EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK LETTERS Letters are posted and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.com A Crossing The Line s a journalist, I cherish the press freedoms we enjoy in America. But that doesn't mean everything goes. The Detroit Free Press didn ' t hide behind the First Amendment in rejecting a comic strip that seems to push Christianity over Judaism. Laudably, it stood by its instincts. It's not unlawful to espouse one religion over another or even proselytize. But it's wrong to do either on the funny pages. You look there for respite, not ridicule. At issue is Johnny Hart's "B.C.," a popular strip, serving 1,300 Sunday newspapers, that depicts cavemen commenting on modern life. The Easter Sunday installment depicts a seven- branched menorah that reveals a cross once all the candles burn — and the line, "It is finished." The implication, coming on the last day of Pesach as well as Easter, seems to be that with the Resurrection, Judaism is no more. I'm not sure this particular "B.C." is pushing "the theory that Christianity has replaced Judaism as 'the chosen faith' ROBERT A. because Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah," as the Arizona Jewish Defense League suggests. SKLAR But I'm not sure it isn't, either. Editor Jews and Christians have made great inroads in building bridges of understanding and tolerance; a comic strip is not the place for fragile, vague ecumenical commentary. The Free Press holds the Detroit Newspapers' publishing rights to "B.C." The strip will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but has been dropped on Sundays because of less space for comics. John Smyntek, special features and syndicate editor, rejected the Easter Sunday installment. "I felt people with an honest, deeply held belief in the Jewish faith would be offended by it," he told me last Friday. He said he would have done the same had the strip shown a "Jewish menorah metamorphasizing into an Islam crescent star" — and I would have, too. I would never leave something as per- sonal as religion open to purely comic interpretation. Smyntek stressed a point that I often do: "We edit every- John Smyntek thing for content and keep a careful watch where necessary." Staying Vigilant Over the past 20 years, Smyntek says the "B.C." artist has allowed his Christian fundamentalist beliefs to creep in more and more. " `B.C.' was harmless for years," Smyntek said. "Johnny Hart is considered one of America's pioneering cartoonists for wit and wisdom, and he still is most of time — but not this time. In a statement released by his distributor, Los Angeles-based Creators Syndi- cate, Hart said he believes "Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah" and hopes the latest attention paid to "B.C." boosts interest in religious awareness. "I regret if some people misunderstood the strip and it hurt their feelings," he said. "I abhor the so-called 'Replacement Theology.' This is a holy week for both Christians and Jews, and my intent was to pay tribute to both." If that was his intent, why did he draw such an inflammatory cartoon to champion it? His "tribute" could pass for being anti-Semitic, even if that wasn't the intent. As cartoonists get more adventurous in subject matter, editors must be more vigilant — and that's happening across the country. Even editorial cartoons can cross the line of decency. By their nature, they provoke and make a statement through exaggerated caricature. But they should- n't be steeped in prejudice or be extremely offensive under the veil of political commentary. That's the criteria I use in picking a Dry Bones cartoon for our Opinion pages each week. Alas, it's not always easy pinpointing offensive content. Sensibilities vary. So do nuances. At the Jewish News, we strive to be compelling and viral, but also sensitive and fair. That's our constant battle — and our eternal quest. AN AMAZING EVENT TO HELP CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS! Just As Much Right To Build You state in an editorial ("Bad Tim- ing," April 13, page 31) that Israel's plan to build 700 new homes in Jew- ish West Bank settlements is a "need- less provocation" of "Palestinian anger. " Without Samaria and Judea (which includes Jerusalem), our Jewish people would be a people without a history or a heart. Jews have as much right to live in their historic homeland as they have to live in Paris, London, New York or Oak Park. The West Bank was Jordan's name for Judea and Samaria, which they seized and annexed in 1948. That name is now used commonly in place of Judea and Samaria so that Judaism and the Holy Land will not be linked. Arabs are freely moving in and building housing in Judea and Samaria — aided by the United Nations and the Palestinian Libera- tion Organization, which says all of Israel is their Palestine. That Arab building is financed by European nations, our America and, as strange as it may be, by Israel itself. Israel's survival depends on its bor- der being at the Jordan River, an Israel 40 miles wide. The 1949 cease- fire line — the center of Israel just nine miles wide and Jews losing their holy Jerusalem — is a "death trap." Hymie Cutler director, Michigan Committee for a Safe Israel Detroit A Right To Live In Judea, Samaria I disagree with your editorial ("Bad Timing," April 13, page 31) that states Israel should reconsider its plan to allow some 700 new homes to be built in the West Bank settle- ments of Ma'aleh Adumim and Alfei Menashe. As you correctly state, those partic- ular settlements are likely to remain under Israeli control for a long time. Furthermore, in negotiations up until now, they were designated to become LETTERS on page 6 Ea ts and reats by Matt Prentice's Milk and Honey (Dietary Laws observed) SpringElation Hotline 248-538-6610, ext 418 The Merle and Shirley Harris Children and Family Division 4/20 2001 5