World

`A Little Less Obvious'

AIPAC leader urges American Jews not to underestimate the difficult times ahead.

DON COHEN

Special to the Jewish News

T

he truth is he gets it," Malcolm Hoenlein
said of President Bush at a June 1 gathering
of local supporters of the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) held at
Knollwdod Country Club in West Bloomfield.
"I know people make fun when you say it is a war
of evil and good, but it is. I believe we are living in a
critical watershed in Jewish history, American histo-
ry and world history. This war is no less dangerous
than the war against communism, fascism or
Nazism. It is just a little less obvious."
Hoenlein is vice-chairman of the Conference of
Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, which
brings together 52 national Jewish organizations to
provide a common voice for American Jews across
the political and religious spectrum. He urged the
400 people in attendance to remain unified in sup-
port of Israel and Jewish causes but not to underesti-
mate the difficult times ahead.
"It's a miracle that the one great superpower in the
world stands up for the right thing," he said, argu-
ing that Jewish leadership through AIPAC and other
groups is critical. "The American people will be
there, but we have to be there first."
America's battle is "a war of values, freedom, com-

mitment to justice, rights of women and pluralism
— not a war against Islam," Hoenlein said. On the
contrary, he said, "Muslims are its first victims."
As an example, Hoenlein said the country where
the United States is most admired is Iran, where the
slogan "kush Bush — Bush now" is popular. He said
that 85 percent of Ifanians boycotted their last elec-
tions and that likely more than 80 percent will boy-
cott the next one "at personal risk." He criticized the
media for not publicizing this information nor that
300 Muslims, Christians and Bahais have been pub-
licly executed in Iran.
"Where is the world?" he asked.
"Education is the strongest weapon in the world
today, not those that are biological or nuclear,"
Hoenlein said, urging a focus on both Jewish and non-
Jewish youth because "we are losing our kids."
He gave examples of public school curriculum mate-
rials that promote Islam and misrepresent Israel, and
pushed the Council of President'swww.dailyalert.org,
which provides free daily e-mails regarding Jewish
concerns. The audience also heard briefly from U.S.
Reps. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak; Thaddeus
McCotter, R-Livonia; and Bart Stupak, D-
Marquette. Event co-chairs were Eric Bronstein, Jo
and Scott Segal and Andy Zack of Huntington
Woods and Carey Kalmowitz and Lisa and Danny
Kurzmann of West Bloomfield. ❑

Malcolm Hoenlein speaks about the importance of .
education as the world's strongest weapon today.

Official Blinders

With the Air Force Academy under fire, some are ignoring the proselytizing issue.

MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Washington
epublicans aren't taking seriously allegations
of proselytizing and religious intimidation at
the Air Force Academy, some Democratic
officials and Jewish leaders charge, and have thwarted
one lawmaker's efforts to have Congress pursue the
issue.
Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., withdrew an amend-
ment to the Defense Department Authorization bill
in late May after several Republican lawmakers com-
plained about it at a session of the House of
Representatives' Armed Services Committee. The
provision called for a report to Congress on efforts
to calm religious tensions at the academy, but some
GOP members of Congress said the real problem
was political correctness on campus.
"Many of my colleagues appeared to believe that the
problem is not people who are coercing one religious
view over another; the problem is the people who are

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6/ 9
2005

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complaining about being coerced," Israel said.
The controversy over the Colorado Springs cam-
pus comes amid an increasingly partisan tone in
Washington, and as Christian conservatives are seen
as gaining influence over domestic policy.
Democrats question whether some Republicans are
supportive of evangelical efforts at military acade-
mies, and in public life in general, or are turning a
blind eye to the issue because of support they
receive from Christian conservatives.
Either way, they said, the congressional debate
raises questions about the constitutional separation
of church and state.
For their part, Republicans dismiss the criticism,
saying Congress should not get involved in an issue
the Air Force is tackling internally.
Several groups have issued reports in recent months
outlining purported incidents of religious intolerance
at the Air Force Academy, including evangelical com-
ments from academy leaders and incidents in which
cadets claimed they were pressured to attend church
services. The Pentagon formed a panel last month to

assess the school's climate and offer ideas for change.
Last week, a graduating senior at the Air Force
Academy sent an e-mail to 3,000 students that
included quotations about Jesus. Student Wing
Commander Nicholas Jurewicz told a local newspa-
per that it didn't occur to him to remove the reli-
gious passages from his e-mail.
Capt. Melinda Morton, a chaplain at the academy
who said she was removed last month as an execu-
tive officer to the senior staff chaplain for complain-
ing about religious issues on campus, said cadets
aren't getting the message that they're government
employees, and therefore must adhere to laws limit-
ing personal expressions of faith. Cmdr. Jurewicz
goes into the Air Force now, demonstrating that he
doesn't have a clear understanding of separation of
church and state," she said.
The issue has become more partisan in recent
weeks, as Democratic efforts to bring transparency
to the military academies have been thwarted by
Republicans, who say political correctness should
not prevent cadets from expressing their beliefs.

❑

