Analysis & Commentary Attention Bond Buyers! a650% di Days Of Judgment GARY ROSENBLATT Special to the Jewish News New York W ith so much at stake in the November presidential elec- tions — and American secu- rity is at the top of the list — it's sad but not surprising to see both candi- dates mired in petty side issues more focused on three decades ago than today. Perhaps during the High Holidays it's appropriate to explore the connec- tion of past, present and future, and think about how we measure charac- ter, in ourselves and others. Somehow, events in the personal lives of John Kerry and George W. Bush in the 1960s and early 1970s have eclipsed debates on American goals for at least the next four years, like our plans in (and getting out of) Iraq, and how best to confront inter- national terrorism. How much does it matter what John Kerry did or did not do while serving in the Navy in Vietnam? How important is it to know what George W. Bush did or did not do to keep himself out of harm's way? It's not like the two men don't have a track record as adults since the 1970s. We know that Kerry served his country and came back from Vietnam deeply opposed to the war, then entered politics, where his views and actions are a matter of public record. We know that George W. Bush had a less-than-focused political path until relatively recently, when after becom- ing a born-again Christian he grew into a more serious person, by his own • admission. He worked on his father's cam- paigns, was elected governor of Texas and has served as president for the last four years, with more than enough of a record for us to have a sense of how he might act if re-elected. You would think Americans would be particularly interested in how Bush and Kerry acted during the Vietnam era if that was our primary method of assessing the character of these two men. But they were in their early 20s then, and we know so much about them since. Gary Rosenblatt is editor of the New York Jewish Week. E-mail Gary@jewishweek.org And those of us who lived through that tumultuous time remember how divided the country was, how passion- ate both doves and hawks were about whether embodying American ideals and serving our country best meant fighting in or against the Vietnam war. But maybe Vietnam is hovering over this 2004 election because there are so many parallels, then and now, to the rift in the country over a far-away war and the way we react to the grim news of our soldiers (women as well as men in the age of equality) being killed each day. Do the deaths make us appreciate and support the war as America's com- mitment to confront terrorism and attempt to bring democracy to an ever-more frightening and out-of-con- trol Middle East? Or does each death seem more meaningless, as we become increasingly convinced that we are fighting the wrong war in the wrong place, only fueling the wrath of an Arab world opposed to American imperialism? Those were the very questions — different specifics, same themes — that we asked more than three decades ago and that haunt us now Whether it's Vietnam or Iraq, we want to know if our military action on foreign soil increases or decreases our security at home and strengthens or weakens democracy abroad. 7 100% YTC YTM Puerto Rico Highway & Transit Authority Revenue Ford Motor Co 5.125% coupon Baal /A matures 07/01/43 YTM=4.910% price 103.688 callable 07/01/14 @100.00 Baal/BBB- matures 02/01/29 price 91.644 non-callable 6.375% coupon Discount bonds may be subject to capital gains tax. Discount bonds herin are gross yields to maturity. Recommended for moderate investors. These offers are subject to change in price and/or availability. 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Study Sponsor: Northstar Neuroscience Seattle, WA Past And Future It's only fitting to weigh the meaning of the past on the prospects for the future — be it for choosing a presi- dent or self-reflection — as we mark the High Holy Day season, a time of personal, communal and spiritual con- templation. Presidential candidates ask us: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we ask ourselves: "Have I improved myself in the last year, have I kept my sincere (at least at the time) commitments to keep more mitzvot?" On Rosh Hashanah, we read the Torah portion of Abraham's commit- ment to follow God's command, even if it means sacrificing his beloved son, Isaac. It's a powerful and morally trou- JUDGMENT on page 42 Please call today for more information: 888-546.9779 (24 hr. support) *Caution: Investigational device. 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