OPINION
CONTENTS
14
FRONTLIN ES
A Simple Test
ROBYN KLEEREKOPER
Tay-Sachs screenings are planned
for Detroit to combat a baby killer.
CLOSE-UP
Addictive Culture?
24
HAROLD SCHULWEIS
Hedonism and Judaism are not
synonymous in modern life.
48
EDUCATION
Mainstreaming
HEIDI PRESS
Israelis hold papers announcing U.N. partition plans: From underdog to regional superpower.
U.N.: Fantasy Or Necessity?
MAURICE WATERS
W
hen in 1939 Europe entered the
third great destructive war in
more than a century —
devastating war had occurred every two
generations since the Napoleonic period —
it was apparent that national security
could no longer be assured to any citizen
of any nation by any government.
Some argued for a world government as
a solution to this frightening development,
the view being that enforced world law
would reduce the incidence of war. Others
preferred a smaller step forward — an in-
ternational organization that would main-
tain a system of sovereign states, but deal
with the threats of war through enhanced
diplomatic efforts and, when necessary, col-
lective support for victims of aggression.
Thus the United Nations was born.
The founders determined it was to be
a multipurpose organization, with three
major emphases: The peaceful settlement,
if possible, of all disputes with no right to
use military force except in self defense;
The need to provide guidance and
assistance to those governments whose
societies suffered from severe economic and
social problems they alone could not solve;
The establishment of a body of human
rights principles which all nations were
urged to honor. The means to achieve these
ends were expected to be developed over
time and became the subject of much
debate.
Despite the at times heated
disagreements and the inability to achieve
the goals hoped for with regard to the first
and third objectives, the U.N. economic and
social programs multiplied and achieved
significant success. They helped many of
the world's poorer nations reduce the level
Maurice Waters is professor of political
science at Wayne State University.
of misery in the social and health fields un-
til this decade, when the focus shifted
among many of the member governments
from social security to military security, lit-
tle recognizing that national security re-
quires an appreciation of both.
The other major area of loss resulted
from adopting a more restrictive approach
regarding the broad goals of the U.N. Too
many governments and their citizens look-
ed at the U.N. from a perspective of "what's
in it for us?"
While a healthy political and social en-
vironment does not require a level of
altruism attributed to angels, an approach
that would test each debate and program
by adopting a narrow interest regarding
the benefits one would likely achieve is
surely missing the forest for the trees,
focusing heavily on the national good,
while forgetting the common good.
The oneness of this planet and the in-
terrelatedness of its inhabitants is
something of which is all too often lost
sight. Those understandably concerned
about Israel's relations with the larger
world and Israelis' physical and social well-
being must constantly remind themselves
of this need.
An analysis of the current U.N. scene
reveals the following major successes and
continuing problems.
1) The Security Council and secretary-
general of the United Nations have had
notable success in bringing about a cease-
fire between Iran and Iraq and getting both
to agree to settle their differences by
peaceful means. This achievement has
come about to a large extent through
behind-the-scenes quiet diplomacy.
2) The same method has also been
employed by Secretary-General Perez de
Cuellar to get the Soviet Union to
withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
3) For its noble work helping nations
Continued on Page 12
P'TACH helps learning disabled
students in the classroom.
50
SPORTS
Numbers Game
MIKE ROSENBAUM
Are there enough women coaches
for girls' athletic teams?
55
HOLIDAYS
Dreidel
Mania
A photographic
look at
Sunday's
popular
Chanukah
Happening.
Jeff Metz as Judah Maccabee.
104
BACKGROUND
Who Is A Jew?
GARY ROSENBLATT
The political and religious history
behind Judaism's burning question.
DEPARTMENTS
14
30
32
44
51
59
75
Frontlines
Inside Washington
Synagogues
Life In Israel
Business
Community
Entertainment
94 For Women
98 Youth
108 For Seniors
110 Engagements
116 Births
118 Single Life
142 Obituaries
CANDLELIGHTING
December 9, 1988 4:42 p.m.
Sabbath ends Dec. 10 5:46 p.m.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
7