COMMUNITY VIEWS

Clues From The Clintons
About Personal Views

dogcatcher to president — act on
o what is the Clinton admin-
their personal views. We elect and
istration's position on moving
appoint public officials based on our
the U.S. Embassy to Israel's
assessment of their "personal" views;
capital, Jerusalem?
we hope they will act on them.
Hard to say, given the Clintons'
Indeed, much of the
(the plural must be used
public's dissatisfaction with
given Hillary Rodham Clin-
public servants is that they
ton's potential Senate race in
frequently abandon personal
New York) public comments.
convictions when public
They have made a number
opinion polls indicate their
of public statements with
positions may cost them at
convoluted distinctions that
the polls.
must boggle the best of polit-
If the president now
ical minds.
maintains he has a right to
Let us begin with Mrs.
personal" views
Clinton. Not long ago, pre-
on matters of public policy
BE RL
U.S. Senate race intentions in
separate from his responsi-
FALB AUM
New York, she said she was
bilities as president, his
Spec ial to
in favor of establishing a
entire career in public ser-
the Jewi sh News
Palestinian state.
vice comes into question.
She added quickly, that
Which of his policies
her comments were not necessarily
conflict with his personal views?
administration policy but her own
Which of his social, economic or
personal views. Post-Senate intentions,
political policies in the last 6 1/2 years
she wrote a letter to Dr. Mandell
did he adopt counter to what he per-
Ganchrow, president of the Union of
sonally believes?
Orthodox Jewish Congregations, stat-
One might also wonder whether
ing: "I personally consider Jerusalem
the Arabs are pleased with Clinton's
the eternal and indivisible capital of
personal" view on Jerusalem? Ir is safe
Israel."
to assume that they might be suspect
There's that darn word "personally"
of his commitment to publicly articu-
again. However, there was no explana-
lated policies as president given his
•
tion whether this was a policy state-
c, private opinions.
ment — part of her Senate race, her
But that's what happens when one
personal opinion as an individual or
tries to please both sides of a political
whether, given her views, she would
issue. Neither is happy and both ten-
((
pressure her husband, who has vio-
tative and distrustful of the so-called
lated Public Law 104-45 requiring
support — "personal" or "presiden-
moving the embassy to Jerusalem by
tial."
May 31 of this year.
Clinton also offers a unique defini-
President Bill Clinton states he has
tion of "neutrality."
not acted because he invoked a provi-
Every country in the world
sion in the law that permits him to
throughout history has had the right
circumvent the law for reasons of
to name its own capital — a right uni-
"national security." But, unfortunately,
versally accepted by others except,
the dangers to national security never
apparently, Israel. How is it "neutral"
have been defined, not even "personal-
not to recognize Jerusalem?
ly."
Indeed, varying from the notion of
But then came the most puzzling
recognizing a capital designated by the
statement of all — directly from the
home country is not neutrality, it is
president.
taking sides.
At a meeting recently with Jewish
The president could easily have told
leaders at the White House, the presi-
Israel's opponents that he is being
dent is reported to have stated that he
neutral by following a historic prac-
personally considers Jerusalem as
tice. He did just the opposite.
Israel's capital.
Further, what is "neutral" about
But according to newspaper
violating congressional legislation or,
accounts, he said, since he is presi-
at least, explaining how such a move
dent, he must remain neutral.
would jeopardize U.S. security?
To all of which one can only ask,
After long reflection and analysis, I
"Huh?"
must admit, I find the entire Clinton
Generally, public officials — from
explanation on Jerusalem "personally"
very confusing.
Berl Falbaum, a former political
This is not a political opinion col-
reporter, is a Farmington Hills public
umn
— just a personal view. ❑
relations executive.

"

10/1
1999

20_40..r,DitJewish News

SPECIAL LETTER

The Whole View
Of Nursing Care

Absolutely, but we all know that
orking as a staff podiatrist
expectations must be based on corn-
for the previous Jewish
mon sense and reality.
Homes for Aged for 13
A recent survey (not a scientific
years before their closing,
study)
from the Healthcare Associa-
at Danto Family Health Care Center
tion
of
Michigan of the family mem-
since its inception and at eight other
bers of more than 2,000 Michigan
nursing facilities in the metro area, I
nursing home residents demonstrated
have had ample opportunity to
that 84 percent of consumers are "sat-
observe and formulate a generalized,
isfied" with the long-term care their
objective overview of basic day-to-day
loved ones receive. One percent of
function in the nursing home setting.
consumers were "extremely dissatis-
From regular personal observation
fied" with services, 5 percent were
since 1981, I can tell you that spend-
"moderately dissatisfied" and the
ing your final months/years and your
remaining 10 percent were "neutral"
remaining dollars to subsist in any
or expressed no opinion.
nursing facility can be quite variable;
Danto Family Health Care Center,
in my estimation, the table is set by
from
my position (neither an insider
the inherent nature of the moment in
nor
an
outsider, but one with 18 years
the individual's life and the resultant
of
objective
observational experience),
need for such a nursing home setting.
is
one
of
those
facilities that is con-
It is the sense of finality, the
stantly reevaluating itself and striving
inescapable loss of dignity and
to maintain an optimum level of func-
inevitable depersonalization that, to
tion. Danto has made remarkable
me, sets the foundation for such an
),
progress since "ironing out the bugs
undesirable existence.
of the early days. The organization,
Include such unsavory factors as
from administration downward, in my
institutional food, nursing home
estimation appears to have the resi-
scents and family frustration and guilt
dents' best interests as their primary
over the status of their loved ones —
motivating factor. The facility is state-
and the recipe for an overall depress-
of-the-art, aesthetically pleasing and
ing scenario is initiated. Even in an
staffed by as committed a group as I
idyllic setting, these basic factors will
have seen in 18 years.
still exist and it, therefore, should be
Danto, as in any large organization,
one of the goals of any nursing facility
realistically
will have unpleasant issues
to try to contain these predisposing
to deal with from time to time. This
factors with fundamental kindness and
single incident that has recently gotten
an overall high level of care, all taking
the attention of the media (see related
place in an optimized physical envi-
story, page 16), was obviously extreme-
ronment. Of course, the uncondition-
ly unfortunate and should never have
al love of the family members is
happened. If I were the resident or
invaluable and their vigilance and
the family member, I would not be
attentiveness go a long way toward
very
forgiving. Thank God, to my
maximizing the quality of the resi-
understanding,
the resident recovered
dents' existence.
without serious sequelae.
Is it realistic to expect that the
All of us (personal or business)
40,000 residents at the 450 nursing
have
our peaks and our troughs, our
facilities in Michigan, receiving care
embarrassments
and our stellar
from thousands of employees (with
moments.
When
judging Danto
varying personalities, work ethic,
Family
Health
Care
Center, please
etc.), will receive perfect care in
try to keep an open mind and see
every situation, every time? Of
the whole picture.
course not. Should we all maintain
Marc Chicorel
our highest level of function by
West Bloomfield
striving for such perfection?

LETTTERS FROM PAGE 29

minibuses on Sept. 19. This was a
repeat of what was done last year. We
were able to visit the plots of our
loved ones; we received a flower to be
put on the grave and we had a lunch
packed for us.
We were also provided books with
and stones to put at the

gravesites. This was a real mitzvah for
all of the seniors who participated.
I speak for all those who participat-
ed and want to tell you how much it
was appreciated by all. Our best wish-
es to all for a happy, healthy new year
— and here's hoping the visits will be
repeated next year.
Eva Sadoff

Southfield