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How About

Dad?

for starters

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting tal-
ent, speaker, emcee and a regular guest host on the
Mitch Albom Show on WJR AM 760. Visit his website
at laughwithbigal.com and “Like” Al on Facebook.

commentary

Israeli Lives Matter, Too

I

n March, within hours after the terrorist
attacks in Brussels, landmarks around
the globe — including the Eiffel Tower,
Brandenburg Gate, Trevi Fountain and
the World Trade Center — were bathed in
lights showing the red, yellow and black
of the Belgian flag. Belgian colors likewise
adorned hundreds of thousands, if not
millions, of Facebook pages — much as
the French tricolor appeared after the Paris
attacks last November.
My heart goes out to
the families of the vic-
tims and to the people
of Belgium — a nation
that is one of the pillars
of European unity, sta-
bility and democracy.
Political lead-
Ellen Hershkin
ers, media and the
informed public
routinely, unambiguously and rightly con-
demn terrorist attacks against American,
Belgian, French, Danish or Indonesian
targets.

But when it comes to terrorism, not all
victims are equal.
Since October 2015, 30 Israelis have
been murdered in a wave of premeditated
knife attacks, and another 21 were injured
in the bombing of a bus in Jerusalem.
Israelis today are on constant alert as they
conduct their daily lives — working, going
to school, grocery shopping, waiting for
a bus or walking down the street. Parents
have been murdered with knives or
hatchets in front of their children. Attack
victims have included pregnant women,
teenagers and toddlers.
When an attack takes place in Jerusalem
or Tel Aviv, there is often a deafening
silence from the world, an effort to con-
flate the killing of Israelis — mostly civil-
ians — with a broader “cycle of violence”
or, at worst, a pivot to suggest that Israel
bears responsibility. These are textbook
cases of blaming the victim.
This double standard is often reflected
in news reporting. A typical recent head-
line (from the New York Times) read,

“Terrorists Kill Dozens in Brussels.”
Last December, the Los Angeles Times
failed to note that two of the Palestinians
referred to in the following headline —
“Four Palestinian Teens Killed in Israeli
Violence” — were killed as they carried
out stabbing attacks against Israelis and
that the other two died in a violent dem-
onstration on the Gaza-Israel border. [The
headline was later updated to “Violence in
Jerusalem, Gaza leaves 6 dead, including
stabbing suspects.”]
Israel has seen attacks on civilians take
the form of airline hijackings, suicide
bombings, cross-border raids and the
murder of its Olympic athletes. It has
been the victim of large-scale attacks
and now the protracted wave of knifings.
Proportional to the country’s population,
those 30 Israeli fatalities over the past
six months are the equivalent of 1,200
American lives.
Many American political leaders have
expressed solidarity and spoken out for
Israel’s right to defend its citizens from

continued on page 6

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thus avoiding you becoming entangled
in my spokes.
OK, enough kvetching. I’d like to
conclude with mentions of two incom-
parable men. One Murray and one
Maurry. First, one of our communities
most respected broadcasters and a true
mentsh — Murray Feldman. Mazel tov,
Murray, on your incomparable 40-year
run on Fox 2 Detroit. We’ll be listening
for you, as always, on WWJ News Radio
950.
A few weeks ago, I lost my dear sweet
cousin Maurry Glusman of “Maurry the
Ice Cream Man” fame. Maurry passed
away peacefully just shy of his 81st
birthday. He was an Oak Park legend
with a chocolate-covered heart of gold.
Today, his white truck, white crisp
uniform, huge smile and incomparable
charm now bring joy to the streets of
heaven.
That’s all for now. See you next month.
But if you can’t wait that long, just stop
and talk to me on the trail; unless I’m
“passing on the left!”

Colored Stones, YG

I

t’s finally great to be back
because I’m desperate for atten-
on my bike, hitting the
tion. Summary so far: Half-hour
beautiful West Bloomfield
on bike, 300 feet covered, three
Rails to Trails network. First
calories burned.
stop is always the corner gas
Finally, is it possible? Do my
station to fill up my winter-
eyes deceive me? Am I actu-
weary tires. And it only takes
ally seeing a stretch of trail sans
me, oh, 20 minutes to fill each
people? Yes! And off I go. Only
tire! Argh! Why is it so hard to Alan Muskovitz to stop abruptly again … to look
get that darned air hose to fit
at a turtle. No, I didn’t talk to the
properly over the tire valve?
turtle; I just stared at it.
My first try always elicits that wonder-
One time I actually witnessed a turtle
ful hissing noise as I allow 60 lbs. of air
laying its eggs and was fixated on how
pressure to escape. Then, after what I
the momma turtle buried them in the
think is a successful inflation, I check
dirt to protect her offspring from preda-
the pressure with my tire gauge and let
tors. I can’t be certain, but I “think” I
all the air out again because I can’t get
heard the turtle using an array of four-
the tire gauge to fit on the tire valve
letter words while giving birth. Probably
either! Argh!
just my imagination.
To add insult to injury, the air
A little pet peeve about the trail. I fol-
machine exhausts my 50 cents worth
low the protocol to warn walkers that
of time, and I have to start the whole
I’m about to pass them using a system
process over. I’ve come to terms with the involving a bell on my bike and also
fact that this is just part of my workout.
yelling — “passing on your left!” The
On to the trail!
only problem is, more and more people
My riding journey often begins like
don’t hear me because they’re listening
this … I ride 100 feet and stop to talk to to music through earbuds. Come on
a friend I’ve come upon. That’s followed
people, it’s time to go uni-bud; one ear-
by another 100 feet where I stop and talk bud in, one out. This way you can enjoy
to more acquaintances. This process also the sounds of nature, your favorite songs
includes talking to people I barely know
and me yelling “passing on your left!”

Diamonds, 14KT, 18KT

“ FINISHED ”

Passing On The Left

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June 2 • 2016

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