veer BLOOD TEARS v.koW CAN MY PEOPLE W EI.L.„ ntomwoFoR cant BUn NG - AR,i,TNAt iS,„ BEMVE LikE THAT) — OJE A AIM RAY! 7 01 0 ° fS C While We Watched So many times, when questions of atrocities sur- rounding the war in Bosnia have arisen, we have been reluctant to say, "It's the Holocaust all over." There were reasons aplenty to think that this was different, albeit cruel and bloody. Today's Muslims, unlike the Jews of half a century ago, fielded a heavily armed military and also num- bered in their ranks fighters from other nations to fight the Serbs. Yet, stinging words such as "ethnic cleansing" and the chilling discovery of detention camps, ones where gaunt-faced pris- oners peered through barbed wire, made it difficult not to see genocide's face. But now, we must admit that the word Holo- caust fits uncomfortably well in Bosnia. There are reports from the Muslim men — the lucky ones — who escaped mass killings. There are ac- counts of adolescent boys literally taken from the arms of their mothers, loaded on trucks and sent away. They would die with their fathers and grandfathers. Their bodies were disposed of in mass graves and covered over by dirt and sod. The Serbs cruelly borrowed a chapter from the Nazis. And there is talk of rapes, stealing homes and property and eradicating signs of several hundred years of a minority's presence. Now, NATO, the United States and other European allies have the task of uncovering the mounds of frozen dirt and grass to remove what authorities believe are thousands of Muslim bodies. ISRAELI EMICIPIAM JEWISH 84IXID DONOR As the troops do so, they uncover not only bod- ies, but the wretched reminder that as the fi- nal chapter of the 20th century is written, humanity is still willing and able to slaughter itself. The picture of a 12-year-old son being taken away from his mother, hysterical with tears, has its own symbols. If the mother represents humanity, then the son was our hope that a Holo- caust was something of the past. It may be too strong to say that the Bosnian situation is the Holocaust all over again. But it is no longer unjust to compare. Six million haven't perished and there hasn't been a 12-year systematic campaign. The circumstances facing the Jews — the ghettos, social, economic and political collapse of their world — differed. Yet, the hope that we have learned from history — that this sort of demonic government-sponsored killing won't happen again — has. And, unlike during the Holocaust of World War II, it has hap- pened while we watched, waited and delayed response. It's gone by the way of the killing fields. When our young GIs aid in the digging of and undig- ging of graves, they'll experience what men in similar uniforms faced only 50 years ago. What will they see? How will it change them? What will they tell their grandchildren in the year 2046? Cannot it be called another "Holocaust"? And, will we finally learn to act in time? Letters Stunning Victory? The description by correspondent Ina Friedman of Yassir Arafat's election as a "stunning victory" smacks of naivety. Totally ignored are the facts that: • Arafat had, to quote the Jerusalem Post, encouraged an' obscure 72-year-old woman to run against him while suppress- ing any challenge by opponents with any real following. • Orchestrated candidacies for the Palestinian Council only for those who supported his policies and made sure any self-styled "independents" quickly joined his party immediately upon being elected. • Suppressed the media and arrested, intimidated and bribed unwelcome candidates. • Along with Arafat, most of the successful mainstream candi- dates specialized in incendiary rhetoric espousing, with their pri- mary goal being the destruction of the State of Israel. The independent monitoring organization Peace Watch con- cluded that several serious flaws existed in the election process, which called its democratic na- ture into question. In the mean- time, Dr. Ivyad Saray, director of the Palestinian Citizens Rights Commission, described Arafat's 18-month-old government as a "militarized, corrupt regime." So how is this a "stunning victory"? Finally, Ms. Friedman con- cludes that the elections "have truly ushered in a new phase in Israeli-Palestinian relationships that the Israelis may have trou- ble getting used to, "but, they have had lots of practice adjust- ing to things so recently consid- ered unthinkable." I totally agree with the word "unthinkable" but would like to embellish the description with the word "suicidal." J.S. Kaufman Bloomfield Hills Helping Teens Get To Israel The Miracle Mission for Teens is one of Detroit's proudest achieve- ments. No other community in America has managed to pull to- gether a mission to Israel with 240 young people, subsidized so that every teen-ager who wishes to participate may do so. We are grateful to all the sponsors who have made this mission possible, including The Jewish News. That's why I was surprised to read in the Editor's Notebook of Feb. 2 that a father objected to being asked to "endure the schol- arship process" in order to send his son on the mission. Contrary to the impression left by the column, applying for a scholarship is simple. The can- didate fills out an application and submits an IRS tax form. The ap- plication is reviewed by the Jew- ish Vocational Service and the Israel Program Scholarship Com- mittee. The applicant does not have to appear before the com- mittee, and all scholarship infor- mation is confidential. There is no discrimination; decisions are based solely on need. The Jewish News writer quot- ed his friend as complaining that "if I were a Soviet Jew, a new American, the money would be there for me, no questions asked But because I'm native oorn, I have to bare my soul." Comments such as these are unwarranted, . ;' . c-P(T>) ,1- 4 .qt1 \ 4.1 is 3- ROUTINELY 14 11■ I vlso (y00 DISCARDED ROOD DO NAT IONS' ISRAELI NEXT \.k oFFic I A\-- I OAK, evaw-K1— Letters divisive and untrue. New Amer- work together? I am proud to icans who are participating in the state that the Union of Orthodox mission must undergo the same Jewish Congregations as well as most Orthodox organizations ac- process. What a strange comment from tively participated at the Madi- someone who, in fact, admitted son Square Garden rally. The local branches of Young Is- that the money was there for him, "hassle-free," at the Hebrew rael do not agree with the posi- Free Loan Association. At our re- tion taken by the National quest this community-supported Council of Young Israel and Federation agency agreed to would like it known that all make interest-free loans to mis- Young Israels do not speak one monolithic language nor are we sion applicants. Our synagogues, many par- represented by all of the decisions ents, the Agency for Jewish Ed- taken by the national body. ucation, Ben Teitel Charitable Steven Well Trust and Grand Family Fund Rabbi, Young Israel have joined the Jewish Federa- of Greenfield tion of Metropolitan Detroit in en- suring that no teen-ager will have to stay home because of insuffi- How Green cient financial resources for this Was Our Coverage? mission. Some parents have extended themselves financially to send The Jewish News has a respon- their children to Israel. Whatever sibility to this community to pro- personal sacrifice it entails — and vide the news — the happenings whatever community investment of the day. This service, which the will help each child participate — subscribers pay for, must be will be well worth the investment. available without regard to the political positions that may be Jane Sherman held by the newsmakers. The Chairman, readers look to this newspaper to Miracle Mission For Teens publish information and signifi- cant events. Through knowledge, its readers gain the capacity to A Time For Unity form individual and collective opinions. I'd like to respond to Mr. Isaac Case in point: On Feb. 1, the Lakritz's letter to the editor in the Detroit community was visited Jan. 5 edition of The Jewish by Ruth Matar, co-founder of News. Mr Lakritz lamented the Women For Israel's Tomorrow boycott of the Madison Square (Women in Green). Ms. Matar Garden rally by the National spoke to an audience numbering Council of Young Israel and the about 200 at the Jewish Com- Zionist Organization of America. ' munity Center. I am pained as a Young Israel Her comments were primarily rabbi to state that he is correct. focused on the diminution of in- The National Council of Young dividual civil rights in Israel, Israel informed us that its re- using the administrative deten- quest to have a member of the tion of Shmuel Cytryn (dual Likud (which represents 40 per- American and Israeli citizen) as cent of the Israeli people) speak her prime example. He has been was rejected. They also requested held since Dec. 4 without being that the speakers be asked not to charged with a crime. Neither he use the memorial as a forum to nor his family know why he is in bash the political position of prison. His file is closed to him Israeli conservatives as Leah and to his attorney. Soviet im- Rabin did at the Tel Aviv memo- migrants, who received similar rial service, which took place last treatment by the KGB, have month at the site of her hus- spoken against the Israeli gov- band's murder. ernment's treatment of Mr. Nevertheless. now is the time Cytryn. for unity, and if we can't come There are many Israeli citizens together for a memorial rally who have been served with ad- (which does not turn into a polit- ical rally), then for what can we GREEN page 12 L'\