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Prayer In School

equal vigor, but are as futile as catch-
ing sand in a windstorm.
Let us be clear. We believe in and
encourage prayer for inspiration and
guidance. If like-minded student ath-
letes or others seek religious reflection
together, prior to such events, they are
entitled to do so. Mind you, it is likely
to alienate teammates and others not
of the same belief.
As long as it is not
disruptive of the
event, however, that
is a matter for
coaches, the admin-
istration and others
to tackle.
Finally, we note
that the court's
decision does not
address issues sur-
rounding what
should be taught
vis-a-vis religion in
the public school
classroom. When
done in an academic fashion, without
the personal belief of instructors even
tangentially represented, exploring the
beliefs of various faiths is not inappro-
priate. The issue, of course, is the abil-
ity of so many public school teachers
to do so. That is why matters of faith
are best left to the experts — the
priests, rabbis, imams and others in
our midst — and on their home turf
as well. ❑

To efforts to
keep prayer out
of public
school, we say,
"Thank God."

Pho tos by Bill Hansen

U

S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-
Mass., a staunch believer in
the separation of religion
and state, once quipped
that as long as there were tests in pub-
lic school, there would be prayer. Last
week, however, the U.S. Supreme
Court wisely ruled that a majority
must not force such
prayers on the
.
minority. The court,
in School District of
Santa Fe vs. Doe,
said public schools
cannot avoid legal
prohibitions by rele-
gating the selection
of prayers to stu-
dents. Our reaction:
Thank God. The
court, in a healthy
6-3 majority, firmly
recognized that such
subterfuge is not
valid, despite politi-
cal winds of various
locales.
The ruling specifically addressed a
Texas case in which a student-majority
intended to select a chaplain to offer a
benediction prior to a football game.
The court, it is important to add, also
confirmed that purely private prayers
are permissible. To that, we respond,
"Amen." One's private moments are
exactly that and attempts to regulate
them must not only be fought with

IN FOCUS

Israel Bound

In preparation for their 4 V2-week journey,
Teen Mission to Israel participants took part in
a sendoff rally on Sunday at the Jewish Com-
munity Center in West Bloomfield. Hats, water
bottles and T-shirts were passed out to the trav-
elers and the itinerary was reviewed prior to
Wednesday's takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan
Airport aboard El Al Airlines. The Jewish Feder-
ation of Metropolitan Detroit-sponsored trip, in
cooperation with local synagogues and the Jew-
ish News, attracted 282 teens, ages 15-17.
Above, Matthew Fienman, 16, of Farmington
Hills and Matthew Pianko, 17, of White Lake
blow a few bubbles. At left, Leah Metzger, 17,
center in the front row, of Pleasant Ridge, and
her father Kurt listen to instructions.

Cancel The Phalcon Sale

I

srael should cancel its proposed $250 million
sale of the Phalcon airborne surveillance
equipment to China. The modest income the
state would derive from the sale simply doesn't
measure up to the negative effects the deal would
have in the United States and on Taiwan.
At immediate issue is a technology developed in
Israel that allows battlefield commanders to keep
precise track of enemy aircraft and missiles that
might threaten their own forces. It is similar to what
is used in the U.S.'s own AWACS craft, a vital ingre-
dient in operations like Desert Storm or enforce-
ment of the no-fly zones in Iraq.
Israel insists that its technology is distinct from the
AWACS unit and thus not subject to rules barring the
export of U.S. high-tech to China. And many analysts

Related story: page 18

believe that the equipment and software is substantially
less capable than its American counterpart:
Still, for the U.S. the problem is that, should
China ever launch an assault against the offshore
island of Taiwan, it could use Phalcon-equipped
planes — and thus endanger American forces who
might be called on to help our democratic ally.
Obviously, Israel is free to seek whatever trade part-
ners it wants, but it needs to remember the sensibilities
it offends on,this side of the Atlantic. Jerusalem may
argue that the sauce for the goose — the U.S. is seek-
ing a vast expansion of its trade with China — is sauce
also for the gander. But the U.S.-based trade tries to
avoid technology with strong military application.
Individual congressmen and administration officials
have signaled that the price of going ahead with Phal-
con could be a slowing in the pace at which the U.S.
sends actual aid dollars to Israel.
At another level, the sale could help destabilize

the tentative balance of forces between Taiwan and
the mainland. The recent election of an outspokenly
pro-independence president in Taipei already has
gotten the leaders of the People's Republic fuming
and threatening military action in the Strait. Taiwan
has hinted that its response to the Israel deal would
be a further buildup of its forces to neutralize the
tactical advantage of Phalcon.
As a nation that has had to claw its way to some
semblance of security in a region dominated by a
numerically superior enemy, Israel ought to be sympa-
thetic to Taiwan's position as a country claimed by the
mainland. Both countries were, for years, global out-
casts of a sort, with the U.S. their primary protector.
Backing off from the deal now would send a use-
ful signal to America and to China that Jerusalem
understands how important appearance is in our
complexly interconnected worlds of diplomacy, eco-
nomics and morality. ❑

