N

ot to crow about any accom-
plishments, but I would like 
to point out that you readers 
are becoming more aware of the 
expressions you use. That awareness 
really feathers my 
nest.
OK, have you now 
noticed this column’
s 
direction? Hopefully, 
my attempts to illus-
trate the preponder-
ance of “bird talk” 
will not ruffle any 
feathers and will not lay an egg.
Most often, we will use aviary 
terms to describe our feelings. We 
enjoy being as free as birds, happy 
as larks, proud as peacocks. When 

challenged, we can become 
as mad as wet hens.
If you are as wise as an owl, 
you will not settle for a job that 
pays chicken feed. Find an area of 
work that allows you to get your 
ducks in a row and provides tasks 
that, to you, are like water off a 
duck’
s back. To stay sharp on the job, 
you may have to go to bed with the 
chickens, which is hard to do if you 
are a night owl.
If you are suspicious of someone’
s 
actions, you may want to watch 
him like a hawk or keep an eagle 
eye on him. It may not be necessary 
to clip his wings, but if his actions 
make him seem silly as a goose or 
crazy as a loon, you may realize he 

has become an albatross around 
your neck and you need to duck the 
responsibility of watching him.
Be wary if you have invited some-
one out to eat and you have been 
told she eats like a bird. A vulture is 
a bird!
Though I am often reminded that I 
am no spring chicken, I am not dead 
as a dodo. No comment will make 
me believe that I am a bird brain, and 
I’
ll continue to wing it as I search for 
more word play; after all, it is not as 
scarce as hens’
 teeth. ■

March 14 • 2019 5
jn

Sy Manello 
Editorial Assistant

views

essay

Our Fine-Feathered Friends

JN editorial

Henry Ford: Let The Discussion End?
L

et the discussion begin.
”
With those words, Dearborn 
Historian Editor Bill McGraw 
hoped to start a conversation last 
month about Henry Ford and how, 
100 years after he purchased the 
Dearborn Independent newspaper, its 
virulently anti-Semitic content is very 
much alive today and being used to 
fuel hate sites across the web. And via 
the Detroit Historical Commission’
s 
modestly distributed quarterly pub-
lication (it has no digital platform), 
McGraw was advancing a funda-
mental concept — “telling the whole 
truth about our past, no matter how 
unpleasant, and connecting local 
events to what’
s happening in the 
greater world.
”
The discussion ended before it 
began. Dearborn Mayor John O’
Reilly 
impounded the approximately 250-
copy press run with the explanation 
that “… we want Dearborn to be 
understood as it is today — a commu-
nity that works hard at fostering pos-
itive relationships within our city and 
beyond. We expect city-funded pub-
lications like The Historian to support 
these efforts. It was thought that by pre-

senting information from 100 years ago 
that included hateful messages — with-
out a compelling reason directly linked 
to events in Dearborn today — this 
edition of The Historian could become 
a distraction from our continuing mes-
sages of inclusion and respect.
”
The Dearborn Historical 
Commission adopted a resolution 
objecting to Mayor O’
Reilly’
s actions 
and the respected McGraw’
s role as 

editor would be no more. For 24 hours, 
the story went viral, appearing in pub-
lications and on media sites around 
the world. Was this a violation of the 
First Amendment and its free speech 
and press provisions? Or an attempt 
to sanitize history? Was it a politically 
calculated move to not offend the city’
s 
large Middle Eastern population?
It was likely all of these. But at a 
time when anti-Semitism is on the rise 
and when fingers are pointed largely 
at right-wing extremist groups, Mayor 
O’
Reilly’
s claims of just wanting to be 
inclusive and respectful while promot-
ing unity and understanding ring hol-
low. Heaven forbid exclusively calling 
out anti-Semitism for what it was and 
is! One need look no farther than the 
problem Congressional Democrats 
have had in addressing anti-Semitism 
in their own caucus, especially among 
their left-wing extremists. 
While the news cycles may be short, 
Mayor O’
Reilly’
s impoundment of the 
Dearborn Historian, his feeble efforts 
at justifying his actions and his “going 
radio silent” on the subject will endure 
at least as long as the content in the 
Dearborn Independent. ■

The Dearborn Historian

Quarter
Quarte ly of t
y of t
y
he Dear
he Dear
e Dea born H
born Hi
rn Historica
storica
storical Commi
Commission 
sion
ss

Autumn 
Autumn 2018 \ 
018 \
2018
Volume
Volume 55, Num
5, Num
55, Number 3
er
ber 3

“The Jew is a 
race that has 
no civilization 
to point to, no 
aspiring religion, no 
great achievement 
in any realm.”
Henry Ford’s 
Dearborn 
Independent
Dear
Dearborn
born 

I d
Inde
Inde
d
pend
pend
p
t
ent
ent

A Special Report: H
He
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H nry
nry 
n
For
Ford
Ford
ord and
nd
nd
d
nd
an
an ‘Th
‘Th
‘Th
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‘The
‘Th
The Int
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erna
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r
ti
tional J
l J
Jew’
ew’
ew’
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Henry Ford bought The Independ
epend
epend
ependent 10
ent 10
ent 10
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0 year
0 year
0 year
0
s 
s 
s ago
s ago
s ago
s ago and us
nd us
and used it
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to att
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o attack Je
k Je
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ws. Fo
ws. Fo
o
w
rd and
rd a
rd and
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the paper are long gone, but
but the hat
hate he u
e he u
e u l
nleash
eash
sh
ashed flourishes in the Inter
ern
net age.
ge.
age.
g

For information, 
contact Tracey Proghovnick 

(248) 661-1836 
jslmi.org

“MANN TRACHT,
UN GOTT LACHT”

Living Your Best ...
Jewish Senior Life

Jewish Senior Life is far more than 
a place to live. It’s six beautiful 
residences where older adults can 
embrace life and community in a 
secure and supportive environment.

JSL is proud to provide inclusive residential communities, programs and services. We 
welcome all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, 
gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, familial status and marital status.

“Man Plans, and God Laughs.” Adults 
assume the best-laid plans may be 
unhinged by unexpected changes, 
which can be either disappointing or 
exhilarating. Personal setbacks, losses 
of loved ones, illnesses, accidents or 
broken hearts are not uncommon. 

On the other hand, fate can bring 
unanticipated good fortune. We just 
the next corner. Despite possible 
adversity, we are urged to think 
positively. Experience advises us 
that setbacks and tragedies, like 
comfort and prosperity, are naturally 
occurring. When confronted by 
misfortune, clichés abound, and we’re 
advised to “roll with the punches,” and 
we know that “this too shall pass.” 

During a tough stint, we should 
remember that time heals. In periods 
of serenity, we should appreciate 
the good in our lives. Rejoicing in 
gratitude for the health and success 
of our loved ones or when achieving 
a milestone or good fortune, should 
be tempered by reality. Just as with 
sadness, pleasure and celebration are 
Rudyard Kipling put it beautifully in 
his poem “If”: “If you can meet with 
Triumph and Disaster and treat those 
two imposters just the same…You’ll 
be a man my son.” Downturns are not 
permanent defeats, and successes are 
not ultimate triumphs. How we face 
setbacks with resilience and accept 
our successes with grace are important 
measures of our worth as individuals. 
Let’s learn from our elders. 

JSL looks forward to celebrating 
them at our 26th Annual 
EIGHT OVER EIGHTY luncheon 
on May 19, 2019 at Adat Shalom 
Synagogue. To order tickets or for 
sponsorships and ad journal pages, 
contact Beth Tryon, btryon@jslmi.org 
248-592-5026.

