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There Is No Such Thing
W
hen it comes to
discussing uni-
corns, pots of gold
at the end of the rainbow and
ghosts, many people will readily
counter with, "There is no such
thing."
No, I am not about to dissuade
belief in magical beasts, lepre-
chaun's treasure or things that go
bump in the night. You want to
believe, go right ahead.
A recent article I saw on the
Web caught my attention, how-
ever. It dealt with someone not
believing that there was such a
thing as a $2 bill and giving a
customer grief because of it. At
one time, there was the expres-
sion,"As phony as a $2 bill."
Our government, in its
extreme wisdom, decided
around 1976 to issue paper
money in that denomination.
The bills probably did not go
over well due to previous condi-
tioning with the idea of phoni-
ness. They still exist and can
provide much embarrassment
when we endeavor to use them.
There are many things that
do not exist and I should like to
review some of them.
no such thing as a
No matter what
clone-hour meeting"
you are told, there
despite what your
is no such thing as
boss has e-mailed
a "free lunch" (the
you to the contrary.
equivalent of some-
Have you encoun-
thing for nothing).
tered any pseudo-
You pay; whether
psychologists who
by unpaid labor by
insist that there is
you or someone else,
no such thing as a
there is a cost. This
"naughty child"?
Sy Ma nello
also applies to "free
Well, forget them. As
Edit orial
ride meaning that
a devotee of the Super
Assis ta n t
you can get away
Nanny TV shows, I
without paying.
can tell you that there
Yes, we are aware of toll
are kids who are just downright
roads; but the use of "freeway"
rotten. I'm not saying anything
is misleading. In the former, you
about why (like negative atten-
fork over the money then and
tion, etc.); it's just a fact that
there. In the latter, you are pay-
there are children who are left
ing through your taxes for the
to be uninhibited. Is that your
upkeep of the road system. (Does parenting credo? OK; just don't
that lead you to wonder who has
expose the kids to me!
been squandering our money?)
Speaking of family (sure we
There are many food "fiends" were: Where do you think kids
who would argue with you that
come from?): Did you know
there is no such thing as too
that technically there is no such
much chocolate or barbecue or
thing as a family crest? If you
... fill in your own special food
study coats of arms, there is
fetish.
usually a part above the shield
Those of us in the busi-
that denotes the family name,
ness world know that there is
but that is not to be used alone.
Bolstering Birthright
Following a new commitment from the Adelson Family Foundation,
Taglit-Birthright Israel is set to bring another 10,000 young Jews on
free 10-day educational trips to Israel this spring
and summer. Registration opens on Feb. 19 online
at www.birthrightisrael.com .
Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has taken
200,000 young adults to Israel, now plans to
launch a new national fundraising campaign that
ensures not only its 2009 participant goals, but
its continued success as the program prepares to
enter its second decade.
Robert
Aside from ongoing support from its found-
Aronson
ing philanthropists, the State of Israel and from
local Jewish communities, the Birthright Israel
Foundation announced a $20 million challenge grant from Dr.
Miriam and Sheldon Adelson's family foundation that will serve as
the core of the new fundraising campaign, enabling the Birthright
Israel Foundation to leverage other gifts.
For every new dollar raised by the Birthright Israel Foundation
in 2009, two dollars will be contributed by the Adelson Family
Foundation up to $20 million. Recognizing that the global financial
situation will create a challenging year for all nonprofit organiza-
tions around the world, the Adelsons, along with Birthright Israel's
philanthropists, are asking supporters and alumni and their fami-
lies to assist with increased funds.
The new fundraising campaign will be led by Foundation Chair
A8 February 12 = 2009
The whole shebang is the coat
of arms, containing a crest.
Watch it the next time you go to
boasting about your lineage.
Considering things we do not
know, I recall a professor in col-
lege who would, near the end of
his presentation, ask, "Are there
any stupid questions?" There
really are no such things. There
are questions that should not
be asked or would not need to
be asked if someone were pay-
ing attention; but no seeking
of knowledge or clarification is
stupid.
It is also a matter of vantage
point when using the term
"junk." Many would argue that
there is no such thing; they are
the purveyors of "antiques."
Well, just go to some garage
sales and you'll see that junk is
alive and well and people are
paying money to acquire it.
You know, I think I'll just get
on my one-horned horse and
chase after that jackalope to see
if he'll lead me to the end of the
rainbow so I can get rich. See
ya.
Daniel Och and Birthright Israel Foundation President Robert
Aronson, working with a national team of experienced fundraisers.
-Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
Fighting For All
"Global Impact-Detroit Roots" is an exhibit about Ralph J. Bunche
in the Community Gallery of the Detroit Historical Museum
through March 8.
Bunche, a native Detroiter, successfully mediated the signing of
the 1949 Armistice Agreement, a formal contract that helped to
temper conflicts in the Middle East. He received the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1950 for his efforts, making him the first
African American recipient to receive the distin-
guished recognition.
In addition to readying the international stage
for an unprecedented transformation of race rela-
tions, Bunche played a prominent role in draft-
ing the United Nations Charter, the foundation
on which all of the organization's principles are
based.
Robert Ralph
A staunch advocate of human rights, Bunche
J. Bunche
believed that the civil rights struggles in America
had global implications that were linked to a wider cause of justice,
freedom and equality of all races.
The exhibit will address various aspects of Bunche's life, philoso-
phies, methodologies and their impact on international culture.
-Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
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