World Anti-Semitism U.S. stats better, but still a concern. Alan Hitsky Associate Editor I ANOTHER KNOCKOUT AT THE NEW DIA. From bars to beaches to boxing, Ashcan artists caught Americans at play I00 years ago. Use your free time to see how they spent theirs. Life's Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists' Brush with Leisure, 1895-1925. March 2—May 25, 2008 Tickets, dia.org or Box Office Members see it FREE, 313.833.7971 This exhibition was organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts. Support has been provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit. George Bellows. Dempsey and Firpo, 1924, oil on canvas. Purchase with funds from Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (31.95). Whitney Museum of American Art. New York. 771C! arts "dm, 4.7 n a speech last week for the Anti- Defamation League's Michigan Region, ADL Associate Director Kenneth Jacobson drew a distinction between racism and anti-Semitism: "With racism, what you see is what you get. With anti- Semitism, what you see is not what you get?' He explained that racists use skin color as their determinant. Kenneth For anti-Semites, Jacobson Jews look like every- body else, "only they're really different, evil, all-powerful, conspiratorial ..." This alleged conspiracy has proven handy for despots for several millen- nia. He cited the statements by Malayasia's prime minister during that country's severe recession in the late 1980s and '90s. While there are virtu- ally no Jews in Malayasia, the prime minister blamed Jewish money lend- ers for the country's troubles. Any time there is unease in soci- ety," Jacobson said, Jews become the all-powerful problem. Other com- mon themes for anti-Semites are that American Jews are more loyal to Israel Demonstration CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF SOUTHFIELD WITH US! We are creating a special homage to this community and the significance that Jewish Metro Detroit has had in its growth. Issue Date: April 24, 2008 Early Bird advertising specials available! Call 248-354-6060 for advertising information A30 April 3 . 2008 Attendees at a scheduled speech by ADL's National Director Abraham Foxman at Birmingham's Community House on March 26 were greeted by approximately 50 sign-carrying, peaceful pickets from the local Armenian commu- nity. The pickets were protesting Foxman's stance last year oppos- ing legislation in Congress that would prod Turkey into recogniz- ing the Armenian Genoide that the Ottoman Turks perpetrated dur- ing World War I. Some 1.5 million Armenians died in 1915-16. Foxman, a Holocaust survivor, was torn by the issue but backed the Bush administration efforts to kill the congressional resolu- tion. Foxman cited the impact it might have on Turkish-Israeli ties, than to the United States and that Jews control the media, university cam- puses and Hollywood. Recent ADL opinion surveys show that the American people are not buy- ing the anti-Semites' message, he said, "but we can't be complacent!" He cited Iran as a threat "that people aren't tak- ing seriously enough?' • The recent surveys show that only 15 percent of American have anti- Semitic beliefs; 30-33 percent believe Jews are more loyal to Israel. • First-generation Hispanic immi- grants can be as high as 44 percent biased, but recently that figure is at 30 percent. Among second-generation Hispanics in America, the percentage for anti-Semitism drops below 20. • University faculty have a very low percentage of ant-Semitism, but by 2:1 they favor Palestinians over Israel. Among the general U.S. population, Israel is favored over the Palestinians 2.5:1. The newest tool for anti-Semites is the Internet, said Jacobson. Europeans complain that racists and anti-Semites use U.S. sites because of Europe's laws against hate speech. He said the biggest differences for Jews in the world today over earlier times in Jewish history are: • Israel exists • The comfortable situation of Anti-Semitism on page A31 Turkey's support of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on the Turkish Jewish community. On March 26, Foxman was unable to appear in Michigan because of the illness of his son. ADL Associate National Director Kenneth Jacobson spoke in his place. In response to a question after his speech on anti-Semitism, Jacobson expressed regret over the Armenian issue, labeling it "competing morality." ADL Michigan Region Director Betsy Kelman told the JN she had contacted Edward Hagopian of the Armenian community and planned to meet with him this week to discuss the issue. Hagopian placed a full-page advertisement in a suburban newspaper criticizing Foxman ahead of his scheduled speech.