LETTERS

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Here's one solution for our Mideast dilemma

As an 80-year-old ex-Marine who served in the Marine Air Corps from 1942-46, I have the solution to our dilemma in the Middle East. First, recognize the fact that we have had our butt kicked in every military action we have engaged in since WWII, and lost a lot of fine young men. Second, pull out of Iraq where we should never have lied ourselves into. Third, give credence to the comic character who said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Fourth, make Israel and her Jewish Christian friends in America restore Palestine as a state. Bin Laden recently said, "The United States is no longer a democracy in the same sense as Sweden." We have become a theocracy just like Iraq. Iraq has Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds and America has Jews, Protestants and Catholics. We pride ourselves on our separation of church and state. Another lie - like so many lies that have become a part of our culture. I think we told one lie too many.

Bernard M. Du Betz, Howell

Pickets should turn efforts toward Darfur

I was impressed with the passion expressed by the letter titled Vigil gives needed voice. in the Monday, Nov. 1 edition, about the picketing of the Beth Israel Congregation on the Sabbath for the past nine to 10 months. The writer was correct that such actions brought attention to an issue but was incorrect in some facts. The bombing of markets, buses, mailboxes and private homes and cars was actively performed by Palestinian terrorists for many years before the 1994 situation that the writer claims was the start of the deplorable state of affairs in Israel.

I was at a Dead Sea resort when we heard the news of the killing of Palestinians in a mosque by an American settler. This emotionally deranged young man, on his own, with no permission or help from his fellow kibbutzniks took one of the weapons that the kibbutz used for their protection. We hurriedly raced through the Gaza area to reach Jerusalem to find out what, as American tourists we could do to help.

As horrible as that deed was, it was, in that man's mind, in retaliation to years of terrorist attacks on Jews and Jewish settlements in and out of the Gaza territory.

I would like to suggest that Henry Herskovits and the other pickets turn their attention to getting help for the desperately needy people of Darfur whom the world seems to have forgotten. That is an effort that has merit and could only bring positive results.

Esther R. Rubin, Ann Arbor




LETTERS Thursday, November 11, 2004 Here's one solution for our Mideast dilemma As an 80-year-old ex-Marine who served in the Marine Air Corps from 1942-46, I have the solution to our dilemma in the Middle East. First, recognize the fact that we have had our butt kicked in every military action we have engaged in since WWII, and lost a lot of fine young men. Second, pull out of Iraq where we should never have lied ourselves into. Third, give credence to the comic character who said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Fourth, make Israel and her Jewish Christian friends in America restore Palestine as a state. Bin Laden recently said, "The United States is no longer a democracy in the same sense as Sweden." We have become a theocracy just like Iraq. Iraq has Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds and America has Jews, Protestants and Catholics. We pride ourselves on our separation of church and state. Another lie - like so many lies that have become a part of our culture. I think we told one lie too many. Bernard M. Du Betz, Howell Pickets should turn efforts toward Darfur I was impressed with the passion expressed by the letter titled Vigil gives needed voice. in the Monday, Nov. 1 edition, about the picketing of the Beth Israel Congregation on the Sabbath for the past nine to 10 months. The writer was correct that such actions brought attention to an issue but was incorrect in some facts. The bombing of markets, buses, mailboxes and private homes and cars was actively performed by Palestinian terrorists for many years before the 1994 situation that the writer claims was the start of the deplorable state of affairs in Israel. I was at a Dead Sea resort when we heard the news of the killing of Palestinians in a mosque by an American settler. This emotionally deranged young man, on his own, with no permission or help from his fellow kibbutzniks took one of the weapons that the kibbutz used for their protection. We hurriedly raced through the Gaza area to reach Jerusalem to find out what, as American tourists we could do to help. As horrible as that deed was, it was, in that man's mind, in retaliation to years of terrorist attacks on Jews and Jewish settlements in and out of the Gaza territory. I would like to suggest that Henry Herskovits and the other pickets turn their attention to getting help for the desperately needy people of Darfur whom the world seems to have forgotten. That is an effort that has merit and could only bring positive results. Esther R. Rubin, Ann Arbor © 2004 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission Copyright 2004 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.