Conrad Cartoon Not Funny
I was impressed with cartoonist Steve Greenberg’s capacity for forgiveness in his eulogistic cartoon for Paul Conrad (Sept. 14). Personally, I find it hard to forget that Conrad drew one of the most anti-Semitic (NOT anti-Israel) cartoons ever to appear in an American newspaper.
Perhaps you are too young to remember September 1985 and the controversy involving Mayor Tom Bradley and the visit of Louis Farrakhan to Los Angeles. As I recall, he secured a city venue for his speech, and the Jewish community called on Mayor Bradley to cancel his use of the facility, or at least to repudiate Farrakhan. Many Jewish leaders spoke out about it, addressing the mayor. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, a Conrad cartoon appeared in the Times. It was a wordless cartoon. It depicted Bradley dressed in a biblical-style robe, standing on a stage with his arms outstretched, lowered, hands open, a gesture of innocence. Facing the stage below was a row of ugly dwarfish figures, shaking their fists.
So, what did it mean? Wordless, unintelligible to Jews, it was very clear to Christians familiar with the New Testament. See Matthew 27. Pilate presents the mob (of Jews, of course) the choice of saving from execution Jesus or Barrabas, a criminal. The mob saves the latter, and thus is guilty of the execution of Jesus. The meaning of this cartoon (remember, Bradley was presented as Jesus) was very clear: “They are crucifying our mayor, just like they crucified our Lord.”
As far as I know, Conrad never apologized for this cartoon, ignored by many Jews because it was Rosh Hashanah, if they understood it all. So, again, congratulations on your generous spirit of forgiveness of an old-fashioned unrepentant anti-Semite.
Jules Levin
Los Angeles
Seeking Peace Among Nations
David Suissa is right to condemn TIME magazine’s cover story “Israel Doesn’t Care About Peace,” especially its studied avoidance of the ways in which Israelis have been burnt by peace processes involving unreciprocated concessions to a nonpeaceful Palestinian Authority that does not accept Israel as a Jewish state (“Shame on Israelis for enjoying life!” jewishjournal.com, Sept. 7).
The article’s author, Karl Vick, insinuates that Israelis are heedlessly ignoring dangers and that Mr. Vick’s warning will be vindicated when violence at some point in the future breaks out — whereas in fact, virtually all Israelis desperately want a real peace but have understandably lost faith in the possibility of one.
After striving for years, making concessions, offering almost everything the Palestinians publicly claimed they wanted, only to receive terrorism and hatred in return, it is like the case of the boy who cried wolf — Israelis do not believe the stilted public statements directed to them from the PA about wishing to live in peace. The PA has no credibility with them. But Mr. Vick would rather his readers not know this.
Morton A. Klein, national president
Zionist Organization of America
New York
Journalistic Excellence
I have been reading The Jewish Journal for several months and continue to be impressed with the broad range of viewpoints represented, as well as the high level of journalistic quality that is demonstrated from cover to cover. The Jewish Journal, in its diversity and tolerance of divergent viewpoints, can serve as a model for all of us, in terms of learning to respect the opinions, lifestyles and aesthetics of others. I was particularly impressed with the content in the Sept. 10 issue. The article by Mona Eltahawy was touching and inspirational (“America, a Mosque and Me”). On the same page, I found a superb article by Raphael Sonenshein (“It’s Corporate Power vs. Government Oversight in November Election”). Both of these thoughtful writers have helped me to sustain a modicum of optimism in these difficult times. And … as much as I happen to strongly disagree with the opinions of Dennis Prager, I can understand and appreciate why it is important for his voice to be among those that are found in the pages of The Journal. In the current atmosphere of acrimony and shouting, The Journal is an oasis of civilized exchange.
Gary Eisenberg
Marina del Rey
Criticism for Prager
Our resident theocrat, Dennis Prager, has outdone himself in his column “Why Has America Treated Jews So Well?” (Aug. 24). First, he conflates religious freedom with secularism, which are two separate things. Also, forget his many factual errors (example: The Inquisition did not just occur “500 years ago.” It was alive and well in Mexico in the 19th century, for just one.) Consider, instead, how lightly does he flush down his far-right commode our precious American separation of church and state! How warmly does he embrace Evangelical Christians as “our greatest allies.” (Sure, Dennis, they are great friends — of Israel in particular — but why? You are well aware that their objective is the in-gathering of the Jews at Armageddon, so we can all be offered the choice of conversion or …?)
Meantime, we welcome their support, as offset to the “center of secularism,” the university. Here, at least, Dennis is half-right. Academia is rotten with ignorant, half-witted anti-Israel vituperation, thinly concealing the same old, same old Jew hatred.
Wake up and reread the Bill of Rights, Dennis. Or consider moving to a country where you would be happier with the nonsecular union of church and state — like Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Sara Meric
Santa Monica
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