Cover Story
OTHER VOICES
from page 14
"If we are going to
judge each other by
extremists, we lose our
common good. If we
give in to fear of each
other, we are helping
Hamad
those who want to
divide us.
As humans, we come from
different mosaics of faith and
state. No race, faith or origin can
claim to be perfect. Arabs have
all different views, from moderate
to extreme.
"We have to remember,
Muslim or Jewish, none of us is
devils or angels
— Imad Hamad, Midwest region-
al director of the American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee
.
"Every department within the
hospital has either sophisticated
pre-designed sealed rooms [steel
window enclosures, reinforced
concrete construction, hermeti-
cally sealed doors and air-filtering
systems] or rooms that can be
adapted within a half hour to
meet civil defense code criteria.
"These measures include heavy
plastic sheeting secured over
every window, door and air con-
ditioning opening. Every sealed
room will be equipped with bot-
tied water, basic medications and
telephones. In the event of a
non-conventional attack, these
rooms are adequate to receive
every patient, their families and
the attending staff.
"Israelis are keeping up a non-
chalant front, but deep down
they're listening for what nobody
wants to hear."
— Larry Rich, development
director, HaEmek Medical
Center in Afi,ila, Israel
In my opinion, we
should have had more
cooperation from our
allies before beginning
military action.
"But that is not the
Dingell
issue before us.
Regardless of how one
feels about the wisdom of military
action at this time, our command-
er-in-chief has committed U.S.
forces to battle and, as Americans,
we must stand solidly behind our
men and women in uniform."
— U.S. Rep. John Dingell
D-Dearborn
Want To Help? Here's How
Online Support
1Ttie United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism has
launched an online support group for
American Jewish service families.
TheBrave is a forum allowing
families to share experiences, seek
advise and connect with others.
"Jewish families with members
involved in the armed forces often
have a hard time finding each
other," said USCJ International
President Judy Yudof. "TheBrave
has given Jewish families an arena
in which even just the commonality
of the experience offers them the
slightest bit of comfort."
Other issues on the site range from
conversations on security and travel to
how to approach fellow congregants
and rabbis who express discontent over
America's stance on war.
To join TheBrave, access the Web
site, at:
www.uscj.org/archives/thebrave.html
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, stajfwriter
How The Synagogue Can Help
T
he Reform movement's Union
of American Hebrew
Congregations has prepared a list of
suggestions to help synagogue fami-
lies with members in the military.
Its Web site,
wvvw uah c. o rg/wo rld co nfli ct
also includes prayers, resources and
words of guidance. The num-
ber to call to receive mate-
rials by fax is (212) 650-
4220.
They suggest:
• Identify members
directly impacted by
events in Iraq and the
Middle East, including
those serving in the mili-
tary, their spouses, parents
and close friends.
• Assign members of the congre-
gation to stay in regular contact
with them.
• Establish support groups.
• Create a network to provide, if
needed or requested, food, trans-
portation or other services for chil-
dren and older adults.
• Create a religious school letter-
writing campaign to help connect
those overseas as well as help stu-
dents comprehend what is happen-
ing.
• Include prayers for soldiers
and for peace in the reli-
gious service.
• Plan a Shabbaton
or text study session
focusing on moral
and ethical dilemmas
of war.
• Work with neigh-
boring congregations,
both Jewish and non-
Jewish, in discussion groups,
letter-writing efforts, prayer vigils.
• Offer a venue for dialogue for
those who disagree about the need
for war. Fl
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer
Civil Rights Hotline
oalition forces in Iraq have a
supply of blood ready.
However, if more is needed, the
.American Red Cross has a contract
with the military services, said
Marie Mangus, an AmeriCan Red
Cross spokesperson.
"We have not been asked to ship
anything yet,"-she said "However,
it is very likely that we will be
called upon.
The goal of the American Red
Cross is to have a seven-day supply
of blood, "not only for the troops,
but also because we are living in
very uncertain times, so we need to
have ample supplies for an emer-
gency," she said.
Current supplies are adequate For
three days.
There are many blood donor sites,
in Oakland, Wayne, IVIacomb and
Washtenai,v counties. For a location
near you, call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.
— Diana Lieberman
effrey Collins, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, has
IP pledged to protect civil rights while fighting terrorism.
At a March 21 rally in Dearborn, held to support American troops in Iraq,
Collins advised residents of his 43-county district — which includes
Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Washtenaw counties — to call an emergency
hotline at (313) 226-9151 if they experience any backlash or prejudice.
— Diana Liebern2an, staff writer/copy editor
Show You Care
F
or those who wish to show sup-
port for American troops, the
U.S. Department of Defense Web
page lists sites to share messages of
support.
However, don't mail packages
addressed to 'Any Service Member"
and don't bombard one known indi-
vidual with many packages because
it clogs the mail system.
The DOD suggests:
Send a greeting via e-mail
through Operation Dear Abby at:
www. Op erati o nD earAb by. ne t
• Sign a virtual thank-you card at
the Defend America Web site at:
ww-w defendamerica. mil/nmam . html
• Donate to "Operation USO
Care Package" at:
www.us o cares . o rg/h o me. h tm
• Donate a pre-paid long-distance
calling card to help keep service
members in touch with their fami-
lies at Operation Uplink:
www. operationuplink. org
— Harry Kirsbazin2, sta f f writer
3/28
2003
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