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. (