Views To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034. 8 | JULY 30 • 2020 1942 - 2020 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week jn Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. 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Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Partner: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt How to reach us see page 13 against ignorance and hatred of all types. As we fight for equality in the Black commu- nity, we can’ t step on the necks of another. It is important to speak up in times like these and I want to thank @zbnfl for his leadership on this very important matter. There is no place for hate in this world!” At ADL, we couldn’ t agree more. In fact, our K-12 school cultural framework is actually called “No Place For Hate,” and schools in the Metro Detroit area have used the platform to take control of the narrative to establish diverse and inclusive speech, actions and proactive school-wide programming. I have often cited “Oppression Olympics” as a reason one minority will practice indifference toward another minority. We like to think we have the market cor- nered on oppressive history. But this is dangerous because none of us are safe until we are all safe. And let’ s face it: Until we acknowledge it is wrong to act with indifference toward another marginalized group, we will continue to flounder as a human race. Is there a way to separate fact from fiction on social media? And doesn’ t every American have a right to say what is on their mind? The answer is yes and yes. But we must not excuse away our due diligence because of the fast-paced timing of Twitter or Instagram. Do your home- work. Take time to actually know what a person stands for before you weigh in on a topic. Understand what you are put- ting forth before you hit send. Mark Twain once said, “I didn’ t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” It’ s tough to write concisely; it often takes much longer to craft one sen- tence than it does to write a paragraph. But the power of a 280-character tweet can send shockwaves worldwide. And please remember: Celebrity status does not equal authority on a subject. This is a time of unprec- edented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down, and the murder of George Floyd has ignited passion for change in tens of thousands of people in our country. We must not waste this moment. We must actively pursue edu- cating ourselves about our privilege, our diversity and our commonalities. And we must rally together against those — like Louis Farrakhan and the people who repeat his vile homophobic and antisemitic hatred — to ensure we stand up to hate of all marginalized groups, not just our own. One final reflection about the evolution of thought: With all the “communication” swirling around our electronic devices and making its way into our heads, let us remem- ber the act of forgiveness. If you sense contrition, at least accept the idea that people can change their minds about a topic. Both DeSean Jackson and Nick Cannon have apolo- gized and have vowed to learn more. Will they? Only time will tell. But before we write them off, let us give them a chance for growth. We must help each other reach com- mon understandings. And that goes for all of us. Carolyn Normandin is the regional director of the Michigan ADL. To obtain No Place For Hate programming information, contact Michigan.adl.org. chew on. ” So not only did we provide some animal with a cozy new dwelling, with edible chocolate-covered wires, but we also provided him with preventative dental care. A few days later, and several hundred dollars poorer, we were able to pick up Marshmallow from the mechanic. The good news: The animal had been evicted. The bad news: The car reeked. At first, we suspected that our unwanted tenant had died some- where in the car, but nope, turned out it was one of those tiny bottles of milk we’ d picked up from a food distribution area the week before. One had somehow lodged itself under a seat, where it sat for a jolly few days while the mechanic worked his expensive magic. And then the 90-degree weather turned up. Things turned ugly fast. The milk fermented and a most horrific shade of the most fetid odor filled the car. Yet another unexpected consequence of the pandemic! So if you happen to see a white van gliding smoothly down the street, with a bunch of kids gagging out the wide open windows, with about 25 of those tree shaped vanil- la-scented air fresheners flapping in the breeze, that would be me. Beep and say hi! OKWARA from page 5 PANDEMIC from page 5