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Grumet Begadim E Sundance The Clothes Pin Chantel Widenbaum The Male Room Computers & Concepts Chocolatissimo UP TO 75% OFF Orchard Lake Road, South of Maple West Bloomfield 34 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. EARTH & ME MARMEL GIFTS MIRELLI BAGS GENRE P.S. STATIONERY SUSIE'S STUFF PARTY PAPER GOODS irs THE GIFTS SOFTWARE SAVINGS KARMA KREATIONS 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.).