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FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1990

Ecumenists

Continued from Page 2

ference is to develop a con-
ceptual framework for
education against hate. It
will focus on the issues,
questions, and challenges
this task involves. Among
the topics to be considered
by the participants are the
impact of social institu-
tions, eg., family, school,
religion, etc., on the forma-
tion of people's attitudes in
a case of chronic conflict,
the impact of politics and
political socialization on
the educational process,
and the role literature and
the arts play in the
development of people's at-
titudes towards an un-
resolved situation.
Many significant programs
are now under consideration
in the plans to aim for the
elimination of hatred. The in-
augural plans started with
the co-sponsorship of Boston
University in 1989. It was an-
nounced as follows:

In keeping with its mis-
sion to disseminate infor-
mation to the widest possi-
ble audience, the Wiesel
Foundation is working
with Bill Moyers, the
distinguished commen-
tator and editor/producer
for Public Broadcasting
System (PBS) and Presi-
dent of Public Affairs
Television, New York, N.Y.,
and the Emmy-award win-
ning production team of
Catherine Tatge and
Dominique Lasseur of
Tatge/Lasseur Produc-
tions, Inc., New York, N.Y.
They are developing a 90
minute television program
that will incorporate
elements of the project and
conferences as it focuses
on various aspects of hate:
language, socialization,
politicalization, and people
and organizations that are
working to bring about
greater tolerance and
understanding.
The final conference in
the series, "The Anatomy
of Hate: Resolving Conflict
Through Dialogue and
Discussion," will be held in
Oslo, Norway, August
26-29, 1990. In an un-
precedented move, the
Norwegian Nobel Peace
Committee has agreed to
co-sponsor the interna-
tional conference with the
Government of Norway
and the Elie Wiesel Foun-
dation for Humanity.
Mutual of America,
William J. Flynn, Chair-
man and CEO, has provid-
ed the Elie Wiesel Founa-
tion with major funding for
the Oslo conference.
Professor Elie Wiesel
established the Foundation

for Humanity after receiv-
ing the 1986 Nobel Peace
Prize. The Foundation's
purpose is to advance the
cause of human rights and
peace throughout the
world by creating forums
for the discussion of urgent
ethical and moral issues
confronting humankind.
The
emphasis
on
ecumenism is realized in
these aspirations. They in-
clude participation by univer-
sities and governments. They
are interdenominational.
The Greater Detroit
Ecumenical Insittute for
Jewish-Christian studies ac-
quired acceptance as a pro-
gressive movement in our
community. Its dynamic
leader is Dr. James.R. Lyons.
With Harvey Weisberg, the
Detroit Community and con-
gregational leader as the new
chairman of the group's board
of directors, there is promise

for increased advancement.
Under the guidance of Dr.
Lyons the Ecumenical In-
stitute encourages interest
and support for Israel. It en-
courages participation in
Israel tourism.
Especially vital is its rejec-
tion of anti-Semitism.
In a bulletin under the
headline "Christian Anti-
Semitism is not the Same as
Anti-Semitic Christians," Dr.
Lyons sets forth this credo:
During the course of this
year I've learned that
Christian anti-Semitism is
being faced, although the
anti-Semitism of some
Christians is worse than
ever. When one studies
carefully the statements
made by churches dealing
with anti-Semitism and the
Holocaust, it is increasing-
ly apparent that systemic
anti-Semitism in the
church (at least in the West)
is being faced and over-

come. On the other hand,
when one sees the hideous
anti-Semitism of some
Christians it shows how far
we have to go. What I've
learned is that the event
may be the same with all of
its ramifications, but the
reasons behind it might be
different. I applaud those
churches which are strug-
gling to overcome the
hostility of the past and
who are pledging to con-
tinue to struggle against
those few who mention
vicious anti-Semitic views.
Ecumenism surely is at-
taining the desired high stan-
dards. The subject is treated
here as a global cause. It is
especially compelling on the
American scene and the local
aspect lends it personal
concern.
Let there be the commit-
ment that the considered
standards will always be
adhered to. ❑

Nelson Mandela And His
Triumvirate Cronies

I

ntriguing words with dif-
fering sentiments were
constantly exchanged bet-
ween the media, Nelson
Mandela and his Jewish chal-
lengers during his sensa-
tional American tour. While
Mandela insisted upon glori-
fying Arafat, Qadaffi and
Castro, because support for
him and his cause was the on-
ly thing that mattered to him,
he also emphasized he was
not anti-Semitic. He confirm-
ed that he and the African
National Congress had strong
support from South African
and other Jews in the fight
against apartheid.
Nevertheless, he kept en-
dorsing and praising his
cronies whose record of ter-
rorism is barbaric. He con-
tinues to be pro-Arafat.
The Mandela endorsement
of the triumvirate associates
brought consideration in the
New York Times June 30 col-
umn by Flora Lewis
("Mandela Must Judge
Again") in which she chastis-
ed the favoritism of the ad-
vocates of terrorism by the
South African visitor who at-
tained rating of a hero on his
visit here. This portion of the
Flora Lewis column is
especially worth quoting:
Now, at 71, he stands at
the end of long personal
suffering, but the beginn-
ing of an enormous task of
building new foundations
for his people and his
country. Americans, black
and white, know how hard

that is. A century and a
quarter after the abolition
of slavery, race remains a
festering issue, often ex-
ploited. When leading
black politicians criticized
Representative Gus
Savage, Democratic of Il-
linois, for an anti-Semitic

Nelson Mandela:
Bitter friends.
primary campaign, he
retorted, "There ain't but
one kind of racism — that's
white racism."
Widespread common
cause was made by Jews
and blacks in the civil
rights campaigns a genera-
tion ago on the grounds
that all bigotry, all persecu-
tion, is evil. It was effective
in moving the society to
change its laws. But that

cooperation has largely
broken down, to everyone's
loss.
Mr. Mandela's unwill-
ingness to see more than
the hopes of his own peo-
ple in his crusade adds to
the loss. Using the old
"enemy of my enemy" as
the key test for finding
allies cannot help his cause
within South Africa, and it
does not enhance his
stature outside, however
compelling his personality.
It is because human
rights means just that,
human, not some limited
kind of human, that he and
his supporters have won
such sympathy. Mr.
Mandela should recon-
sider his basis for judgi-
ment so as not to erode the
feeling that he
understands why he is a
hero.
Mandela is wise enough to
be fully aware of everything
written about him and all
who identify with him.
Therefore, he must have read
this reference to him. Will he
alter his prejudicial
associations?
Much more vital is the hope
for effective public opinion
that will challenge the re-
jected Mandelaisms. The
first, his knowledge, is a cer-
tainty. An increase in an
enlightened public opinion is
always in doubt because the
extent of readership is
limited. That's the reality we
must live with. ❑