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Greenberg's View

AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND

A Possible Tension Easer

he newly announced plan to encourage a
joint Jewish-Arab investment flow from
Michigan into Gaza and the West Bank is a
promising start to rebuilding a devastated
Palestinian economy.
The Michigan Fund for Peace and Economic
Development has the support of several important
elements in both the Jewish and Arab communities,
here and in Israel.
The philosophy undergirding this effort is unas-
sailable. Raising the quality of life in these areas is in
the best interest of Israel's 'long-term security.
Detroit attorney Eugene Driker, a co-chair of the
fund, said it best at the formal announcement.
"People who have nothing to live for do
desperate things." We have certainly wit-
nessed the truth of that.
But desperate people do not necessarily
resort to terrorism. That has to be carefully nurtured
and encouraged.
So there should also be an understanding that this
fund is not an open spigot. Unless there is some evi-
dence of reciprocity built into the plan, especially
within the Palestinian educational system, the long-
term security that Israelis seek may never arrive.
The Palestinian schools demonize Israelis and all
Jews. Their textbooks contain repeated depictions of
Jews buying weapons and influence for the sole pur-
pose of oppressing Arabs. "Martyrdom" in Allah's
name — understood as blowing up Jews — is pre-
sented to 11-year-old children as an attractive and
meaningful career path.
This is child abuse, and it has to stop. Otherwise,
no amount of investment can reverse the misfortunes
of the Palestinians. The establishment of this fund,

setting an example of Jewish-Arab co-
operation in America, would be an
excellent way to encourage such a
reversal.
Sen. Carl Levin, whose Michigan
home is in Detroit, has been a driv-
ing force behind creation of the
fund, and he has brought in promi-
nent local Palestinians such as Azzam
Elder of Dearborn and Samir Mashni
of Canton, who the Jewish partici-
pants have embraced as business
partners in this venture. The Bush
administration has also offered its
tacit support. Such private-
sector initiatives coincide
with its goals.
But leaders on both sides
are cautious about building up unrealistic hopes. In
order to have an impact, this joint effort will have
to gather support from communities all across the
United States, not just Detroit. Arabs and Jews have
a track record of co-operation here because they are
both secure and well-established communities. That
isn't the case elsewhere, though, and putting togeth-
er other such coalitions may be difficult.
Imad Hamad, head of the Michigan branch of the
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee,
also sounded a darker note when interviewed by the
Detroit Free Press. "Economic opportunities can help
make things better," he said, "but what's the use if
you have all the money in the world and you're liv-
ing under occupation."
Of course, explaining what is meant by the word
"occupation," in the wake of 4V2 years of

Newspaper Follies

an entertainer than a journalist. Oh, there's
Press staff insisted that he should be suspend-
a news flash for you. Take either local daily
ed and a full-scale investigation launched into
and count up the number of stories about
his past writing.
celebrities, food, show business, lifestyles
A good part of this probably can be traced
and the like and then compare that to col-
to envy over his financial success. Some was
umn inches given to hard news. Newspapers
blowback from the paper's decision to kill an
are an adjunct of the entertainment indus-
The
Five
unfavorable review of his novel
try. Anyone who doesn't realize that by now
People You Meet in Heaven. Some came from
has his head in the sand.
his decision to cross the picket line early in
GE ORGE
Newspapers have credibility issues because
the 1995 strike. Some from a perception that
CAN TOR
readers feel too many stories appear to be
he is brusque, demanding and hard to deal
Re ali ty
part of a political agenda. Because commen-
with. Some from a sense that he spends too lit-
Check
tary sneaks into news. Because some stories
tle time writing for the Freep and too much on
are
inflated
in importance to attract minority readers.
his other endeavors.
Because all local columns, with one or two excep-
But very little of this speaks to credibility. In fact,
tions, come from the left of the political spectrum.
I would suggest that the paper's credibility has been
That's where the problem is, not with Albom and
damaged far more by the extended attention given
his missing athletes.
to this whole affair, suggesting that there are darker
I don't write this out of friendship. Mitch and I
secrets to hide.
have a cordial relationship but we are not close. I
I have also seen Albom castigated because he uses
admire his talent, I stand in awe of his energy level,
techniques of fiction writing in his stories. Sorry.
and when I asked for a favor a few years ago, he
That horse left the barn 40 years ago when Tom
responded immediately. That's all.
Wolfe, Gay Talese and other New York writers pro-
As of this writing, there is no evidence of any pat-
claimed the "New Journalism." It has been an
tern of deception in his past work. If the paper real-
accepted part of newspaper practice ever since. It's a
ly wants to address its credibility problem, it's going
bit hypocritical to deplore it now.
to have to find other answers.
Some bloggers complained that Albom is more of

T

EDITORIAL

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ewspapers have a severe credibility problem.
One survey after another indicates that
reader confidence in what they read is
declining.
But very little of this has to do with situations like
the recent Mitch Albom flare-up.
To be honest, I have never seen so much sancti-
monious tripe written about any story involving the
Detroit dailies.
What Albom did — writing that two basketball
players attended a game they ended up missing —
was an error in judgment. He had a deadline prob-
lem, but there were ways of getting around it, both
for him and the editors who handled his copy.
On a 1-to-10 scale of journalistic malfeasance, I'd
give it about a 3.5. Worthy of a reprimand, but
hardly a firing offense. He made a good faith effort
to contact these players. He didn't make it up or
manufacture quotes.
But in a contentious meeting, members of the Free

George Cantor's e-mail address is
gcantor@thejewish ews.com.

Palestinian-precipitated terror against the Jewish
state, is the central conundrum of Israeli-Palestinian
relations.
The fund has an enormous potential for good.
Anyone who ever visited Gaza can understand the
hopelessness that has resulted from years of violence
and misrule. Anything that can be done to amelio-
rate these conditions should be encouraged.
But the businesspeople who make these invest-
ments could certainly get a greater return on their
capital in many other parts of the world. They will
put their money here only if they sincerely believe it
may be a pathway to peace.
There must be some transparent, good faith effort
made to prove their trust is not misplaced.

Related coverage, page 25

5/5
2005

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