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Letters
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304-8885; e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.
Real Islam Issue
In "Islam Issue" (Feb. 26, page A17),
JTA Writer Dinah A. Spritzer says that
Europe is trying to understand the
sense of fury and alienation many
Muslims feel that in a few rare cases
might lead them to try to murder their
neighbors.
The truth cannot be found if your
analysis is limited by an unwarranted
assumption.
Other immigrants assimilate more
easily in Europe, while radicalization
is a problem in every Muslim commu-
nity throughout the world — even in
Muslin-ruled nations. If the problem
is universal and therefore independent
of the host culture, is this not ample
evidence that radicalization is an
endemic product of the Islamic culture
and/or religion?
Lacking consideration of the role
that Muslims play in their own destiny,
her article with its presumption of
guilt for Europe belongs on the edito-
rial page. Like those history books that
discuss World War II without men-
tioning the Holocaust, you can make a
strong political statement by what you
don't say.
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Farmington Hills
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Shoah, Personalized
Thank you very much for your article
"Holocaust Hero" (Feb. 19 page A18),
which helped publicize the recent visit
of Father Patrick Desbois.
This was an extraordinary evening.
More than 600 guests came to hear
Father Desbois speak at the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit. The program, sponsored
by SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish
Enrichment), attracted people from
throughout the Jewish and Christian
community.
Hearing Father Desbois talk about
his experiences and his mission was
unbelievable. His commitment to this
project is truly admirable.
As Father Desbois mentioned in
his talk, each person who died in
the Holocaust had a name. He didn't
just speak about the enormity of the
Holocaust in numbers — he made it
personal by talking about the individu-
als.
SAJE was thrilled to sponsor Father
Desbois' visit to Detroit. We will contin-
ue to provide educational, inspirational
and enriching programs to our com-
munity. We hope you will join us.
Nancy Finkel
JCC/SAJE chair
West Bloomfield
Defending Israel
On Feb. 26, Norman Finkelstein, a per-
nicious anti-Israel speaker frequently
appearing on college campuses, spoke
in the Wayne University Law School
auditorium in Detroit. Sponsored by
various student organizations, he spoke
mainly about Israel's recent military
operation in Gaza relative to past Arab-
Israeli conflicts.
Finkelstein, an American political
scientist, used the same techniques that
have caused his writings to be discred-
ited in no uncertain terms by numer-
ous colleagues.
In his presentation, Finkelstein used
distortions, perversions and omissions
of facts in order to rewrite history
and demonize Israel. He called Israel's
operation in Gaza a "massacre" carried
out solely to re-establish Israel's supe-
rior power. He never mentioned Israel's
complete withdrawal from Gaza in
2005, the incessant rocket attacks from
Gaza before and after that withdrawal,
nor the Israeli children who have been
traumatized by those rockets.
Repeatedly stating that Israel had
violated international laws of war, he
made no reference to documented
evidence that Hamas used children
and women as human shields and shot
rockets from schools, hospitals and
mosques.
One of the most significant state-
ments he made was that Israel would
be forced to change its ways because
liberal American Jews will not defend
its inhumane behavior. His proof?
These Jews do not attend his lectures
because they will not challenge his
views. Although the audience was large-
ly sympathetic to Finkelstein's views,
there were a few defenders of Israel.
Much credit goes to a group of about
five or six Jewish and non-Jewish
Wayne students who challenged
Finkelstein in the question-and-answer
period. Before the program began, they
also passed out brochures from the
pro-Israel organization, Stand With Us,
which presented Israel's case regard-
ing Gaza and other topics. As audience
members read the materials, one hoped
that the information would serve as an
antidote to the poison coming from the
speaker.
It is discouraging that not many Jews,
students and non-students, were there
to challenge Finkelstein. It is not easy
to listen to such a man; however, if his
views are not strongly disputed, he and
others can state that we have not much
to say in defense of Israel.
Margot Gardner
Bloomfield Hills