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11-EVAV
Siege Mentality? No
Common Sense? Yes
When haven't we been under a stepped-up feel-
ing of security?
Last weekend we learned of an FBI warning
that Jews have been targeted in retaliation for
the victims of tragically misplaced Israeli ar-
tillery shells. What that so-called warning has
done, other than to bring it home perhaps in a
more sensational way, is to confirm that the ter-
rorist "foe" we face is a brutal reality of the Mid-
dle East political climate.
While we hope that conditions are really bet-
ter and that regional peace is elusive but on the
way, we still face the fact. There are those who
don't want peace, and they spare nothing to make
sure the rest of us understand. That "under-
standing" is a redefinition of the terms of wartime
"civility."
In other words, children, the innocent, the frail,
the elderly are all part of the "other side" and can
be killed as easily as a soldier.
The weapon – the fear – is bombs. The '90s
have become the decade of the bombers. The
World Trade Center, Oklahoma City, Hamas sui-
cide bombers, the Unabomber, the Buenos Aires
Jewish Community Center, the Calgary JNF of-
fice. Every militia out there seemingly has the
knowledge to produce pipe bombs or find a new
way to combust fertilizer. Estranged husbands
are bombing their ex-wives.
There used to be air-carrier hijackings; there
were kidnappings.
Now, there are bombs.
Relying on the FBI for a statement, unless it's
real specific, isn't really necessary to heighten
our awareness. It certainly wouldn't hurt if Jew-
ish agencies, synagogues, individuals, all of us
step up our own sense of security even if that
means nothing more than being aware.
During the Persian Gulf War, our local FBI
and police departments gathered Jewish orga-
nizations for an informational meeting. The po-
lice departments didn't have ideas for complicated
security systems or tips on what to do if ...
What they said, succinctly put, was to use good
common sense. If there is a dark side of one's
building, spend some money and increase the
lighting. If the public has access to an entrance-
way, consider a receptionist station.
We again urge community agencies to make
sure that they do consider meeting with local law
enforcement agencies. In addition, the ADL has
prepared a guidebook on security for Jewish
agencies, one that should be studied.
Bombs are no longer restricted to a terrorist
cell in the Middle East. Bombs have hit the heart-
land of our country and the mailboxes of our sub-
urbs.
A heightened sense of awareness?
Yes.
A need to educate.
Absolutely.
If anything, we cannot ignore that bombs have
become the anti-civilization message we all fear.
Combating it all is not about the sensation-
al. It's about awareness. It's about education.
And at this stage, ifs also about common sense.
Editor's Note: Where do you stand on this is-
sue of security? Should Jews take further mea-
sures to provide protection? Should we let the
concern over security dictate our day-to-day lives?
Your input is important to us. Fax your opinions
to Letters to the Editor, (810) 354-6069; reach us
on the Internet at 6355360@MCIMAIL. COM or
mail us at 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034. ❑
J EWI SH NEWS
Schott's In The Dark
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott drew at-
tention to herself this week with yet another one
of her bizarre pronouncements.
This time, Mrs. Schott suggested to ESPN, the
all-sports cable network, that when Adolf Hitler
came to power in Germany, "he was good ... They
built tremendous highways and got all the fac-
tories going ... Everybody knows he was good
at the beginning but he just went too far."
So we must add "armchair historian" to the
growing list of descriptive terms we might use
for the loose-lipped and loopy owner of one of the
most storied franchises in baseball history. It
was she, just a month ago, who protested when
the Reds' Opening Day game was postponed af-
ter the home-plate umpire collapsed on the field.
That he died, in front of tens of thousands of eye-
witnesses (and untold millions more via televi-
sion) did not strike Mrs. Schott as sufficient
grounds for postponement.
So, sensitivity, it seems, is not among her
most endearing traits. She is said to be a col-
lector of Nazi artifacts, has made preposterous
statements about African-Americans, and now
has advanced her revisionist theories about the
rise of Hitler.
Predictably, the Anti-Defamation League —
and other Jewish defense groups — are calling
for acting baseball commissioner Bud Selig, the
Jewish owner of the American League Milwau-
kee Brewers, to take "prompt corrective action."
Fair enough. But we believe individuals have
a responsibility to respond as well.
We suggest that you take note of the sponsors
the next time you are watching a nationally tele-
vised baseball broadcast. After the game, drop a
note to the brewmeisters of Bud Lite or the elves
at Nike who stitch Air Jordans.
Tell them their advertising dollars are indi-
rectly supporting a woman who praises a geno-
cidal monster.
And suggest you are considering becoming a
denier, just like Marge Schott.
You'll deny them your business.
Reporter's Notebook
Jonah's Laugh Offers
My Sweetest Reward
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
very day, around the same subject of only children, certain
time, I sample one of the Jonah would not have siblings.
sweetest things life has to
Another adjustment came in
offer — Jonah's laugh.
the loss of any free time I once en-
It happens around 7:45 p.m. in joyed. In order to savor a moment
an upstairs bedroom of a small of solitude, I must wake up before
house in Huntington Woods. Al- dawn, while my husband, our
though the room is decorated three dogs and Jonah are still
with whales and other objects of asleep. After draining the last bit
the sea, my 5-month-old son soars ofjava from my mug, I start a day
through the air like a
jammed with work,
bird in flight.
household chores
"One, two, three,"
and errands that
I say as I lie on my
continue relentless-
back, lifting his little
ly until well after
body above mine
the sun's golden
with outstretched
rays have sunk be-
arms.
low the horizon.
Dressed in his pa-
But even then,
jamas with the
my work has not
feet attached and
ended; often, my
smelling faintly of
sleep is interrupted.
Johnson's Baby
Jonah has just mas-
Shampoo, he stuffs
tered the art of
his tiny fists into his Jonah Fox Sklar
turning onto his bel-
mouth as his eyes turn
ly; he has yet to learn
into happy crescents of blue. A how to turn back over. The other
squeal, muffled by his hands, es- night he cried out in what sound-
capes before a fit of giggles, the ed like agony. I rushed to his
belly-wrenching variety, follows. room to find him on his belly, his
He does this time after time head where his feet usually rest,
until finally my arms grow weary. his feet near the headboard, the
He looks at me as if to say, "Hey, top half of his body under a blan-
that's it?" and then sounds a ket. I guess I would cry, too.
small protest before turning his
Now we are struggling with
attention to a toy or some book frequent colds (day care — need
that he hasn't yet tasted.
I say more?) and teething. Al-
The whole exchange lasts less though we tilt his mattress, as-
than five minutes, but it is by far pirate his nose and sleep to the
the best five minutes of my day, constant hum of the cool-mist hu-
no matter what else I have done. midifier, he frequently wakes, un-
It has a healing quality to it that able to breathe and wanting to be
no massage, no herbal potion, no held.
bubble bath could ever endow.
I suppose I also feel like a
Although I am a mother all of mother then, or when he is gnaw-
the time, it is during that little ing on a knuckle, determined to
slip of a moment that I feel per- cut that first tooth. Or when only
haps the only reward.
his upside-down feet poke out
My son and I have been from his blanket. Then he needs
through a lot together already. his mommy to right the wrongs
For the first 3 1/2 months of his in his life.
life, Jonah suffered through a
I guess I feel the reward to a
wicked case of colic. Day after certain degree when my husband
day, for hours on end, he would tells me that I am a good mom.
cry and cry and cry.
But, truth be known, I really
At times, I felt this would nev- only feel it when I see those
er end and scoffed at people who hands fly to that cute little mouth
would speak of the joys of moth- and hear that gut-gripping gig-
erhood. I began to research the gle ripple the night air. ❑
E