November 9: Man of our time

In a time of crisis like this, America needs an inspiring leader; Godspeed, President Obama. You just might be able to do what needs to be done.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
letters 88 (photo credit: )
letters 88
(photo credit: )
Man for our time... Sir, - In a time of crisis like this, America needs an inspiring leader; it got one. It needs an analytical, problem-solving mind at the helm; it got one. It needs a brilliant organizer; it got one. A political shark tough enough to overcome the likes of the Clintons and the Republican National Committee. It got one. Godspeed, President Obama. You just might be able to do it ("Mazal tov, Obama," Editorial, November 6). JOSEF GILBOA Jaffa ...needs a nation's support Sir, - It was a historic moment for the world when Barack Obama became the 44th president of the US. I listened intently to one of the most eloquent acceptance speeches ever by a newly elected president. I saw the tears in Jesse Jackson's and Oprah Winfrey's eyes ("Oprah jumps for joy, Dean hails the winner and Jackson insists the US 'must fight for Israeli security and peace,' " November 6). I was reminded of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. The dream has been fulfilled. I firmly believe Obama can lead us out of this financial mess that we are in, to prosperity. That we will see the troops leave Iraq. That the war on terrorism will be won. Our nation must work to support the new president. It is important to understand America is firmly behind Israel. Our countries will continue to stand together in the community of nations. DANA STERN Canyon Country, California Brotherly ties that bind Sir, - On an English news Web site, I read an article written by a black woman living in the UK celebrating the victory of Barak Obama as a fellow black person, and thought: If someone can celebrate the fortunes of somebody else they have no connection to simply on the basis of a few minute genetic similarities, then surely it is a reminder to us of how we should share in the joys and sorrows of fellow Jews! ANNE FAIGENBAUM London Sir, - I couldn't help but notice the irony in the fact, which I heard on Fox News last week, that "President-elect Obama's deceased grandmother's vote was counted," while the votes of expatriate Americans living here in Israel were not. VARDA EPSTEIN Efrat Brash makes trash Sir, - As the Jerusalem election date gets closer, every spare wall seems to have Meir Porush posters on it and our streets everywhere are littered with Porush fliers imploring us to vote for him. They seem to outnumber all the other election posters tenfold. Pick up a flier and read he wants to improve our beautiful city. Wouldn't he be more convincing if he were not a major source of its trash? ("The serious candidate for mayor," Shimon Lerner, November 6.) DAVID AMINOFF Jerusalem Let's ditch the 'fear factor' Sir, - My esteemed friend Rabbi Stewart R. Weiss wrote about a "fear campaign" in the local elections ("Playing the fear card," November 6). Referring to Ra'anana, he cited among other things a "video (www.meretz.org.il) which sparked a major outcry." Well, I've never heard of this video, nor of "ominous" brochures warning the population of the observant community's manipulations. I could not even find the video on the referenced site. By contrast, when I attended, on November 4, a parlor meeting of the "United Religious List in Ra'anana," together with the rabbi and several other good people, I was stunned to hear that "Ra'anana is a Jewish city" and that this list promotes the city's "Jewishness." For those of us who are not "observant," the presumption that the religious community determines or defines our Jewishness is ominous. I pointed out, for example, that Zionism or the large number of Jewish Nobel prize winners are not necessarily "religious" manifestations of "Jewishness." Another participant insisted that buses operate in Ra'anana on Shabbat. "It must be understood." she said, that "the religious get punished by God whenever the seculars ride buses on Shabbat." Talk about "fear factor"! Add Meir Porush's statement that "within 10 years all city mayors in Israel will be haredi," and we have cause for real concern. In my travels, especially to the Far East, I meet many locals who attend Jewish gatherings because they are awed by Jewish achievements, culture, humor and tolerance. Jewishness is naturally very attractive, especially when it is not imposed. Let us strive to elect our representatives solely because of their wisdom and civic abilities to represent fairly the interests and rights of all constituents. Only then will Ra'anana and other cities be united - and Jewish. ALFRED INSELBERG Ra'anana Free tuition is good tuition Sir, - Even as I agree with much that Evelyn Gordon has to say about the problems of our higher education ("Why US universities are wealthy while Israel's are broke," November 6), the claim that "(costly) American tuition proclaims higher education valuable, while (relatively cheap) local tuition labels it virtually worthless" has no basis in reality. In my field - music - the direction in some of the leading private universities and conservatories in the US is toward free tuition. Thus, the School of Music at Yale University has gone tuition-free, as has the doctoral study program at the Juilliard School in New York. Would that proclaim the education at Yale or Juilliard worthless? Whether the tab is being picked up by private donors or by the state is of no relevance here. But it stands to reason that in a society whose young people contribute years of their lives serving in the army before setting a foot in university, it is the duty of the society to enable them to receive an affordable, top-quality higher education. This is morally right, as well as beneficial in every other sense. PROF. EMANUEL KRASOVSKY Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv