Your Letters

Arab AmericanProtest

I wanted to add one more dimension to your report about theMarch 27 rally against Israel’s elimination of Sheikh Yassin, held in front ofthe Israeli Consulate (“Arab Americans Stage Protest at Israeli Consulate,”April 2).

I was there as part of a quickly organized counter-rally.Even though the rally was held on Shabbat, there were Orthodox Jews who joinedthe group after attending services. There were Christians who felt so stronglythat they drove in from Orange County. And there were secular Jews. It was anhonor for us to have human rights activist Ted Hayes at our side. About 25 ofus stood together in the hot sun, on Shabbat, because we felt it was vital todeliver the countermessage. Our signs read: “Hamas, stop killing children,” “Yassinwas Israel’s bin Laden” and “Stop Justifying Suicide Bombing.” Just like theirmessage, our message also got out. Those who organized the rally supporting Yassinfound that they could not dominate the streets or the media.

I remain convinced that it is essential to continuecountering the disinformation and moral confusion that marks the anti-Israelpositions.

Roz Rothstein, Executive Director StandWithUs

In the article about the Arab protest, I was the onereferred to as a “Jewish Activist with Israeli flag.” I was holding the flagwith Ted Hayes and had an Israeli flag in my other hand. Ted is black, I am anAmerican of Mexican descent and on the other side of Ted was Paul Nissian, anAmerican of Japanese descent. Israel has supporters from all ethnic groups andwe will continue to fight and present a vocal and visible presence in the faceof those who would threaten Israel and our Jewish community.

David Hernandez, Valley Village

Education Bill

The erosion of our Constitution could not be more blatantthan the concept of educational vouchers for religious groups (no matter whattheir bent) and HR 3077, the International Studies in Higher Education Act of2003, which would amend Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhanceinternational education programs (“Big Brother Lurks in Higher Education Bill,”March 26).

Our country has had difficulty, throughout its history, withissues of religion and its encroachment into government policy and the lives ofour citizens. The adding of the Bill of Rights provisions to our constitutionwas formed with the intent of protecting the minority from the majority whetherthat minority is a group or an individual citizen. There are possibly no otheractions that could negate this protection than the erosion of the separationbetween church and state. Our Constitution is in reality “Big Brother watching”in the most positive sense. That Big Brother is something we all want to hangaround and watch over us.

Bruce F. Whizin, Sherman Oaks

Ukraine

Referring to “Behind Kitchen Door No. 1” (March 26), writtenby Beverly Levitt, when will you people understand that the expression “the Ukraine”is offensive? The correct name of the country is Ukraine. When will you educateyour editors and staff members to be accurate?

Orest Steciw, Via e-mail

Jewish Engineers

Your article titled “USC Honors Cell Phone Pioneer” (March26), regarding USC’s School of Engineering being named for Italian Jew Andrew Viterbi,reminds me that there are now four major engineering schools at Californiauniversities named for Jews: the Andrew and Erna School of Engineering at USC;the Irwin Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego; the Henry SamueliSchool of Engineering at UC Irvine; and the Henry Samueli School of Engineeringat UCLA.

Martin A. Brower, Corona del Mar

Arnold to Israel

The Jewish Journal’s recent coverage and editorial commentsabout Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s planned May trip to Israel portrayed acertain undefined discontent among some in the Los Angeles Jewish community(“Fine-Tuning,” March 26). Frankly the reporting here (Sacramento and thecapitol area) is quite different. The perception is positive as it should beregardless of the trip’s origin or unrelated secondary issues. In fairness, asa part of your own editorial comments, Mel Levine was quoted as conveying asomewhat similar sentiment.

Israel’s rightful position during these parlous times couldbe strengthened. This would be a welcome change, particularly given the slew of Hollywood types that have flocked there to pontificate with Israel’sdetractors. As long as the governor does not weigh in with Israel’s “moralequivalent” crowd, this visit should be praised and supported by our community,as it will be by our non-Jewish friends.

Steven Fishbein, Sacramento

Anti-Semitism and theWeb

Joe Eskanazi, in his article “Googling Anti-Semitism” (March19), discusses the unfortunate fact that jewwatch.com is top of the list when asearch is done on the word “Jew.” He speculates that this is not the case in Europewhere Holocaust denial is illegal. I can report from the United Kingdom that JewWatchcomes top of the list here, and the search is only different when results fromjust the UK are looked at.

Nick Landau, London, England

Math Problem

It’s a shame that in her zeal to pin the state’s budgetproblems on the Democrats, Jill Stewart attacks the community colleges and thedisabled community in her opinion piece “Math Problem” (March 19). As a mathinstructor at community colleges and the father of a disabled child, let mehelp Stewart do the math. The purpose of the community college system is toprovide education to all Californians. For many, especially from culturallydiverse communities, it is the entry point toward transferring to a four-yearinstitution. For others, the colleges provide workforce education leading to careersin nursing, office technology, etc., or retraining for those who have beenlaid-off during the economic “recovery.” Yet fees have jumped from $11 per unitto $18 per unit during the last year — a 64 percent increase. Gov.Schwarzenegger’s budget has proposed that these fees be raised to $26 per unit,another 44 percent increase or a total increase of 136 percent in two years.Rather than subsidizing students as Stewart suggests, it seems we are trying tobalance California’s budget on their backs.

Stewart also takes a cheap shot at the disabled communityfor advocating for their rights to be productive members of our society. Thedisabled community is already at a disadvantage in pursuing their dreams. Iinvite you to meet my daughter who requires a power wheelchair for mobility.Witness the occupational and physical therapy that she endures as part of hereveryday life. Most importantly, witness her positive outlook on life. Ratherthan balancing the budget on their backs, I suggest we applaud these vibrantmembers of our society and help them achieve their goals, just as we do withthe able-bodied community. If you really want to do the math Ms. Stewart,please advocate that those who have benefited from large tax breaks pay theirfair share rather than trying to further marginalize these two dynamiccommunities.

David H. Senensieb, Calabasas

Correction

In “Conal’s the Poster Boy for ‘Art Attack'” (Feb. 27), Carol Wells is withthe Center for the Study of Political Graphics.