CONCEPT : SHOCKING from page 23 N See fabulous fashions and exciting musical performances as five "ultimate" vehicles are unveiled by renowned designers Joseph Abboud, Vivienne Tam, Joe Boxer's Nicholas Graham, BCBG's Max Azria, Dana Buchman and Karen Harman, all to fight breast cancer. Proceeds benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Monday, January 4, 1999 Detroit Opera House Cocktail Reception: 8pm Show: 9pm Ticket price: $125 FOR TICKET INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (248) 443-5800, EXT. 6709 BEFORE DECEMBER 29TH. Manor Motorcar Company 39500 Grand River Avenue • Novi, Michigan 48375 (248)426-9600 • Fax (248)426-8686 Mike Dega A Luxury ca Market Expert who can handle - every facet of your purchase from sale to financing, lease or buy. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY AVAILABLE ON THE MOST POPULAR MODELS: 2/18 L998 26 Detroit Jewish News • ML320's • ML430's • SLK's • CLK's NOTEBOOK Mercedes-Benz were important parts of the informa- don flow that built the national deci- sion to get out of Vietnam. If the press had refused ro run them, on rh grounds that they were too disturbing, too shocking, too sensational, it would have failed its duty in a democratic society. The press would have broken its contract with you. This isn't an argument that every lurid picture should be printed. A few weeks ago, for example, we were considering pictures for the front cover of the paper and wanted one ro call attention to the instances of ter- rorism that were affecting how the Wye River agreement was being implemented. Among those available was one showing the body of a terror- ist lying beside his burning jeep after an attempt to blow up a school bus. It was a powerful picture, to be sure, but one that we ultimately rejected. Ir might have helped sell a few more papers, but it simply wasn't as infor- mative as the one we chose, of an older woman being escorted from the bombing scene. It was a less dramatic but more accurate evocation of the effort by Israel and its ordinary citi- zens to keep moving toward peace. Last week, we ran a very disturbing photo of a 19-year-old Israeli soldier crouching in fear as a swarm of Pales- tinians beat him and made off with his rifle. On a personal level, I vastly would have preferred not to run that picture. As a journalist, I know that it precisely captured the moment and helped explain why the soldier was facing court martial for the incident. The Oakland County judge needed to see the videotape of Kevorkian to establish some facts about the incident and set an appropriate bond. You needed to be able to choose to see the tape on 60 Minutes if you wanted to understand where Kevorkian is taking the right-to-die process. Democracy demands an informed citizenry, and CBS was contributing to that vital flow of information. I understand that The Jewish News is a guest in your house. Guests shouldn't be vulgar, rude, clamorous and insensitive to their hosts' feelings. But you invite us in to tell you hon- estly what is happening in our com- munity. Occasionally that means we have to show you something shocking. We'd be cheating you if we didn't. To leave a message for Jonathan Friendly, please call (248) 354- ' 6060, ext. 257, or e-mail jfriend- , ly@thejewishnews.com LETTERS LEBANON STAND from page 23 drawal from Vietnam did not result in a direct danger to American citizens. By contrast, Lebanon is directly adjacent to northern Israel. The reason the Israeli army was forced to establish its narrow security zone along the Israel-Lebanese border was because Arab terrorists based in southern Lebanon repeatedly attacked and mur- dered Israelis in towns near the border, such as Ma'alot and Kiryat Shemonah The deaths of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon are a terrible tragedy, but Israel would have experi- enced far greater loss of life if its army was not in southern Lebanon. Rather than Vietnam, a better anal- ogy to Lebanon would be Mexico. If terrorists were murdering American civilians in southern Texas and the U.S. had troops stationed along the Mexican-Texas border, would it with- draw those troops the minute some of the:7, were killed in battle or would they be kept there until the terrorists were wiped out? In every country that is under attack, soldiers protecting the borders occasionally will fall in battle. That fact alone is hardly sufficient reason to justify withdrawing the rroops. Herbert Zweibon Chairman Americans for a Safe Israe Letters Policy We reserve the right to edit letters to the editor. They should be lim- ited to approximately 350 words. Deadline for consideration is 10 a.m. Tuesday for Friday's edition. Letters should be typewritten and double spaced. They must contain the full name of the writer and a daytime telephone number. Include the town of residence or employment of the writer as well as a position or title, if appro- priate. Original copies must be hand signed. Letters can be mailed or brought to The Jewish News at 27676 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48034; fixed to (248) 354- 6069, or e-mail to: TheDJN@AOL.COM .