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Fighting For Fairness

Regarding Eagle School controversy, combating
bigotry is the ADL goal; CAIR is repudiated.

F

or several weeks I have watched was not welcomed into Lathrup Village
letters to the Jewish News mis-
when they wanted to move in. There
represent the Anti-Defamation
were harsh words and door-to-door
League's position on the sale of the
scare tactics at the time.
Eagle Elementary School [a Farmington
I used that as a comparison to the
Public Schools building located in West
ICA wanting to come into a neighbor-
Bloomfield] to the Islamic Cultural
hood where the Muslim community
Association. I am taking this opportu-
may not be welcome today. How many
nity to set the record straight.
times in our history were Jews the
To remind you, the ADL began its fight recipients of discrimination and mur-
for fairness and justice in 1913 as the
der just because we were and are Jews?
immediate result of the lynching of a
I did not, and do not, address the
Jewish businessman from Georgia, Leo
legal issues and sale process as dozens
Frank, for a crime he did
of community members spoke
not commit. The Charter
to those points.
of the ADL clearly states its
I regret any interpretation of
mission: "to stop the defa-
my presence at that meeting
mation of the Jewish people
as an indication of support for
and to provide just and
CAIR (Council on American-
fair treatment to all people
Islamic Relations). Neither the
alike." We are a Jewish civil
ADL nor I support CAIR in any
rights agency, but we do not
way. I did not mention CAIR in
limit our efforts to fight for
my remarks. CAIR was simply
civil rights just for Jewish
an organization voicing their
people.
Betsy Kellman
opinion that night.
Regional
We know that bigotry
Some, including an article
Director
directed against any group
in the Oakland Press, tried
ADL Michigan
makes life less fair and less
to link ADL and JCRC with
secure for all, including
Special
CAIR. There is no link or tie
Response
the Jewish people. To that
between CAIR and the ADL or
end, we work particularly
the JCRC. Not only do we not
hard for the Jewish community in three support, but we have been troubled by
areas: protecting, investigating and
and critical of CAIR's equivocations on
educating. We have a robust discrimi-
terrorism and the platform it provides
nation complaint process, which is the
to conspiratorial Israel-bashers. I want
first priority in our office, but we also
those points to be perfectly clear.
provide excellent programming and
However, let's also be clear: We cannot
services to fight bias and bigotry for all. be afraid of speakers coming into this
At a public hearing of the
community. Many organizations bring in
Farmington Board of Education on the
speakers that we oppose. We can ignore
night of June 14, I specifically used the
a speaker, we can picket, we can write
example of Akiva Hebrew Day School to letters to the newspapers or online or
demonstrate why it is important to wel- we can choose to attend an address and
come the "stranger" into the commu-
ask questions and exercise our own First
nity. The Orthodox Jewish community
Amendment rights. We can demonstrate

What's In A Name?
My father always taught me that a good
name is the most important thing a per-
son can have and protect. Unfortunately,
he did not envision that his son with such
an uncommon name would be plagued
by confusion with a viscious Holocaust
denier and Israel basher so recently in
the news in connection with the sale of
the Eagle Elementary School ("Muslim
School Uproar," June 23, page 1).
As a lifelong area resident and sup-

porter of Israel and Jewish causes, I, my
family and my friends want to assure
everyone that I am the "other" Norman
Finkelstein.

Norman L. Finkelstein

Orchard Lake

Corrections
•"Gerrymandering With John" (July
7, page 1) should have stated that
Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters actually
resides in Bloomfield Township, which

"You cannot blame
all Muslims for the
extremist behavior of
the minority."

that we are bright and engaged and point
out the inaccuracy or hatefulness of a
position that we do not accept.
I came that night to support the pur-
chase for two reasons. One, because my
board was solidly behind this gesture and
issue. We at ADL believe that you cannot
paint an entire community with a broad
stroke. You cannot blame all Muslims for
the extremist behavior of the minority.
All Muslims are not terrorists. Just as
all terrorists are not Muslims. Just like
you certainly do not want the stereo-
typical behavior of some Jews to repre-
sent all Jews. At ADL we continue to see
terrible examples of anti-Semitism on a
daily basis, and we fight to provide just
and fair treatment in those situations
every day. When you need us, we will be
there for you, too.
The second was more personal. I
came to ADL directly because of Sept.
11, 2001. I was in New York on that
horrific morning and felt a personal
tie to that city and that tragedy. When
I returned home many days later, I
decided to leave a lucrative position in
another field and to spend the rest of
my career doing nonprofit work in the
Jewish community. I found the ADL,
and it's been a good fit for me.
I now spend much of my time
defending the Jewish community
and all communities against bias and
bigotry and hatred. There is certainly
enough going around.

is part of the new 9th Congressional
District that would also be the district
of Democratic U.S. Rep. Sander Levin
of Royal Oak. Peters' local congressional
office is in Troy, which, under the new
plan, would fall in the new 11th District.

Steve Isenberg, who
participates in JARC's
Shetzer Independent Living
Program, loves sharing
his passion for reading
with others, and recently
began hosting a weekly
"Storytelling with Steve"

at JARC's Rosen RRR
program. Although he is
blind, Steve is an avid
Braille reader who is gifted
with a broadcast quality
voice. His audience seems
to enjoy the experience as
much as he does.

Whether as a volunteer
or donor, your generous
support will benefit the
men, women and
children ARC serves.

A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

OCTOBER 18 FOX THEATRE

•"Cancer Mentoring" (July 7, page 15)
had an incorrect phone number for
the JFS Cancer Resource Connection
program. The correct number is (248)
592-3963.

31`' ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

July 14 • 2011

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