In Shifting Sands

Locals Study World Affairs

At the JCCs, voices of support
for Clinton and the peace process.

LONNY GOLDSMITH
SttzfieWriter

V

isitors and members at both
the West Bloomfield and
Oak Park Jewish
Community Centers are
solidly in the corner of
President Bill Clinton.
Nineteen men and
women, asked their feel-
ings last Thursday and
Friday about impeach-
ment, war and peace,
were strongly against
Clinton's impeachment
and behind him regard-
ing attacking Iraq and
pushing for Israel's peace.
"It's a lot like Al
Capone in the sense that
they couldn't get him on
anything, so they got
him on tax evasion," said
Sharon Goldenberg, who
works at the Jimmy
Prentis Morris JCC in Oak Park.
"They didn't get Clinton on
Whitewater, so they were going to get
him on something."

At the Kahn JCC in West
Bloomfield, Vladimir Aleshker thinks
action needs to be taken against
Clinton short of impeachment.
"Public opinion is very big here in
Clinton's favor," Aleshker said. "You
never can please everybody"

12/25

1998

14 Detroit Jewish News

Aleshker, originally from Russia,
said people from his home country are
laua b hina b at the United States over this.
Helene Lublin was most concerned
with Clinton's claim when he ran for
the presidency that he would maintain
a clean office, but also said, "I don't
think he should be
impeached because
of sexual exercises.
It's not a reason,
and it hasn't hurt
the country.
"The conserva-
tive right is after
him and unfortu-
nately found

peace," noted group leader David
Weiner. "I think the Israeli people
want peace, but this is a dangerous
war with people who don't mind
blowing themselves up."
Some dis-
cussed their
thoughts on the
current political
Ben Goldner discuss-
situation in
es President Bill
Israel, related to
Clinton's , impeach-
peace. The Israeli
Knesset voted to
dissolve on Dec.
21 and hold early elections, which
"I don't think there is a connection,
puts the peace deal with the
but there certainly is a lot of suspi-
Palestinian Authority in jeopardy.
cion," said Warren, a resident of Oak
Group member Teddy Weiss is
Park.
apprehensive of
Of Clinton,
what the political
Weiner said, "He ha
repercussions of
to go to his advisors
David Weiner leads
the vote of no
before
attacking.
the "Meeting qf the
confidence
will
too
bad
everything
Minds" rotip at the
mean. "I think
has become partisan."
Kahn JCC
he's [Prime
Shelden is in favor
Minister
of sending a message
Binyamin
to Hussein.
something," she continued.
Netanyahu] the best
"The United
"With friends like Linda Tripp,
that they've had,"
Nations has to show
who needs enemies," said Lucille
that they mean busi-'1
Warren. "It was a sex scandal, but it
ness when he makes
has absolutely become political."
promises and break
ney Msller at the
Donald Shelden worries about how
them," he said. An
"Meeting of the
the impeachment will affect future
effective military
presidencies. "The president has
action "should've
become a figurehead," he said.
been completed in
"Future presidents will all .be looking
1991."
over their shoulders."
Julie Upp of Huntington Woods was
Weiss said.
a Republican, but has turned her back
At the Oak Park JCC, Nathan
on her former
Glickstein agreed, saying that both
party "I'm so
Clinton and Netanyahu have done
embarrassed that
well trying to gain peace in Israel.
I'm switching," she
However, Ben Goldner was less
said. "I think this
sure, saying of the leaders, "They can't
is a cheesy
be trusted."
Republican tactic."
Many of
people dismissed the
The president's
much popularized
woes were not the
"Wag the Dog" theo-
only topic on visitors' minds, however.
ry, that Clinton
At the "Meeting of the Minds," a cur-
ordered last week's
rent affairs discussion group at the
bombing of Iraq to
Kahn JCC, they were also chewing over
delay the impeach-
the peace process and how it is faring.
ment debate in the
"There should be a Palestinian state
House of
only if there can be a guarantee of
Representatives.