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Friday, November 14, 1986 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Jews Need Courage
To Fight Anti-Semitism
10 A.M.-6 P.M.
HAMILTON PLACE, 30333 SOUTHFIELD RD.
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DANIELLE PELEG GALLERY
•
BERL FALBAUM
Special to The Jewish News
E
ach time a major
Jewish issue is the
subject of public de-
bate, there is a sense of polit-
ical deja vu.
The same tired arguments
are raised, all leading to the
same misdirected conclusion:
Challenging anti-Semitism
leads to more anti-Semitism.
When the news broke on
the admission by Austrian
President Kurt Waldheim —
after numerous denials —
that he was indeed a member
of the military unit responsi-
ble for massacres of Yugosla-
vians, the old argument was
heard that Jews will pay for
forcing the revelation.
The Detroit News inter-
viewed Jews in Austria who
lamented that if Waldheim is
driven from office, Jews will
be "blamed."
But why blamed? Why
cannot Jews come to grips
with issues like this and in-
stead take "credit" for un-
covering a man who has at
best a questionable record
when it comes to his in-
volvement with the Nazis?
When will Jews learn that
fighting anti-Semitism does
not create anti-Semitism? All
it does is bring it into the
open where it can be dealt
with. That is the obligation of
continued vigilance.
Without such confronta-
tions, anti-Semitism does not
disappear. Appeatsement and
thinking "it isn't so" does not
make it so.
Even the headline in the
News was ,misleading. It read
"Austrian Jews Fear Re-
newed Hate." The hate was
hardly "renewed." It was al-
ways there but the Waldheim
revelations brought it to the
surface.
Blacks have long under-
stood not only the obligation
but the necessity of facing ra-
cism without fear of so-called
backlash.
There are no cries through-
out the world either from
blacks or liberal whites that
challenging apartheid will
only heighten racism.
There . are no arguments
that if the Botha government
were driven from office,
blacks would be to "blame."
Indeed, assuming such a
dramatic change in the gov-
ernment of South Africa were
to occur, the world would re-
joice politically and take cre-
dit for creating an atmos-
phere for a new era.
Yet, when Jewish issues
are involved, there is a seg-
ment within the Jewish
community who would prefer
silence. They believe, and do
so erroneously, that silent
appeasement will temper
anti-Semitic sentiments.
Not only are they wrong,
but they inadvertently give
support to non-Jews who can
cite this Jewish sentiment as
support of their view which
does not want to deal with
either their own anti-Semitic
feelings or that of others in
the community.
If Waldheim resigns, Jews
and others who believe in
rooting out anti-Semitism
and bigotry should applaud.
If Waldheim were held ac-
countable for the extent of
his involvement in Nazi ac-
tivities, it would be a victory
for not only Jews but for all
those who support the equal-
There are no
arguments that if
the Botha
government were
driven from office,
blacks would be
to "blame."
ity of man. Those who would
counsel otherwise give com-
fort to anti-Semites; they re-
veal weakness while giving
strength to the enemy.
Until Jews help develop a
public psychology which ac-
cepts and supports confront-
ing anti-Semitism to the
same degree that blacks fight
racism, the age-old argument
will continue over the merits
of public discourse on anti-
Semitism. And the longer the
delay in developing this phi-
losophy, the longer Jews will
suffer and anti-Semitism will
thrive uncontested.
Jews cannot afford this; in-
deed, they have lost valuable
time already. Perhaps as
much as 2,000 years.
29 Jews
Elected
To Congress
Washington (JTA) — Rose-
mary Pooler, a Democrat ac-
tive in the Syracuse Jewish
community, last Monday con-
ceded defeat in her • effort to
win election to the House
from New York's 27th Dis-
trict. She lost to the incum-
bent, Rep. George Wortley, a
Republican.
Pooler's loss leaves the
number of Jews elected to the
House at 29, one less than in
the current 99th Congress,
even though one new Jewish
member was elected, Ben-
jamin Cardin (D. Md.).
However, two Jewish in-
cumbents, Reps. Ken Kramer
and Bobbi Fiedler, both
California Republicans, left
their seats in unsuccessful
bids , for the Senate. The
number of Jewish Senators
remains at eight with the re-
election of Sens. Arlen
Specter (R. Pa.) and Warren
Rudman (R. N.H.).