COMMUNITY VIEWS

Posting of The Ten Commandments:
That's No Panacea

past and present. The Big Ten are
he U.S. House of Represen-
important, but they are not the sum
tatives recently passed a
total of our ethical values.
juvenile justice bill, includ-
Despite our legislators' desire to
ing an amendment permit-
compress morality into a neat little
ting the posting of the Ten Com-
package, this code does not
mandments in public
reflect a consensus in Ameri-
schools. Why? Because these
can
society. It fails to
lawmakers think it will help
acknowledge the diversity
stem the tide of youth vio-
that blossoms in our com-
lence and the moral vacuum
munities by disregarding the
engulfing America.
teachings of eastern tradi-
Whom do they think
tions, Native American her-
they're kidding? Do our rep-
itage, humanism or any
resentatives really believe —
other ethical system that is
or expect us to believe —
not rooted in the Hebrew
that the youth of America
RABBI MARLA scriptures. Any version of
will be "saved" if they could
J. FELDMAN
the Ten Commandments
only see the Ten Command-
Special to
would pit even Christian
ments in their classrooms?
the Jewish News
groups against one another,
That's like asking us to
as they disagree with each
believe the appearance of the
other and with the tradi-
motto "In God We Trust" on
tional Hebrew versions found in Exo-
our coinage has made us a godlier
dus and Deuteronomy.
nation.
America is a deeply religious nation
I find it insulting that our legisla-
because of our mottoes or simplis-
not
tors presume the moral and ethical
tic slogans on billboards or what's
teachings of religion can be so easily
hana b ina b on classroom walls. Religion
instilled, that the mere display of bib-
thrives in America because we treasure
lical verses will miraculously infuse
the freedom to choose how to believe,
our youth with morality. It doesn't
what to believe and whether to
work that way.
believe. We permit religion to flourish
Throughout our lives, we wrestle
without the taint of politics or govern-
with doctrine, split hairs, interpret and
ment intrusion and because our soci-
debate ethics. As Jews, we are instruct-
ety and our laws were crafted by
ed by 4,000 years worth of history,
refugees fleeing religious persecution
laws, parables and the wisdom of sages
and seeking protection from the tyran-
ny of the majority. Perhaps if the Bill
of Rights were posted in every class-
Marla J. Feldman is assistant director
room, our legislators would have
for domestic concerns of the Jewish Corn-
learned that lesson.
Tunity Council of Metropolitan
To be sure, there are disturbing
Detroit.

T

societal trends that have captured the
nation's attention after the recent
school shootings in Littleton, Colo.,
and elsewhere. This juvenile justice
bill is our legislators' response to the
challenge of increased crime among
youth. It focuses on punishing chil-
dren, permitting the state to treat
them as adults, increasing mandatory
sentences and sending offenders to

adult prisons. Yet the bill
utterly fails to consider or
address the underlying causes
of teen violence. It provides
no therapeutic or preventive
mechanisms to help at-risk
youth. It does not keep guns
out of the hands of children
or protect them from abuse.
Congress would have us
believe that a good dose of
the Ten Commandments wilt-/
cure this epidemic of violence,
but we know better. We have
serious societal issues that
require serious, thoughtful
responses. We should explore
the impact on children of vio-
lence in the media and on the
Internet. We need to help par-
ents and schools provide chil-
dren with the tools for good
decision-making. We must stop
the proliferation of guns and
provide alternatives to gangs.
We need to address the causes
and implications of systemic
poverty
These and other tough
issues must become the focus
of our communal debate. We (
must not allow Congress to
sidestep its responsibility by
offering flip, easy answers, assigning
blame and pitting groups against one
another. Ten years from now, this law
will wind its way through the courts
and be found unconstitutional; and
we will be left no closer to solving
,-/
the problem of youth violence or
juvenile justice. Let's not let them off`
that easily. LJ

LETTERS

the honor Hillary Rodham Clinton is
being given by Hadassah ("Hadassah-
Hillary Lovefest Draws Arrows," June
25)— despite the honor of being
invited to the White House that she
bestowed on Muslim and Arab groups
that have praised and helped the ter-
rorist Hamas and Hezbollah, murder-
ers of Israelis.
Vivian Best
Troy

Spirituality
And Experience

"I learned more about my own pro-
found connection to my heritage

7/9
1999

32 Detroit Jewish News

through an experience at
the Wailing Wall," Bar-
bara Kopitz stated in the
letter "Humanists Part Of
Diversity," which ran on
June 25.
It is very important to
have spiritual experiences,
but they go to waste
unless we act upon them.
Spirituality can spark a
person to become more
religious, but we have to
be willing to take the next
step or the experiences go
to waste.
Ezra Drissman
Farmington Hills

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