Opinion A MIX OF IDEAS Dry R —ones Editorials are posted and archived on JNonline.us. George Cantor's Reality Check column will return next week. Ye= Editorial Terrorists Are Terrorists! E ach time a violent incident such as the one at Fort Hood, Texas, occurs these days, a strange new ritual unfolds. If it involves a Muslim, those in authority practically trample each other in the rush to cameras and microphones to reassure us that this had nothing to do with terrorism. It is almost like the "Politically Correct Olympics." Who can be first to give us the good news? Later on, when it turns out that somewhere along the line the news was not so good and the shooter did have repeated contacts with an advocate of radical Islam, the retractions are somewhat quieter. The case of Maj. Nidal Hasan is almost the paradigm of this nonsense. It appears that the Army would prefer to have us believe that counseling programs for American soldiers under stress are so carelessly supervised that a man with severe psychological problems can attain a position of trust and authority. Isn't that reassuring? According to other military medical personnel, even hinting that a Muslim officer could kill 13 sol- diers because he has been influenced by extremists is a career-buster. But somehow, someway it always seems to turn out that way. The clean-cut kid next door with the bomb in his basement turns out to be watching wild-eyed imams preaching jihad on the Internet. Or as the New Republic recently put it: "OK. Nidal Hasan is not a terrorist. He's a banana ... So what!" That doesn't change the fact that there are people out there, some loners and some with direct ties to terrorist organiza- tions, who are planning great deeds such as this all the time. Quibbling over proper nomenclature doesn't alter that fact. Mainstream media does not like the word "terrorist:' It really seems to believe that if you start throwing that word around, the great right-wing militias it knows is hiding up there in the hills will come swooping down and start attacking any Muslim they can get their hands on. The "more responsible" Islamic organi- zations recognize who their allies are and do everything they can to promote this image of victimization. It will happen; if not right now, then surely if this labeling of terror- . WHILE ism gets out of hand, FOR 2S LONG tomorrow. YEARS OUR JEWISH There is a cost that "LEADERSHIP" comes when the grains of political correctness become embedded in our system of commu- nication. Self-censor- ship and, eventually, self-doubt are its by- products. A strong and con- DryBones.com fident civic culture calls things what they people on their way to counsel soldiers are. By any reasonable definition of the engaged in a war against such extremism, word, a man who listens to radical reli- is a terrorist. gious leaders, picks up a gun and kills 13 Believe otherwise at your peril. Reality Check The Aura Of The IDF I studied at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit for nine years and have been involved in an orga- nization and summer camp called Young Judaea for 12 years. While I was a student at Michigan State University, I decided to study my third year abroad at Ben-Gurion University near Beersheva where I took classes in Hebrew. I made aliyah in July 2008 through Nefesh B'Nefesh after I completed my first degree in linguistics. When I arrived to Israel, I met with my 25 other garin members and moved up to Kibbutz Iftach to live with them. For the first three months, my garin and I spent our time working at our kibbutz, Breisheet, where we worked at an apple factory packing apples and doing other work there, too. We also took trips around Israel before we were all drafted into the army. On Nov. 27, I was drafted into a corn- manders' course (Course Makim) for six months. For the first three months, I completed combat basic training. There, I had the basic classes that every soldier needs to take, such as first aid, weapons, etc. What made my basic training dif- ferent then regular basic training was that we spent close to two months just in 30 December 3 2009 the shooting ranges and sand dunes. I learned from my command- ers, sergeants and officers the skills of fighters and survival skills in the army. This basic training was the most chal- lenging event physically and mentally that I have ever experi- enced. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment after sleeping outside in the freezing weather at night and doing drills with my gun and vest for 18 hours a day. In my basic training, I learned the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. All of us work together on every task, from being on time to places to cleaning our rooms and showers. For the last three months, I had my commanders' course where we had more classes and exams on all of the material covered in basic training. Going from basic training to the actual course was a nice jump because we were allowed more freedom, while our responsibilities were hightened, too. After I completed my basic training and course, I was placed at a base called Michve Alon near Tiberias, where new immigrants do their basic training and learn Hebrew from an intense course of ulpan taught by the command- ers. What makes this base special is that it gives new immigrants a chance to suc- ceed and take part in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) just like every other Israeli soldier. This base is in the education unit, so it's not just a place where soldiers go through basic train- ing, but also a great learning environment. I was placed in a platoon (pluga) where my soldiers have basic training and take courses on Judaism and Zionism. These soldiers choose to go through the conversion process via the army so they can be recognized as Jews by the State of Israel. It's amazing to see how these soldiers already take on a Jewish way of life by keeping Shabbat, going to synagogue, etc. Each course is a total of three months, meaning the first three weeks is basic training that I certify them in and the rest is a course on Judaism and Zionism. Most of the day, the soldiers have classes with civilian religious teachers that teach them the Tanach, holidays, etc. As a com- mander, I also teach courses on Jewish history, such as Herzl, the aliyot, the Six- Day War, etc. I was very lucky to have been placed here because I can teach all I have learned at Hillel Day School and Young Judaea — knowledge that has influenced me to serve my country. It is a great experience to be a commander and teacher in one teaching discipline of the army as well as in a course that will help the soldiers pass the conversion process when they go to the belt din. Through my army experience, I was able to meet incredible new Israeli, American, Russian and Ethiopian friends from my course as well as my new base, where I serve as a commander. This is one of the many great things about the army that I enjoy very much. The IDF made me a stronger and more informed person about what an Israeli soldier experiences on a day-to-day basis. 7 Carley A. Sirlin, 23, formerly of West Blodmfield, is the daughter of Valeri Sirlin of West Bloomfield and Keith Sirlin of Bloomfield Hills. She is a graduate of Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, Bloomfield Hills Andover High School and Michigan State University.