Letters to the editor

Madman not alone

On May 27, Leonard Zeskind spoke in Kansas City, Mo., about his new book, “Blood and Politics.” He eloquently described the dangers, especially to Jews, from white nationalism.

On May 31, the physician George Tiller was murdered. On June 2 at Huffington Post, Zeskind wrote, “Scott Roeder, who is being held in a Wichita jail as a person of interest in the murder of George Tiller, is widely known for his anti-abortion zealotry. Less understood is his connection to the so-called Christian common law courts and the militia movement. In the mid-1990s, Roeder associated regularly with both Kansas militiamen (sic) and he declared himself a sovereign citizen, immune from the responsibilities of paying taxes or driving with a registered license plate.”

There is anti-Semitism among the extreme opponents of abortion, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League (adl.org/PresRele/asus_12/3265_12.asp).

Several of the assassinated physicians in the past were Jews. On June 2, the Stormfront White Nationalist Newsletter said, “Abortion kills white babies and encourages promiscuity, experimentation, and a jewish culture of death.”

Roeder is not an isolated madman. He is part of a movement that has infiltrated respectable society and demands a response from those who cherish a multi-cultural, democratic way of life.

Elizabeth Appelbaum
Overland Park, Kan.

How to treat prisoners

I enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 at the age of 20. I hadn’t registered as yet, but joined to be with five friends who enlisted at the same time. Buddy Eisen and I are the lone alive at the present time.

After several months in the states and separating from some of the fellows that entered flight training, eyesight kept me from joining them. We left the states, landed in England and, after months there, loaded onto a ship for North Africa. We landed there as part of the second wave behind the men in the Army.

As they fought their way across, they were joined by the British coming from the opposite direction. As the battles were won, the Germans surrendered. We had followed the Army and were in Tunis when the Germans surrendered.

I was surprised to see many German detainees arriving there and watched as they were loaded on ships and told they were being sent to the United States. As the war progressed, we arrived in Sicily and then to Italy.

After 30 months, I was allowed to return to the states on a 30-day furlough. Arriving in the East, we were surprised to see the German detainees working in the Army mess halls. They were well dressed, and we heard they were in comfortable quarters. Comparing that to the tortures that the recent administration has admitted to is amazing. These Germans were part of a country that killed millions of Jews. The recent administration that promoted fear was stupid.

Abe Bucksner
Overland Park, Kan.

Right to bear arms

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution assert that God has granted us liberty and that we are created equal at birth. In his May 22 column, Rabbi Margolies appears to equate iniquity with inequality. He emphasizes “economic iniquity,” implying that he is referring to economic inequality. Again, we are created equal. We have equal rights. What we do with our God-given abilities and liberties is then up to us. We have had public housing, public education, parks, welfare, Medicaid and Medicare (even for retired rabbis and doctors who could well afford their own insurance!), food stamps and government-job programs. We should not have public distribution of TV sets, satellite dishes, foreign coupes, cosmetic surgery, surburban estates, etc.

Our founders proclaimed “Liberty”, “Freedom”, and “E Pluribus Unum” (out of many, one). It was never stated that the government was there to keep us equal throughout life. In that, the founders differed from the French.

The Socialist aspires to equality on economic terms defined by a government. Such experiments, on a large scale, have had limited success and have fostered abuses that were as evil and often much more hideous to the human condition than any completely free and achievement-driven society.

Rabbi Margolies suggests that if a “decent life” is not achieved by all, the words liberty and democracy are then merely sham words. A person can be given opportunity, as in the founders’ words, “the pursuit of happiness.” The government, the place of worship, the family and the friends and neighbors can provide education and rescue from misfortune, but a happy and decent life will only be there for one who will earn his place and position. Meaningful self-respect and dignity cannot be given to anyone. Rabbi Margolies says that liberty implies the granting of those things. I strongly disagree and contend that what he suggests would only deprive people of real self-respect and dignity.

Freedom from violence was not mentioned in the founding documents. But, the pacifist’s aspirations will always sound beautiful. Mohatma Gandhi had this advice to European Jewry, “If the Jews can summon to their aid the soul power that comes only from non-violence,” he said, “Herr Hitler will bow before the courage which he has never yet experienced in any large measure in his dealings with men.” Gee thanks, Mo.

Rabbi Margolies and Mr. Obama are opponents of private gun ownership. They cite the many shooting incidents that claim innocent lives. I can’t disagree with that position, taken in an isolated context. But a review of the regimes that confiscated weapons in history has to give one pause. And, we will never know what fate may have befallen the 6 million, had they been gun owners.

Margolies and Obama are certainly decent and tremendously accomplished men. They have lofty ideals. However, like all people, they need to have their own reflections examined occasionally.

Leonard M. Moss, M.D.
Scottsdale, Ariz.

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