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Obama Challenged
We applaud Robert Sklar for his
Editor's Notebook ("Obama And The
Jews;' June 11, page A5), which, though
giving recognition to the president's
reaffirmation
of his support
for Israel, made
it clear that the
Obama speech in
Cairo, at its core,
was misinformed
and incomplete.
There was no
President
recognition of the
Obama
Arab terror that
for 60 years has made it impossible for
any attempt at peace. Until the terror
stops and Hamas and the Palestine
Liberation Organization see fit to rec-
ognize Israel as a Jewish state and no
longer wish to see Israel driven into
the sea, political solutions are a non-
starter.
Questioning of Obama also was
made by Malcolm Hoenlein, executive
vice chairman of the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations, who claims that many
of the 80 percent of Jewish Americans
who voted for Obama are now very
concerned about him in relation to
Israel.
Morton Klein, president of the
Zionist Organization of America,
feared that Obama's speech might
"signal the renunciation of America's
strategic alliance with Israel."
I sincerely hope that Obama can tell
us it isn't so.
Joseph F. Savin, executive committee
ZOA-Michigan Region
Bloomfield Township
Better World For All?
I agree with letter writer Edith Broida
("Give Obama Time," July 2, page A6)
that there are a lot of "vehement"
hardliners who despise President
Obama and that their "angry e-mail
tirades accomplish nothing:'
But I am deeply concerned about
the direction that the president
is moving the United States. His
Cairo speech about Israel and the
Palestinians sounded much like
Jimmy Carter's opinions in Palestine:
Peace Not Apartheid, which put most
of the blame on Israel and not the
Palestinian terrorists.
His cowering to some of the Arab
leaders concerns me greatly because it
puts Israel in a very defensive position.
I am troubled also by Obama's
continuation of some of former presi-
dent George W. Bush's policies. His
lack of transparency in regards to
Afghanistan and his change of posi-
tion on torture are troublesome.
And without pause, he is rushing to
push hard and pass much reckless leg-
islation, including stimulus packages,
cap and trade, and health care, all of
which add to our immense long-term
debt. This reminds me a lot of the type
of legislative arrogance that Bush dis-
played in 2002 and 2003 when he was
popular and when the Congress had a
Republican majority.
All of these actions are supposed to
help our economy, but jobs continue
to be shed at a record pace. I do not
wish the president any harm, but I
am also not convinced that his only
goal is a "better world for all: Jew,
Christian, Muslim."
I agree that "nasty rhetoric" can
incite violence, but I also believe
it is our right to respectfully raise
our voices and question the actions
of our government, its leaders and
advisers.
MARK KELLER
ELM
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An Inspired Smile
I've known Teen2Teen writer Stephanie
Schulman ("Be A Superhero," June 11,
page B23) since before she was born
yet really only met her last fall at her
bat mitzvah.
She is truly a special, beautiful
young woman with a warm and loving
heart. She not only touched the resi-
dents at Fleishmann Residence n West
Bloomfield, but she also has touched
me with her article. She reminded me
that in the craziness of our day-to-day
lives, it is really the little things that
count.
Just because some people walk by
without acknowledging your smile or
hello doesn't mean you should stop
smiling. Maybe the next person you
speak to needs a word of encourage-
ment.
Your casual indifference could be
crushing. You need over a hundred
muscles to frown, but only three to
smile!
It's nice to know that our young peo-
ple haven't forgotten that all people, no
matter how relegated to the flanks of
society, still matter. Thanks, Stephanie,
for reminding us that a simple smile
can make a huge difference!
Dr. Lyric Green
Detroit
SIDEWALK
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July 1 1 th!!!
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July 9 2009
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