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Old Woodward. . . i0 6 Birmingham 24S-642-2555 A8 July 3 2008 More Than A Letter I appreciate that Robert Sklar wrote his Editor's Letter "Pressing Ahead" on June 26 (pages A5-A6) about the situa- tion of Pluto Press at the University of Michigan and how U-M will be termi- nating its relationship as of December. I would like to note one paragraph of Mr. Sklar's column. It stated: "I applaud the signatories to the let- ter. They included the directors of the Anti-Defamation League/Michigan Region, StandWithUs-Michigan, B'nai B'rith International/Great Lakes Region, Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit, American Jewish Committee/Detroit Chapter and the National Christian Leadership Council for Israel" This passage made it sound as if all we did was write a letter to the univer- sity — period. Let me set the record straight as to what this small but mighty group did. When we discovered the arrangement with the Pluto Press, we started writ- ing individually to the regents of the university. Then several of us spoke in front of the regents about the egregious University of Michigan Press (UMP). We then visited with U-M President Mary Sue Coleman. We then had numerous phone calls with the University of Michigan Press. Finally, we met with the UMP. During this time, we also read dozens of the offensive anti-Semitic books so we were prepared to speak intelligently about why the university had to terminate the relationship. We took this situation quite seri- ously and felt these books were filled with hate, bigotry, prejudice and anti- Semitism. These advocacy organiza- tions, listed above, spent countless hours and numerous strategy sessions figuring out the most effective way to work with the university to encourage them to extricate themselves from this relationship. The university, in the end, did the right thing. Mr. Sklar is correct in believing that the university had the fortitude to reverse a bad decision. We know that persuasion can be a powerful tool and these organizations were quite influential, convincing and credible. Betsy S. Keilman regional director Anti-Defamation League Southfield McCain: The Better Choice Regarding the letter by Laurel Stuart- Fink in the June 26 issue, she criticizes commentator Daniel Pipes ("Obama Vs. McCain On The Middle East:' June 19, A32) for not using "I believe" or "I think," but neither does she. Further, she does not present "fact- based information:' like Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama having said that Iran is not a major threat and that it is a major threat, depending on what audience he addresses. She does not address his obvious pandering statements about Jews and Jewishness that is in the tone of "some of my best friends are Jews;" his admiration for Rev. Charles Wright; his dose association with admitted ter- rorist William Ayers; his close connec- tion with people and institutions that praise Rev. Louis Farrakhan, etc. The letter writer is correct in telling us to pay attention to a candidate's Web site, speeches and position papers. But more importantly, we must be aware of a candidate's associations, voting record, reasons for changing posi- tions on important issues, and specific and practical solutions to problems — rather than platitudes and slogans. I spend much time listening and reading all the things that the letter writer says one should, and believe that in spite of his many faults, Republican Sen. John McCain is much better for the U.S. and Israel than Sen. Obama. Irving W. Ginsberg, Ph.D. Farmington Hills Our JN Mission The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. 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