The Enemy Within

YAD panel on domestic terrorism draws
a sizeable crowd to Barnes & Noble.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER

I

t was one of the largest
turnouts for an event at the
Barnes & Noble bookstore in
West Bloomfield, with the
most diverse crowd.
Sponsored by the Jewish Fed-
eration of Metropolitan Detroit's
Young Adult Division, a panel
on domestic terrorism drew 100
young and older adults, as well
as a few members of local mili-
tias.
Donald H. Cohen, regional di-
rector of the Anti-Defamation
League, FBI Special Agent Paul
White, and Howard T. Simon,
executive director of the Amer-
ican Civil Liberties Union's lo-
cal office, provided updates and
definitions of terrorist activity.
"We're seeing an injection of
racism and anti-Semitism into

the ideology of these groups,"
said Mr. Cohen. He also said the
Internet has become a tool for
domestic terrorist and militia
groups.
But are people in metro De-
troit really afraid of terrorism?
"Not as much as they proba-
bly should be," said automotive
analyst Mike Tauber, pointing
to uniformed militia members
seated in the audience. "It's all
around you."
Mr. Tauber showed up for the
event "just to learn more about
international and domestic ter-
rorism and how you can protect
yourself or protect others against
it."
Jaimie Clayton, a substance
abuse clinician, attended be-
cause domestic terrorism is "a

hot topic," and the event pro-
vided a "different kind of venue
for meeting people."
Lisa Barson, who works in
public relations, says the event
drew so many listeners because
it's a "timely issue. With every-
thing that's happening in the
world, and with [the bombings
in] Oklahoma City and the
World Trade Center, it's final-
ly happening on our turf"
Special Agent White ex-
plained how the government
looks at terrorism and what
steps the FBI takes to combat
such events.
According to Mr. White, "The
biggest problem with terrorist
activity in the United States is
that once it's done, the damage
is already done." The FBI needs
to develop credible sources that
can help the agency prevent ter-
rorist activities, he said.
Ellen Berlin, a co-chair of the
event, said the turnout sur-
passed planners' expectations.
"We didn't think we would get
nearly 50 people," she said, not-
ing that more than 100 came.
She credits FBI Special Agent

White as the biggest draw, "be-
cause most of the time, people
from the FBI don't speak [in
public]."
Tanya Mazor-Posner, an as-
sistant director of YAD, said the
bookstore setting contributed to
the attraction because it pro-
vided an academic and social at-
mosphere.
That was the main draw for
Rob Kalman, an advertising ac-
count executive.
"I support YAD in general be-
cause I really believe in its mis-
sion." Plus, he said, he likes to
"hang out with young Jewish
people." ❑

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Lessons From
The Past

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER

George Zeff wasn't expecting
much in return when he gave his
time last year to speak to a
sophomore class at Dakota High
School outside of Mt. Clemens.
In fact, he was just expecting
to use the time as a means of his
own therapy, a way of sorting
out the disturbing memories of
his childhood spent hidden from
Nazis in the French countryside.
So when the students sent
him almost 100 letters of grati-
tude for his time and effort, he
was bowled over.
"I will do it anytime they want
me to," Mr. Zeff said.
That was part of the reason
he returned to the high school
again this year. Mr. Zeff, along
with eight individuals who ei-
ther survived concentration
camps or were hidden from the
Nazi atrocities during World
War II, participated in an an-

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