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Flint Story Neglected
Positive Side Of City
Shame on you, Sandra Bernhard and
the Detroit Jewish News, for showing
only one sliver of Flint and not the
whole picture ("You Can't Go Back
Home Again;' Feb. 21, page 1).
You missed our amazing Cultural
Center that includes the Flint Institute
of Art, Whiting Auditorium, Sloane
Museum, the Planetarium and the Flint
Institute of Music. We have a state-of-
the-art Children's Museum, a growing
and vibrant University of Michigan-
Flint campus, Mott Community College
and the world-famous Kettering
University attended by students from
all over the world, a revived downtown
area and so much more.
You mentioned the old synagogue,
but what about the newer one on the
corner of Dye and Calkins Road with
two minyans every day (more than
any synagogue in the city of Detroit!),
the Reform Temple Beth El and the
Chabad House? All three of which are
in good working order with small, but
active congregations.
Yes, we have old neighborhoods that
are deteriorating, but we also have
beautiful neighborhoods off Miller
Road, off Court Street near the Cultural
Center and in the township near the
synagogue and temple as well as in the
greater Flint areas of Flushing, Grand
Blanc, Davison and Goodrich.
Come back and you can see the rest
of Flint that you missed! I'm from
Chicago originally, but after 45 years
here, I am proud to call Flint home!
Sent with support from many other
Flint folks, and please forward to
Sandra Bernhard.
Gail Shulman
Flint
JN's Opinion Articles
Gave Food For Thought
It was heartening to see forthright and
honest articles regarding the difficult
situation of the Arab-Israeli conflict
and the worldwide Islamist threat.
(Points of View, Feb. 21, pages 36-37).
This is difficult stuff, but there is
no place for "Wish-Thinkers" and
"Vigilante Peacemakers" to distract us
from reality. Steve Emerson ("The Real
Meaning Of The Term Islamist") and
Evelyn Gordon ("Israelis Losing Faith
In International Guarantees") are reli-
able sources to educate us on the seri-
ous issues.
Finally, Allan Gale of the JCRC
("Standing Guard") made worthwhile
input by recommending that we fol-
low "U.N. Watch" vs. the U.N. Human
Rights Council charade.
I would like to see the "organized"
Jewish community grapple with the
need for "guidelines for credible inter-
faith outreach." Dr. Isaac Barr made
some wonderful suggestions in his
letter, "Jewish Peacemakers Must Be
Prepared," (Feb. 14, page 5) and would
be a good place to start.
Ruth Katsnelson
West Bloomfield
Obama Has Been A
Great Friend Of Israel
The letter headlined "Obama Visit
Will Only Put Pressure on Israel" (Feb.
21, page 5) borders on the absurd in
view of the article that follows on page
18 noting that Israel will present the
president with its Presidential Medal of
Distinction. Israeli President Shimon
Peres explained that President Obama
has been a consistent friend of Israel
since the beginning of his public life!
Obama's list of accomplishments
related to Israel is probably too long for
this response (the anti-missile dome
comes to mind), but I question how
the author of this letter has the audac-
ity to claim that Obama has "supported
Islamic extremists." Since assuming
office, he has been relentlessly accused
of disloyalty to Israel, part of the right
wing's mythology.
Everyone I know is hungry for some
new initiative, some creative thinking,
that might lead to peace in the Middle
East. There was criticism that Obama
did not go to Israel; now that he is
going, there's criticism that he is going
— his motive, according to our mis-
guided letter writer, to stick a knife "in
Bibi's back:' That image is repugnant,
disrespectful and, dare I say, unsub-
stantiated.
Edith Broida
Farmington Hills
Obama Has Supported
Israel On Many Fronts
Israel could not have a more devoted
friend than President Obama. Under
the Obama administration, the amount
of military aid that Israel has received
from the United States is unprecedent-
ed. The president has sent more than
$3 billion a year to Israel's military
to ensure that country has the most
advanced technologies and weaponry.
For Israel to defend itself from
the threat posed by Hamas' rockets,
Obama has supplied $250 million in
supplemental funding to facilitate the
development of the Iron Dome missile
system. Recently, the president pledged
that an additional $70 million will be
given to Israel to speed up the produc-
tion of the Iron Dome.
The president has helped restore
Israel's qualitative military edge by
selling them the most sophisticated
weapons, including bunker-busting
bombs. Demonstrating his unshakeable
support for Israel, Obama vehemently
opposed the Palestinians' effort to
unilaterally declare a state, blocking its
validation at the United Nations.
The president has consistently
asserted Israel's right to defend itself,
as he did in the Gaza flotilla incident.
When Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu
made his "3 a.m. phone call" to
Obama, asking him to rescue Israeli
diplomats trapped in their embassy in
Cairo, the president personally inter-
vened.
In addition, during the devastating
Carmel fire, Obama ordered that Israel
should be given "whatever it needed"
to stop the fire. Furthermore, Obama
boycotted Durban II and Durban III,
along with opposing the Goldstone
Report.
No president has done as much to
stop Iran's nuclear program. From the
moment he took office, he has worked
tirelessly with allies and world lead-
ers to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat.
Joining forces with an international
coalition, Obama has imposed the most
debilitating sanctions on Iran, crippling
its economy. He has clearly asserted that
all options remain on the table for stop-
ping Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Evidently, Israel's leaders recognize
that president Obama has consistently
demonstrated his unwavering friend-
ship to the Israeli people. During
President Obama's trip to Israel this
March, President Shimon Peres will
award the president the prestigious
Medal of Distinction for his "unique
and significant contribution to
strengthening the State of Israel and
the security of its citizens:'
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West Bloomfield
Correction
• In last week's Boom section ("Getting
Value For Your Valuables: page 24), it
was mistakenly published that people
could get a free Heritage Auctions
catalogue via email. Instead, Caroline
Ashleigh is offering a free verbal
appraisal via email.
Wednesday, May 2k
Detroit Zoo • 6-9pm
1803010
JN
March 7 • 2013
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