Opinion
Other Views
At Home In Jerusalem
Jerusalem
had forgotten what it was like to
stand in a river of people. Its
Jerusalem Day in Israel.
The intersection of King George
Street and Jaffa Road, the center of the
city (in front of the pizza shop where a
few years ago a Palestinian homicide
bomber killed a dozen people and crip-
pled scores more) is packed. Tens of
thousands of young people are carrying
Israeli flags, dancing and singing. They
came from all over the country to cele-
brate this day and now are streaming
towards the Kotel (Western Wall).
Most of the marchers sported orange
ribbons, hats and scarves, which indicat-
ed their opposition to Israeli govern-
ment plans to evacuate Jewish commu-
nities from the Gaza Strip and else-
where. They were filled with an enthusi-
asm for what Israel represents and has
achieved. I was swept along with them;
it reminded me why I became part of
this country more than 20 years ago —
a sense of belonging to an historic
ingathering of the Jewish people.
I
Moshe Dann, a former Detroiter and assis-
tant professor of history at City University
of New York, is a writer and journalist liv-
ing in Jerusalem. His e-mail address is
moshedan@netvision.netil
Unlike Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's
Independence Day, which is more secu-
lar and has its own rituals — fireworks
and barbeques — Jerusalem Day is dif-
ferent, more serious and for some,
ambivalent. The Six-Day War, which it
commemorates, was according to most,
a miracle.
Recapturing the Old City and the
Temple Mount in 1967 were inspiring
events. The return to the ancient Jewish
city of Hebron, the Cave of the
Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Machpelah),
the tombs of Rachel and Joseph, and
hundreds of biblical sites throughout
Yehuda (Israel) and Shomron (Samaria)
were symbols of Jewish pride and aware-
ness. Settlement there seemed to kindle
a reawakening and rededication to
Jewish history.
Unlike Independence Day, however,
which is an occasion for picnics, tens of
thousands go to the Kotel at the foot of
the Temple Mount where, two millen-
nia ago, Jews worshipped. Today,
because of Muslim opposition, the
Israeli government restricts visits and
strictly prohibits Jews from praying on
the Mount. Even mumbling silently
there can get you into big trouble.
This morning of Jerusalem Day, hun-
dreds of Arabs rioted on the Temple
Mount against Jewish visitors. Vice-
The Curse Of Affluenza'
Atlanta
0
ver the past months, cable TV's
24/7 news channels have
brought us the sagas of Terri
Schiavo's death, Michael Jackson's trial
and the flight of Jennifer Wilbanks —
Georgia's infamous runaway bride.
To that list, add the disappearance of
Natalee Holloway, the high school grad-
uate from the Birmingham, Ala., suburb
of Mountain Brook. Her disappearance
remained unsolved as of June 21.
Holloway was simply on a trip to
Aruba with classmates and chaperones
to celebrate her high school graduation
— circumstances that for many parents
hit too close to home.
We feel like we know Holloway well.
We've seen her radiant senior portrait.
And she was, by all accounts, an honor
student about to embark upon an excit-
ing life at the University of Alabama —
with a scholarship to boot.
When the "Today Show's" Katie
Couric asked Holloway's mom, Beth
T-witty, to describe her daughter, she
IN
6/23
2005
30
Linda Bachmann is special sections edi-
tor of the Atlanta Jewish Times, sister
publication of the Detroit Jewish News.
simply replied, "She's everyone's daugh-
ter."
She is everyone's daughter — and
son.
Yet, we might be ignoring an issue
that I haven't seen discussed much:
When it comes to graduation revelry,
should we — as responsible parents —
buck the senior-trip trend and learn to
just say no?
Like many parents, our family recent-
ly celebrated my son's high school grad-
uation, and faced the issue of the senior
trips, prom nights and parties that pro-
claim an 18-year-old's new independ-
ence.
Many high school seniors went on
spring break celebrations, on cruises or
at rented beach condos. And I know of
one recent graduate from suburban
Chicago who is spending an unsuper-
vised week in Cancun with four bud-
dies.
Early one April morning, I watched
my own son and his friend drive off on
their "road trip" from Atlanta to Fort
Lauderdale, Miami and South Beach.
"Overbearing Jewish mother" and "wor-
rywart" were the labels tossed at me in
one of the most uncomfortable weeks I
Prime Minister Shimon Peres
and corruption.
publicly lamented Israel's "occu-
The judicial system, especial-
pation of east Jerusalem" and
ly the supreme court, is a world
the West Bank in 1967. Go fig-
unto itself, unrestrained by out-
ure.
siders and thoroughly left-wing.
Still, we have much to be
Lacking a constitution, they
thankful for: Although incited
make laws as they see fit.
by Arab and European anti-
Many Israelis now fear a
MOS'HE
Semitism, the world has not yet
growing police state and abuses
DANN
turned against us. Our econo-
of civil liberties. Trials are some-
Special
my and morale are beginning to
times held in secret; opponents
Commentary of government policies are
recover after five years of relent-
less terrorism.
jailed without knowing the
Despite an existential threat
charges against them and with-
from Iran and daily attacks by
out basic rights of self-defense.
Palestinian terrorists, life is getting back
A month ago, several young teenage
to normal; restaurants are crowded and
girls were imprisoned for refusing to
tourism has increased dramatically. But
repudiate their acts of civil disobedience
there is a growing internal tension.
(blocking a road); the judge vowed to
After Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
hold them until they agree to his
refused to hold a referendum on his pol-
demands. But for the moment, these
icy of retreat from Yesha (Yehuda,
difficulties are forgotten amidst festivi-
Shomron and Gaza), many opponents,
ties.
feeling left with no alternatives, have
The streets are swamped with people
turned to civil disobedience.
dancing and singing under a river of
One has to remember that Israel is
blue-and-white flags. These young peo-
not a true democracy; there is no legisla- ple are proud to be living in the Land of
tive accountability. One votes for a
Israel and are not afraid despite all that
party, not individuals; political parties
has happened in their short lives.
appoint ministers and members of
Their spirit, their enthusiasm and
Knesset, but they have no responsibility
dedication are a collective inspiration
to those who "elected" them. This
and a hope. We are home and we will
encourages a system of bribes, betrayals
prevail. ❑
have spent in 18 years as a par-
"sex on the beach," makes you
ent.
"feel like having sex on the
The cell phone calls I
beach."
demanded offered a false sense
We can't ignore the fact that
of security — with the reality
liquor flows freely at these trop-
that my son could have been
ical vacation destinations —
calling from anywhere.
and that that alcohol impairs
I know life is fraught with
judgment in the most responsi-
danger and that we can't be
ble teen. Yes, 18-year-olds are
LINDA
trapped into inactivity by fear of BACHMANN old enough to fight our wars.
what lies ahead. Like Holloway,
They have earned the right to
Special
my son and daughter are good
Commentary grow up, flee the nest and enjoy
kids, smart and responsible. And
their independence, but maybe
I know that driving on an inter-
we're just allowing too much
state highway is probably more danger-
too soon.
ous than a senior trip to Aruba.
As a friend and I kept an eye out for
But I can't stop asking: Why does
news reports from Aruba on the televi-
graduation from high school warrant
sion monitors at our health club, she
such a big celebration? Even after
remarked that we're suffering from
Holloway's disappearance, CNN recent-
"affluenza." Perhaps we have raised a
ly followed a group of Boston teens on a generation that has enjoyed too much
graduation trip to Aruba — at $1,500
affluence and been given too many priv-
apiece and without chaperones — as
ileges by over-indulgent parents.
they headed to Carlos 'n Charlie's, the
So perhaps we need to take up a cause
popular watering hole that was the last
to make some sense of the Holloway
place where Holloway was seen by her
family's tragedy and follow the example
friends.
of Sherri Parman, the suburban Atlanta
"It's going to be a boogey and boozy
mother who became a crusader for life-
wonderland," proclaimed the CNN
saving defibrillation equipment after her
reporter. An attractive 18-year-old
7-year-old son, Nadar, died after being
named Alli, described as a homecoming
hit by a baseball.
queen, said the night's drink of choice,
Maybe we need to just say no. ❑