Letters
Positive Reinforcement
After reading Harry Kirsbaum's
column "The Party's Over" (Feb. 9,
page 8), I must say that he seems
like a very negative person or
maybe just negative about Detroit.
It's sad to see that he couldn't say
anything positive about the place
he calls home.
I find that many Metro
Detroiters sometimes take on this
very pessimistic attitude about
Detroit while visitors can't under-
stand why anyone would continu-
ally put down their own city!
The basic idea in this column
was that Detroit put on a fake
show regarding the Super Bowl to
cover up all the bad. Obviously, Mr.
Kirsbaum hasn't spent much time
in downtown lately!
Downtown streets were much
more than "repaved." Streets and
streetscapes were completely
rebuilt. Did you even see
Washington Boulevard or
Woodward pre-Super Bowl era?
Fifty of the 70 new storefronts
near Ford Field are empty? I don't
know where you're looking, but in
the last couple of years, 30-plus
new restaurants, bars and cafes
have opened; many, many more
are getting ready to open (yes,
even after the Super Bowl).
What about the 1,000-plus new
lofts that have been built out of
abandoned buildings with many
suburbanites moving into them?
. Mr. Kirsbaum acts as if no one will
go skating at Campus Martius
again. The ice skating rink is busy
nightly and packed on weekends;
many of the people are from the
suburbs. I moved downtown in
May from West Bloomfield; it defi-
nitely has been one of the best
decisions I have made. I'd invite
you and much of the Jewish com-
munity to join me so we can
rebuild the city that started this
Jewish.com
"C'est Levee": Jewish parade
crews lampoon themselves for
Mardi Gras.
Read about it on Iewish.com
6
March 2 • 2006
Jewish community.
What will it take to bring them
back? People focusing on the posi-
tive by waking and seeing all the
change that is happening and hap-
pened pre and post-Super Bowl!
Bryan Hamburger
Detroit
A Dubious Leader
In 2002, President George W. Bush
declared that Russian President
Vladimir Putin was a man he
could trust. President Bush stated,
"I looked the man in the eye and I
was able to get a sense of his sour
Despite the fact that Hamas ter-
rorists have brutally targeted and
killed hundreds of innocent Israeli
women and children, have vowed
to destroy Israel, are classified by
the U.S., the European Union and
others as a terrorist organization,
Putin invited Hamas leaders to
Moscow for talks ("Russia's Risky
Business',' Feb. 16, page 34). Putin
affirmed, "We have never consid-
ered Hamas a terrorist organiza-
tion:'
Putin continues to defend
Russia's sale of nuclear technology
to Iran and the sale of anti-aircraft
missiles to Syria. Based on Russia's
actions, it is clear that Putin is not
a sincere partner in the war
against terrorism. President Bush
should remove his rose-colored
glasses when judging the character
of dubious world leaders.
Raymond Dubin
Farmington Hills
goes after the 2010 census will be
in addition to the representative
already lost after the 2000 census.
Michigan, Indiana and Mississippi
each lost one; California gained
those three because of the millions
of illegals living there.
Because there is a fixed number
of representatives, 435, gains by
some states become losses to oth-
ers. California now has 53 repre-
sentatives, Michigan only 15. With
fewer representatives, we are weak-
er regarding legislation helpful to
Michigan.
Illegal immigration is under the
control of Congress and the presi-
dent. Most of us know little of the
positions our elected officials take
regarding
0
0 this fundamental issue
of representation. Knowing the
positions of our senators is partic-
ularly important because the U.S.
Senate will shortly debate and vote
on its version of an immigration
bill. Some say we need "a compre-
hensive solution',' which is code for
not wanting to do anything until
everything is done, including
amnesty That prescription for
delay would allow the problem to
fester.
To get Sens. Carl Levin and
Debbie Stabenow to become
strongly proactive against illegal
immigration, which hurts
Michigan, the very state they rep-
resent and a state that needs all the
help it can get, write, call and visit
their offices to insist that they
work to pass a bill that will stop
illegal immigration and stop the
benefits to illegals.
Stop The Illegals
Plaudits to Columnist George
Cantor for pointing out the adverse
effect of illegal immigration on
Michigan's representation in
Congress ("Less Than A Man," Feb
2, page 37). Whatever loss of rep-
resentatives that Michigan under-
dotCOM SURVEY
Herbert D. Sherbin, M.D.
Farmington Hills
Heartfelt Sounds
It was good to read that Temple
Beth-El in Bloomfield Township
has installed a system that allows
people at home to hear services
Last Week's Results
A recent U.S. poll by the Institute
for Public Opinion found that
two-thirds of Americans believe
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton will run for president,
but only one-third believe she
can win. Do you think a woman
candidate can win the 2008
presidency?
Is the Internet your primary
source for Jewish information?
To vote, click on
INonline.us
Yes 51%
No - 49%
-
and special programs ("Shabbat
For Shut-Ins:' Feb. 9, page 11). At
Congregation B'nai Moshe, we
have used such a system for more
than three years and know the
benefits to our members.
These past High Holidays, two
of our members were unable to
physically attend our services.
However, they both were able to be
part of the service by dialing in.
One commented that he was able
to concentrate and felt his prayers
were more meaningful yet not
apart from the congregation. The
aunt of one of our bat mitzvahs
had just given birth to a daughter
and, because of the dial-in service,
she was able to participate in this
simchah.
Recently, we held a memorial
service for Leonard Wanetik, a
past president of B'nai Moshe, who
was buried in Israel. His family
and friends who live elsewhere
were able to hear the speeches
given by his children, friends and
Rabbi Elliot Pachter.
It means so much when a syna-
gogue can reach out to include all
its members in meaningful activi-
ties, especially services, even if
they are homebound. We urge
other congregations to consider
installing similar systems.
Sharlene Ungar, executive director
Congregation B'nai Moshe
West Bloomfield
Islam can easily recognize the wolf
in sheep's clothing: The rioters are
not motivated by hurt feelings but
by a need to see the world subju-
gated to Islamic law, which does
not allow depiction of
Muhammad.
The Koran commands the
forced subjugation of unbelievers
along with a punishment tax
"Jizya" intended to weaken the
unbelievers' resistance in 9:29.
This recipe has led to a slow cul-
tural genocide of all other religions
in all Muslim-dominated coun-
tries. It is important to understand
that submission, not just contri-
tion, is the goal; this is why the
riots continue despite numerous
calls for respect of their principles.
Mr. Begg tells us what he thinks
Muhammad would do today, but
history gives us a different answer.
Muhammad's battle plan is to
infiltrate while putting on a peace-
ful facade, outbreed the host and
then subjugate the host after they
grow strong enough. When the
Jewish tribe of Qurayza resisted
subjugation, under Muhammad's
oversight, the men were forced to
dig their own graves before being
beheaded. Their wives and daugh-
ters were kept as sex slaves.
Read in the context of the com-
plete Koran, Mr. Begg's altruistic-
sounding quotations clearly do not
apply to those who reject Islam.
Dennis L.. Green
Behind The Riots
The letter from Victor Ghalib Begg
of the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Michigan
appears to be showing apprecia-
tion for the IN criticism of the
Muhammad cartoons ("Cartoons'
Aftermath;' Feb. 23, page 6). If that
were his motive, the homily on the
Koran would not be necessary.
Those of us who have actually
read the Koran and the history of
Farmington Hills
Shoah Trivialized
The IN quoted Stephen Reverand,
Discovery Channel vice president,
criticizing remarks made by a for-
mer Mossad agent interviewed in
the Discovery Channel's new docu-
mentary"Munich: The Real
Assassins" ("Hearing From
Letters on page 8
How to Send Letters
We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or
reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer
ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency
of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address
and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies
must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern
Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885;
e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.