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COMMUNITY VIEWS
On God And Country
U.S. Supreme Court, whose court
ne hopes, admittedly some-
ruled that use of a publicly financed
what pessimistically, that
microphone — yes, a publicly
the inauguration ceremonies
financed microphone — is unconsti-
might help us put an end to
tutional, yet hold the Bible to swear in
the ongoing discussion and argument
the two most powerful men
over voluntary prayer in the
in the world? What's more,
public arena.
his court starts its sessions
Why? Because nothing
with the invocation: "God
dramatizes the contradictions
save this honorable court."
and hypocrisy of those argu-
Someone should sue the
ments more than such high-
U.S. Supreme Court.
profile ceremonies.
The point is that religion
Consider: Why is it
is part of the country's
unconstitutional to recite an
national heritage and char-
invocation at a graduation
acter. We are a faith-based
ceremony but constitutional
BERL
nation; the founders worked
for the Rev. Franklin Graham
to prohibit proscription of a
. FALBAUM
to begin President George W.
certain religion and to pro-
Special to the
Bush's inauguration with a
hibit religious persecution.
Jewish News
prayer that lasted almost five
They had no problems with
minutes?
expression of religion in
Rev. Graham delivered
public life; indeed, many of them
another invocation at a luncheon for
engaged in it.
the new president; various other clergy
The Jewish body politic, among
delivered benedictions and prayers.
other political sectors, has never
Why is it unconstitutional for a
come to grips with this and has
student to lead voluntary prayers at a
fought needless political battles on
football game, but almost every speak-
this issue.
er at the inauguration made some reli-
Nothing seems to energize the
gious reference, all of them asking
Jewish body politic more than a
God to "bless and save,America"?
nativity scene at some city hall, or
Why would the chief justice of the
similar expressions of religion on
public property.
0
Bed Falbaum is a Farmington Hills
public relations executive and author
who teaches journalism at Wayne State
University. He is a former political
reporter.
God And Politics?
The Anti-Defamation League's
National Executive Director Abra-
ham Foxman had the temerity to
is
suggest to. U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieber-
man, the Democratic candidate for
vice president, to tone down his
campaign discussion of God and
Judaism.
Such criticism was not only the
height of arrogance, but revealed an
ignorance of what the Constitution
states about the issue and what "sep-
aration of church and state" means.
If Mr. Foxman found Sen. Lieber-
man's discussion of religion offen
sive, he was free to vote against him
or send him a private note.
Mr. Foxman must have suffered
an apoplectic attack if he watched
the inauguration and, strangely, he
has been silent on the "unconstitu-
tionality" of the inauguration.
(A valid criticism might be made
that the clergy could have — and
should have — been more inclusive
in their prayers, not focusing, as
they did, exclusively on Christianity.
We are, in the end, a nation of many
different religionS and pride our-
selves on that fact.)
Before critics claim that President
Bush's conservatism led to so much
expression of religion, they might
check other inaugurations. They
were no different. What's more, lib-
erals and Conservatives alike bowed
their heads with eyes closed in
prayer during the invocations and
benedictions. President Bill Clinton,
in his televised farewell address,
asked God "to bless us and to save
America."
,
Indeed, let us "pray" that God is
moved by this kind of bipartisanshit)
appeal.
Let's Stay Focused
It's time to understand and deal reilL .
istiCally with religion in this country.
It is an inseparable part of the
nation's makeup.
The Congress, and many legisla-
tures and city councils, begin their
sessions with prayers. We pa.). clergy
(with tax dollars) in the military. We
say prayers at publicly financed con-
vention centers constantly. Kate
Smith almost made "God Bless
America" the national anthem. The
Pledge of Allegiance cites "one
nation, under God ..." The list goes
on and on.
Why is this so important? The rea-
son is in fighting meaningless, and
one is tempted to add silly, battles.
To spend time, energy and "God"
knows how much money on the issue
of a publicly financed microphone is
i;othing but silly; we are wasting
valuable political capital.
We have limited political energy.
Let's not waste it. A change in our
political thinking on this issue would
not only reflect a deeper understand-
ing of the Constitution, but also
eradicate an all too evident double
standard.
There are more important and vital
issues on which to spend what, at
times, are meager political resources. ❑
LETTERS
So I come back to remind you in
three words that echoed through that
most hallowed and beloved land:
Where are you?
Gerald S. Kirzner, Ph.D.
Southfield
Dedication Helps
Accomplish Mission
By now, you have read or heard about
the spectacular Michigan Unity Mis-
sion to Israel this past week ["Showing
Solidarity," Jan. 19, page 26].
What's hidden in the stories is the
amazingly dedicated group of Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
leaders and volunteers who do so
much for Jews and non Jews of
Detroit, Israel and the rest of the
1/26
2001
36
globe — and how incredibly well
organized this trip was.
My congratulations and thank you
to mission co-chairs Marty Rosenthal
and Richard Krugel, Federation Presi-
dent Penny Blumenstein and Chief
Executive Officer Bob Aronson for
their excellent mission planning and
implementation.
I learned a lot about Detroit's Jew-
ish community and the Federation
during this trip, and I like what I
learned. We're blessed to have people
like Marty Richard, Penny and Bob
and countless others who work in our
behalf, like assistant campaign director
David Contorer, who obviously
thrives on community work with his
enthusiasm and drive.
The love, admiration and respect
for Doreen and David Hermelin
throughout Israel flowed from every
ordinary person and dignitary. We
were privileged to have Doreen on the
mission with us, and we sadly missed
David.
Bob Aronson's tireless professional-
ism, efforts and esteem were evident,
as he was everywhere all the time,
making sure everything was just right
(as it was). It seemed that everyone on
the mission and every Israeli knew
him.
I'm looking forward to increasing
my volunteer work with Federation.
Ed Kohl
West Bloomfield
`Solidarity' A
Thrilling Time
On Jan. 14, 200 members of the
Michigan Jewish community
embarked on the Mission With a Mis-
sion ("Showing Solidarity" Jan. 19,
page 26), the Michigan Unity Mission
to Israel.
•
Six members of the Grand Rapids
Jewish community joined their broth-
ers and sisters from Detroit and other
communities to express to the people
of Israel that we stand with them in
these difficult times.
Participating with such a large
group of Jews in this expression soli-
darity was thrilling. On behalf of the
those from Grand Rapids who were
able to experience this remarkable
undertaking and for those who will
read about it, thank you for your part
in making the mission possible.
Maxine Shapiro
chairwoman,
Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids