1LETTERS
I
Continued from Page 6
expressions of concern by out-
siders that sanctions will hurt
the people we most want to
help — buttressed by
methodologically flawed polls
by interested groups like the
South African Chamber of
Mines. One thing I have
learned in visiting with
South Africans on the spot is
that the most representative
organizations in the black
community — trade union
federations, churches, broad-
based political groups — over-
whelmingly support sanc-
tions. In full recognition of
sanctions' short-term costs,
they regard them as a
necessary and effective
means of furthering the crea-
tion of a non-racial
democracy.
The United States has
traditionally supported
democracy in the Soviet bloc
and elsewhere, and we can
now see that policy bearing
fruit. Our approach has been
to encourage initial steps
toward democratic reform
diplomatically but to main-
tain economic pressures until
the process of democratiza-
tion appears irreversible.
There is no reason for us to
adopt a double standard in
our approach to the apartheid
regime. The principles of
liberty and democracy are no
less compelling in South
Africa than they are in the
rest of the world.
Howard Wolpe
Chairman, Subcommittee on Africa
Story Was Fair
Portrait Of Home
I write to commend
Elizabeth Applebaum for the
poignant, fair and sensitive
description of life at the
Jewish Home for Aged
("Please Don't Forget Me!"
March 9). Obviously, it would
have been impossible to in-
clude all the various pro-
grams and services the Home
offers. I found her comments
to fairly reflect the feelings,
attitudes and perspectives of
the residents at Borman Hall.
As noted in the story, the
Jewish Home for Aged is tru-
ly a skilled nursing facility,
caring for individuals with
high levels of impairment and
debilitation. Those of us in-
volved with the Home main-
tain that these residents are
still human beings and not
"ghosts," and that we are
obligated to do as much as we
humanly can to help them
maintain their dignity and
integrity, often under im-
possible circumstances. The
community is fortunate in
having a home such as ours.
I must clarify or take issue
with the comment made as to
the fact that nursing
assistants are "minimum
wage" employees. The Jewish
Home in particular has been
extremely active in seeking to
upgrade the pay scale for this
level of staff who perform
such an important job. We
believe we have successfully
addressed this through our
recent union contract
negotiations, as well as
through special reimburse-
ment provisions approved in
last year's state budget,
which were initiated primari-
ly as a result of the efforts of
our organization.
Daniel Clark,
Home for Aged President
Religion Doesn't
Affect Response
In reading the article
"Almost A Minyan" (March
16), one gets the impression
from the concluding para-
graph that in our view, one's
religious practice bears on
how one reacts to
anti-Semitism.
I want to assure your
readers that neither Coach
Rose nor the members of
Akiva's basketball team take
anti-Semitism lightly. If
anything, anti-Semitism is a
matter of great concern to all
of us. The fact that the team's
coach and its players are
"religious" has nothing to do
with the way they respond to
anti-Semitic jeers from oppos-
ing teams.
It would be very wrong to
assume that Akiva students
feel that being religious
makes them impervious to
anti-Semitism.
Danny Najman,
Team captain,
Akiva Basketball team
Southfield
Article Addressed
Important Issue
The Jewish Community
Council would like to thank
The Jewish News for covering
the important issue discussed
in "The Battle For Public
Opinion" (March 16).
The Council is aware of and
concerned with the anti-
Israel and anti-Semitic senti-
ment facing Jewish students
on college campuses. Just last
month, we established an ad
hoc task force comprised of
concerned individuals and
organization representatives
to explore ways of preparing
Jewish youth to deal with
these issues.
It is our hope that the com-
munity will join us in this im-
portant endeavor.
Paul D. Borman,
JCCortncil President
Judy Loebl,
Ad hoc Task Force Chairman
We've Grown
a Lot in
60 Years.
Did you know that at the
House of Watchbands, we
■ Carry the largest selection
of watchbands and watches
in the area.
■ Repair your watch on the
premises.
■ Sell batteries for every
watch made.
■ Cut our own crystals.
■ Repair jewelry.
■ Restore Vintage Watches.
•
SOUTHFIELD: Southfield & 12 Mile _552-0080 ■ MT. CLEMENS: Garfield & Canal . . . 263-7700
PONTIAC: Telegraph & Voorheis 333-2263 ■ MADISON HEIGHTS: Dequindre & 12 Mile 541-0808
FARMINGTON HILLS: Orchard Lake & 13 Mile... 851-0440
MONDAY & THURSDAY 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
11