wersoso.
Opinion
Facing Hatred On Campus
I
ncreasing numbers of students
report that demonization of Israel
is intensifying on campuses.
Bewildered, many students wonder why
each time they douse anti-Israel fires
they reignite.
It's simple. They face an organized
movement undaunted by setbacks.
The Muslim Student Union (MSU) and
Muslim Student Association (MSA),
allied with extremist groups like
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP),
focus single-mindedly on demonizing
Israel and its supporters. This is not
your normal student activism. MSU
and MSA members are methodical, well
funded, strictly organized and fervent.
The leaders are usually devout and
make hatred of Israel a religious as well
as social justice cause.
These groups don't spontaneously plan
actions just for their own schools. SJP
and the 600 MSU/MSA chapters across
North America use the Internet to coor-
dinate their strategies. They share fliers,
props and slogans, and analyze best prac-
tices to refine each year's tactics.
They maintain continuity. New lead-
ers are groomed to replace graduates.
Incoming students
agenda in student
are actively recruit-
governments and
ed, welcomed into
newspapers.
their supportive
With this
fold and indoctri-
groundwork laid,
nated. Other meth-
they recommend
ods also ensure
punishments
for Israel such
continuity. A young
man at an "apart-
as divestment.
heid wall" display
Divestment reso-
Roz Rothstein and Roberta Seid
in April said he is a
lutions, in turn,
Special
Muslim missionary
disseminate their
Commentary
anti-Israel message
who volunteered to
accompany the wall
through campus
for three years and "educate" students.
debates and media coverage.
The MSU/MSA and SJP launch slick
Most Israel supporters ignore this
campaigns, street theater and campus
larger, organized offensive, hoping the
displays like the "apartheid wall." They
fires will burn out. But they won't. MSU/
orchestrate demonstrations against pro
MSA and SJP zeal is growing, fed par-
coexistence speakers and host pseudo-
tially by their successes and financial
academic panels. They showcase speak-
supporters. Even when they know they
can't win a campaign, they count it a
ers whose only credentials are a Jewish
background and anti-Israel views. They
victory because they created a platform
seek academic credibility by asking pro- for their propaganda.
fessors to co-sponsor their events. They
As University of California, Berkeley,
form coalitions with campus groups by
divestment leaders commented, "We lost
supporting popular student causes and
the vote, but won the night. We made
falsely claiming they promote human
a statement recorded for posterity and
rights. They work to promote their
forced everyone to listen and watch."
They also expect a disorganized coun-
ter-response. Pro-Israel students' atten-
tion is elsewhere — on their daily lives
and futures, as it should be. They did
not go to college to defend their identity
or Israel. Most become involved out of
necessity.
Consequently, pro-Israel students
are often unprepared for anti-Israel
ambushes. In April, the UC-San Diego
student senate suddenly proposed a
divestment bill. Pro-Israel students
had only a few days to mobilize while
divestment proponents had spent a year
recruiting allies and polishing their pre-
sentations.
Pro-Israel students are often con-
cerned about unsupportive administra-
tions. Most universities lack standards
that protect the rights of students tar-
geted by hostile campaigns. Pro-Israel
students also believe that sympathy
for the other side and information can
defuse the situation. Unfortunately, this
has rarely been the result.
Pro-Israel students are also discon-
certed by the other side's half-truths
and anti-Semitic stereotypes, violation
of conduct norms, and by fear.
The Support Of Elder Law
T
he part of my law practice that
is elder law encompasses a wide
range of services, from planning
to advocacy. Many of my estate-planning
clients are seniors concerned about who
will carry out medical and financial deci-
sion-making in case of their incapacity.
They also want to provide for distribu-
tion of their belongings and savings at
death.
As a probate attorney, I often represent
seniors or their families when issues of
guardianship or conservatorship arise or
when estate administration is required.
Preserving assets for a senior's spouse
or children when long-term nursing
home care is required is also part of my
practice, as is assisting with Medicaid
planning
Two recent cases illustrate the signifi-
cant service that an attorney familiar
with, and focused on, the needs of vul-
nerable, elderly clients can provide.
When I met Mrs. X, then 97 years old,
24
June 3 • 2010
she had suffered a stroke, but
child appointed as guardian.
The other child rarely visited
was articulate and mentally
and was not perceived as likely
sharp. She was distressed, to
to interfere with the staff.
say the least, when her nursing
This situation left Mrs. X in
home petitioned the probate
court to appoint a guardian
an untenable position. Loving
all of her children, she did not
for her. Mrs. X had done all the
want to be forced to state her
things attorneys recommend
preference in a public forum.
to avoid the need for a guard-
Yet if a guardian were to be
ian. She had signed powers
Sara Zivian
appointed, she knew which
of attorney that appointed a
Zw ickl
child would be there, day in
trusted child to make medical
Corn munity
and day out, and who would
and financial decisions on her
Vi ew
fight for her right to appropri-
behalf. She had already quali-
ate care. Ultimately, after meet-
fied for Medicaid because of
ing with all of the parties and providing
her modest assets and low income.
an opportunity for Mrs. X to make her
Why, then, the probate petition? Mrs.
wishes known in private, I obtained a
X's daughter was demanding a high level
court order that satisfied Mrs. X and
of care at the facility. She was there daily
returned to her trusted daughter the
and regularly met with administrators to
authority to oversee her mother's care.
assure that her mother was a priority for
In another egregious case, nursing
the staff despite her Medicaid status. The
home staff interfered in a client's affairs,
nursing home, finding this unreasonable
both medical and financial. I call this
and intrusive, sought to have another
"The Case of the Vigilante Social Worker?'
A member of Mr. J's synagogue intro-
duced us. Mr. J, like Mrs. X, was able to
speak for himself and to make decisions
despite severe physical disabilities. He,
too, had qualified for Medicaid, had an
attentive family and had signed powers
of attorney to enable his family to make
decisions on his behalf.
Nevertheless, the nursing home's social
worker decided that he needed a guard-
ian. Because of his family's lack of under-
standing of the system, he did not have
legal counsel as the matter proceeded; he
wound up with a stranger as his guard-
ian. It was not until the nursing home
filed a petition for conservatorship and
control of his finances that I heard from
him. The nursing home filed the petition
for one reason only: to make certain that
it would be paid. Once I intervened, the
nursing home dismissed this inappropri-
ate petition.
Then I set about terminating the