoped that
Conyers had spoken in behalf of all of his associates and
that there isn't a member of Congress who would disagree
with the Detroit member of the U.S. House of Representa-
tives who ordered an advocate of bestialities out of a gov-
ernment hearing on civilized themes.
The most recent occurrences revealing the revival of
bigotries in this country were summarized in a New York
Times editorial which appeared under the heading "Good
Words From Mr. Reagan" and which pointed to many re-
curring indecencies. That editorial stated:
Words alone won't reform the Ku Klux Klan or
reassure black Americans about the alarming,
though apparently unrelated, acts of violence
against blacks in many communities. But words
are the only instruments so far available to
President-elect Reagan, and so it is good to hear
his alert comment to the National League of
By Philip
Slomovitz
Cities: "There can be no place in American life for
hatred by one kind of American against another."
We take this as a pledge that Mr. Reagan in-
tends to use the moral authority of the Presidency
to oppose racial animosity of every kind.
Blacks, more than any other group, feel that
they "lost" the last Presidential election; some 85
percent of them voted for Jimmy Carter. Now
they hear the gloating from the political right
along with threats to repeal the Voting Rights Act
and other hard-won gains in social justice, affir- _
mative action and fair housing. And they hear the
catalogue of violence against blacks, as re-
counted last Sunday by New York Times reporter
Nathaniel Sheppard:
46
The shooting, by marauding whites, of a bl
girl walking home from a party in Youngstown;
the mutilation of two taxi drivers in Buffalo; the
shooting of two young joggers in Salt Lake City;
the murder and disappearance of 15 grade school
children in Atlanta. Burning crosses and
threatening letters are reappearing in unusual
number throughout the country, even on college
campuses. The Klan makes no bones about the
targets of its "survival" camps,- some of whi , -
train Boy Scouts in "guerrilla warfare."
* * *
Civil rights organizations will regroup to pro-
tect gains of recent decades, but they will also
suffer some setbacks. Not every loss will be at-
tributable to racism; there are blacks as well as
whites who oppose compulsory school busing or
public employment programs. But all Americans
need to stand together against every threat of vio-
lence. There is nothing conservative about lynch
law or mob intimidation.
So we applaud Mr. Reagan's alertness to the
fear in the black community. We hope he also
understands what President _Eisenhower dis-
covered when he tried to give lectures on good
will from the White House: pious words are not
enough. They need to be supported by an FBI and
Justice Department that will resolutely protect
the civil rights of all Americans.
0
Not to be forgotten by all
Americans, and all
humanists, is that when
prejudices like those listed
in the NYTimes editorial
commence with blacks they
continue with threats to
Jews and to Catholics and
then proceed as a menace to
the entire country. That is
why what Rep. Conyers did
was so commendable and he
is to be congratulated for it.
-The Congressman from
Detroit is always invited
similarly to act with fair-
JOHN CONYERS
ness in the Middle East
matters. Israel needs the
help of Congressmen from both political parties to stave off
dangers from the PLO that are like those of the KKK in this
country. It is to be hoped that such help will be forthcoming
from Rep. Conyers whose friendship is so urgently needed
in the struggle against the terrorism threatened from the
PLO ranks.
Frank Angelo's Inseparable
Role From This Community
After Decades of Service
It's difficult to accept the announcement that Frank
Angelo is retiring, after five decades of service in reporto-
rial and editorial activities for the Detroit Free Press.
Frank was never a retiring character. He is so r- 'h a
part of Greater Detroit and of Michigan, he has been „le
in so many activities, that he is in many respects Mister
Detroit himself.
A remarkable man who abhors prejudices,
es.
Angelo is the type of man who fits into all social cate6
He is as responsive to Jewish functions as to any in all other
religious denominations. He speaks a universal language
of nonpartisanship, marked by a desire to understand all
and to be sympathetic to every human need.
The journalistic society admires him and passes on its
relationship with him to the entire community. That is why
he belongs to the total community.
All who know him and work with him anticipate with
great interest a noteworthy document when he completes
the history of the Detroit Free Press, on the newspaper's
150th anniversary. It is certain to attest to the confidence
Frank's confreres have that even in his retirement he will
produce professionally to the advantage of all his fellow
citizens.
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