Opinion > Letters
One historic election; one apology needed to make election season most special
The Election Night of 2008 stands out as a singular moment in my experience as an American. A further sign that this was a special moment was lack of the usual acrimony after the election. It was no surprise that my Democrat friends were pleased, but it was just as moving to see my Republican friends feel as though a very special moment in American, and perhaps world, history had just taken place.
Race has been used as a heavy tool of oppression since the first African was brought to our shores in chains almost exactly 400 years ago. The cruelly deferred access to the voting booth has been blocked in various ways even to this day. But with the election of President-elect Barack Obama, the promise of our country as embodied in its founding documents has taken a bold step toward fruition. This is very good news for all Americans, for as our tradition holds, no member of a community is freer than the least free.
I am very proud of the American Jewish community’s role in the movement toward a free America. How powerful to see 78% of Jews voted for Obama and that his designated White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is a committed member of our community and an ardent friend of Israel who has spent much time there.
One last thing would make this election season most special, an act of tshuvah (repentance) from the Republican Jewish Committee (RJC). For over four years, the RJC has tried to argue that the Democratic Party presents a direct threat to the safety and security of the state of Israel. One of the towering accomplishments of American Zionism has been the support of Israel from Democrats and Republicans. Yet the RJC would prefer only one party be identified as a friend of Israel.
This year, the RJC went so far as to plaster slanderous accusations that President-elect Obama was a pro-Palestinian threat to Israel. This commits two dangerous sins: the sin of slander (loshon hora) and the sin of weakening U.S. support for Israel. Thankfully, the RJC did not prevail on either point.
I would ask that the RJC apologize for its decision to attack the Democratic Party’s commitment to our community and to Israel and for alleging such dishonest accusations against President-elect Obama.
Arthur Lavin, M.D.,
Shaker Heights
Race has been used as a heavy tool of oppression since the first African was brought to our shores in chains almost exactly 400 years ago. The cruelly deferred access to the voting booth has been blocked in various ways even to this day. But with the election of President-elect Barack Obama, the promise of our country as embodied in its founding documents has taken a bold step toward fruition. This is very good news for all Americans, for as our tradition holds, no member of a community is freer than the least free.
I am very proud of the American Jewish community’s role in the movement toward a free America. How powerful to see 78% of Jews voted for Obama and that his designated White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is a committed member of our community and an ardent friend of Israel who has spent much time there.
One last thing would make this election season most special, an act of tshuvah (repentance) from the Republican Jewish Committee (RJC). For over four years, the RJC has tried to argue that the Democratic Party presents a direct threat to the safety and security of the state of Israel. One of the towering accomplishments of American Zionism has been the support of Israel from Democrats and Republicans. Yet the RJC would prefer only one party be identified as a friend of Israel.
This year, the RJC went so far as to plaster slanderous accusations that President-elect Obama was a pro-Palestinian threat to Israel. This commits two dangerous sins: the sin of slander (loshon hora) and the sin of weakening U.S. support for Israel. Thankfully, the RJC did not prevail on either point.
I would ask that the RJC apologize for its decision to attack the Democratic Party’s commitment to our community and to Israel and for alleging such dishonest accusations against President-elect Obama.
Arthur Lavin, M.D.,
Shaker Heights
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