points of view Kilpatrick from page 31 Commentary Kwame Kilpatrick's curious affection for Farrakhan in 2005 and again in 2007 should have tipped off all of us to his unhinged demeanor long before the Free Press broke the text-messaging scandal in January 2008. In Detroit, Farrakhan spoke of "a few greedy ones" who have taken con- trol of Washington. The conspiracy he alluded to harkened to his 2004 belief Louis that a "small group Farrakhan of neo-conservatives are using American power to destroy the enemies of Israel." By neo-conservatives, he meant the several Jews within President George W. Bush's inner circle who pushed to topple Saddam Hussein to thwart Iraq's per- ceived threat to the world. In theory, the Millions More Movement was noble despite Farrakhan's bear hug on it. The intent of the Millions More March, as Kilpatrick's staff noted in a Sept. 8, 2005, letter to the IN, was "to generate the spirit and energy of the original Million Man March in a constructive effort to build the African American community in America" and "to generate mutual love and respect among all people and to take personal responsibility to uplift African Americans and others out of the devastation of poverty and ignorance I had no problem with that or with the wide-ranging mainstream African American groups that supported the march, including the NAACP and National Urban League, both powerful and valued. Alienating Leadership Sadly, the Millions More March, sup- posedly redemptive, broke apart, in my view, when Malik Zulu Shabazz, the anti-Jewish and racist leader of the New Black Panther Party, signed on as co-organizer with Farrakhan. Shabazz not only sympathizes with Hamas and Hezbollah, but also claims that U.S. support of Zionism was the root of why so many people died on 9-11. Like Farrakhan, Shabazz espouses the anti- Semitic fantasy that Jews had a special responsibility for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Kilpatrick's staff seemed to think I was out of touch because former President Bill Clinton and then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued statements supporting the Millions More March. 32 August 18 2011 That rebuke, claiming I "completely misunderstood" the event and the spirit behind it, missed the point. The march itself certainly held prom- ise. But I couldn't gush about it given the two organizers, Louis Farrakhan and Malik Zulu Shabazz, would be there to, directly or by inference, poison the mes- sage by damning Jews — ironically one of the African American community's foremost supporters during the civil rights struggle and in Detroit's rebuild- ing following the 1967 riots. A Worthy Dream At the time in 2005, I did say that Kilpatrick "is a friend of the Jewish community, has addressed Jewish groups and counts Jews among his financial backers." But for his staff to describe what I wrote as a tirade because "he would never engage in any activity that he felt was disrespectful of the Jewish community or any other group" was balderdash. Yes, Kwame Kilpatrick's dream of a new spirit and a new energy in Detroit resonated and should remain a top- shelf pursuit under current Mayor Dave Bing. But by spotlighting Farrakhan with the Spirit of Detroit Award, Kilpatrick and the city of Detroit also put, by extension, Malik Zulu Shabazz in the limelight. Peaceful advocacy of health care, education and job creation on behalf of the masses deserves plaudits. But neither Farrakhan nor Shabbaz was ever a mainstream black leader. Yet, mainstream black leaders, like Mayor Kilpatrick in 2005, perpetuate that illu- sion when they give legitimacy to this hateful duo. My rereading of history reinforces my belief that Kwame Kilpatrick's curi- ous affection for Farrakhan in 2005 and again in 2007 should have tipped off all of us to his unhinged demeanor long before the Detroit Free Press broke the text-messaging scandal in January 2008. I guess we were all too enamored by Kilpatrick's charismatic, come-from- behind re-election victory over Freman Hendrix in November 2005 to notice the gathering political storm clouds that would bring a torrent of court convic- tions and sweep the hip-hop mayor not only from office, but also into jail. Bibi Should Go To Ramallah New York/JTA F Easing The Tension or the Arab spring, Israel In America, perception is fast represents the hope that in becoming reality, and a growing the Middle East, a nation number of people are question- can be both a national homeland ing support for Israel. Worrisome and a free society. Israel is a for the longer term, even among modern, thriving democracy amid younger Jews, support for Israel is a region dominated by despotic now a debatable question instead regimes that brutally oppress of an undisputed fact. their people Through and rape Hillel, Birthright their land's Israel, the resources. Bronfman Youth Freedom Fellowships in enables Israel and many Israel's other initiatives, advancing we work tire- economy, lessly to educate robust edu- Jewish youth cational and expose them Edgar Bronfman and Adam R. system, to the wonders Bronf man unique cul- of their heritage ture, prolific and to the bless- media and independent judiciary to ing that is the Jewish state. But thrive. when this generation is bombarded Yet Israel and its neighbors constantly by images and descrip- remain in a perpetual state of war, tions of Israel's villainy, it becomes and the majority of the world's increasingly difficult to combat nations regularly condemn the negative impressions. Through Jewish state. Unable to beat Israel action and inaction, Israel is fast on the battlefield in 1956, '67, '73 losing ground in this battle. and the '80s, Israel's Arab neigh- Misguided ideologues advance bors resorted to terrorism, the Israeli construction in parts of the perpetuation of Palestinian suffer- West Bank hoping for the realiza- ing and endless propaganda. tion of a greater Israel that encom- In this context, Israel has strug- passes the entire biblical home- gled for peace. For decades, Israel land. However romantic the notion, has been a willing and reliable facts on the ground preclude such partner in peace with Jordan and an eventuality. Annexation of the Egypt. However, a lasting peace entire West Bank would require with the Palestinian Authority the displacement or repression and Israel's surrounding enemies of millions of Palestinians and is not something a moral and just has remained elusive. Hamas, Israel could or should do. It is in Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, all neither the long-term nor short- active surrogates of the Iranian term interests of the Jewish state regime, are sworn to Israel's to govern burgeoning Palestinian destruction, oppose peace at every populations. Then-Prime Minister turn and promise not to be bound Ariel Sharon recognized this when by any agreement. he withdrew Israel from the Gaza Nevertheless, the Jewish Strip, and many recognize this now state must regain the moral high in the West Bank. ground. Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu are Changing The Sands vilified as obstacles to Palestinian Short of unilateral action, there is self-determination. So strong is little anyone believes that Israel the impression that Israel per- can do to truly alter the situa- petuates Palestinian suffering tion on the ground. But there is a that a majority of United Nations way for Israel to create conditions members may vote to support a conducive to a just and lasting unilateral Palestinian state at this peace by completely changing the September's General Assembly.