(Thoughts

George Cantor's Reality Check column will return next week

Dry Bones

CURRENT EVENTS QUIZ

'WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN

State Filmmakers Benefit

R

ecently

I received a letter in sup-
"too successful" and unaffordable. Those
arguments are shortsighted. Instead of
port of Michigan's film credits
capping or eliminating these incentives, I
from Eddie Rubin, co-president
believe that we should let them continue
and producer of the Michigan-based film
so that we keep our talented Michigan-
production company Deep Blue Pictures.
based filmmakers, like Mr. Rubin, in
Mr. Rubin copied me on his letter to
Michigan while also attracting
Michigan Senate Finance Chair
more film industry jobs and
Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, because
professionals to our state.
I am the minority vice chair of
The film incentive critics
Finance, the committee that con-
focus on the money the state
siders tax incentive legislation.
pays back to productions. What
I found Mr. Rubin's description
the critics completely fail to
of how the film credits work for
see is not only the money that
his company to create jobs and
comes into our communities
more film business in Michigan
from these same productions,
very compelling.
but
also the future that we
Mr. Rubin and his business
Sen. Gilda Z.
are
building
for Michigan. Mr.
partner, Mr. Danny Mooney,
Jacobs
Rubin
says
in
his letter that he
plan to use the film incentives
Community
and
his
business
partner "had
to make multiple feature films
View
planned, as many of our friends
over the next few years.
have done, to leave Michigan
Deep Blue Productions is
for the coast because there just were no
working to bring to Michigan over "10
opportunities for us, film related or oth-
million dollars worth of film produc-
erwise?' The film incentives changed that;
tion" and the accompanying jobs that
they are the reason that he and his busi-
will employ our workers and send busi-
ness partner stayed and set up shop here
ness to Michigan vendors. He says that
in Michigan.
they employ anywhere from 100 to 300
Deep Blue Pictures is a young Michigan
people on their film projects — jobs that
company with a bright future.
Michigan cannot afford to lose.
Mr. Rubin, Mr. Mooney and the other
But Michigan's film incentives are now
film producers working to bring stu-
under fire from some who say they are

dios and film
productions to
Michigan are all
connected with
the Hollywood
system. These
THE ARAB
connections will
OF A
REJECTION
bring new busi-
JEWISH STATE
ness and jobs to
OF ISRAEL NU
Michigan. But
1948
most impor-
tantly, Deep Blue
Pictures and its
use of the film
incentives is an
example to our
QUIZ.
own talented
Michigan citizens
that they can stay
here and be successful. As Mr. Rubin said
in his letter:
"At the end of the day, we do not return
to L.A. or New York. I return home to
Farmington Hills, where I was born and
raised and hope to stay for many more
years to come?"
Michigan is reaping benefits from these
new film incentives. Now is not the time
to destroy what is turning out to be a very
successful tool to create jobs and business
in communities across our state.
That is the point of the film incen-

QUIZ

AND THE
PALESTINIAN'S
REJECTION OF A
JEWISH STATE
OF ISRAEL IN
2009? "

[

Quiz

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DryBonesBlog.corn

tives and that is what they are doing for
Michigan: diversifying our economy and
creating new jobs and opportunities. The
film incentives are the aggressive measures
we need to accelerate our economy's transi-
tion. They are an investment in our future.
We have planted the seeds for a new indus-
try and now we need to let them grow.

❑

Sen. Gilda Jacobs represents the 14th State

Senate District. She can be reached toll-free in

Lansing at (888) 937-4453. Visit her Web site

at www.senate.mi.govfiacobs.

Recalibrate On Middle East

librate the perception that little is being
asked of the Arab world and specifically
was most privileged on July 13 to be
the Palestinians?'
The president assured us that, in private
invited along with 16 other Jewish
discussions,
Arabs have agreed to stop the
leaders to meet with President Obama
incitement
and
to recognize Israel's legiti-
at the White House. Much has been written
mate right to be a homeland for
about this historic meeting: It's
the Jewish people, but they have
hard to believe there have been
yet to express this publicly. We
so many commentaries on a
were assured that in the near
one-hour session.
future there would be significant
Everyone who was present
changes in the news releases
has his own version of what
and speeches given by moderate
happened and I'm no differ-
Arab leaders. The president felt
ent. For me, the meeting was a
that with a more evenhanded
chance to dialogue with a new
diplomatic posture, the Arab
administration and to make
world
would rise to the occasion.
certain that the views of the
Stephen J.
It
is
time to look at what has
Orthodox Union and our con-
Savitsky
happened
since we've had our
stituents are well represented.
Special
meeting.
I
have not heard one
After the meeting, I surmised
Commentary
Arab leader publicly recognize
that the administration was ask-
Israel's legitimate right to be a
ing a great deal of Israel while
Jewish homeland and a free democratic
requesting little from the Arab world.
society in the Middle East. I have not
President Obama apparently likes the
heard one Arab leader publicly recognize
word "recalibrate." I've heard him use it on
many occasions. He said, "We have to reca- that Israel is a nation among the nations

New York/JTA

I

of the world. I have not heard one Arab
leader call for the elimination of incite-
ment and hatred against the State of Israel.
I have not heard one Arab leader recom-
mend that the educational tools used
to indoctrinate hatred against Israel be
eliminated and new textbooks published
in which the State of Israel is displayed on
the geographic map of the Middle East.
Also, I did not hear any words of con-
ciliation and moderation at the recent
Fatah convention. What I did hear were
statements praising suicide bombers and
threatening violence, as well as the ridicu-
lous claim accusing Israel of assassinating
Yasser Arafat — although the Fatah del-
egates acknowledged there was no proof.
What I did hear at the convention is that
Palestinians who supposedly were expelled
in 1948 should be able to return to their
homes. What I did hear is that Israel had no
justification to defend itself in Gaza after
waiting seven years and absorbing tens of
thousands of missiles fired at its people.
What I did hear is a Palestinian leader
warning the Arab states not to normalize

their ties with Israel. ("Normalization of
Israel's ties with the Arab countries before
the occupation ends in the Palestinian
areas is the last thing that the Palestinians
should have to experience,' said Abu El-Izz
Dajani, a former PLO ambassador.) What I
did hear is Jordan calling on Saudi Arabia
to publicly reject appeals to improve rela-
tions with Israel.
So I now ask you, Mr. President, if you
are truly sincere about finding peace in
the Middle East, is it not the time to reca-
librate your position again? May I suggest
that you make it abundantly clear that the
opportunity for peace rests clearly on the
shoulders of the Arab world.
Once they accept Israel completely
and reject terrorism and incitement, and
once the relationship between the United
States and Israel is solidified to assure the
world that there is no daylight, then and
only then will the seeds of true peace be
planted in the Middle East.

❑

Stephen J. Savitsky is president of the

Orthodox Union.

'-- 23

