PatW 2-THE NEWS-AuQU»t 1991
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Waldheim’s Retirement Opens New Challenges
To Austrian-Jewish Relations
The Supreme Court:
Not What It Used To Be
What has happened to the U.S. Supreme Court which
had such giants as Cardozo, Marshall, Holmes, Brandeis,
Frankfurter and Story? The current court has justices whose
life experiences have been very narrow, especially in the
judicial system. According to Stanford law professor
Gerald Gunter, “There is a mediocrity on the court we
haven’t seen since the Truman administration.”
The nomination of Clarence Thomas by President
George Bush as “the best person” for the replacement of
such a fantastic and legendary individual as Thurgood
Marshall is, in itself, an insult to the very standards of
the Supreme Court. At 43, he is younger and more
inexperienced than most high-court nominees. He is neither
a brilliant scholar nor an outstanding attorney.
For black leaders, his nomination presents a quandary.
How can they really support a conservative who has
repudiated the liberal policies they have struggled so long
to win? Civil rights groups have launched a whispering
campaign aimed at portraying him as an “Uncle Tom.”
As a government lawyer, he avoided “black” law — civil
rights — and specialized in tax and corporate law.
Thomas, for all his talk of self-reliance, has benefited
from the civil rights movement. He advocates black pride,
but lives in a white suburb, has a white wife and, though
he professes to be a foe of big government, rose
professionally in government jobs.
For the Jews, he has been cited for being anti-Semitic.
Two of his 1983 speeches mentioned a longtime admiration
of black separatist Louis Farrakhan. Thomas has stated:
“I repudiate the anti-Semitism of Louis Farrakhan or
anyone else. While I support the concept of economic self-
help, 1 have never supported or tolerated bigotry of any
kind.” However, William Taylor, a Washington civil rights
lawyer, said Thomas’comments on Farrakhan are relevant.
“Farrakhan was on record as being strenuously anti-Semitic
long before that 1984 speech in Jesse Jackson’s (presiden
tial) campaign.”
According to Newsweek, if confirmed, Clarence Thomas
could cast the deciding vote on a number of controversial
issues. His views as expressed in speeches, interview and
published articles are:
“Quotas: Thomas opposes affirmative action to redress
widespread discrimination. He favors remedies only when
an individual can show he or she personally suffered from
specific acts of discrimination.
“Abortion: Thomas has said little about the abortion
debate. In a 1987 speech, however, he did hint at his
opposition to an abortion by praising an article that claimed
that fetuses have an inalienable right to life.
“School Prayer: Thomas has quoted his mother as saying,
‘When they took God out of the schools, the schools went
to hell.’ He added, ‘She may be right.’ ”
Thomas is known to have a temper, and during his college
years had a liking for marijuana, cognac and cigars. He
has since given up the marijuana and alcohol (after a
friendly drinking contest one night in 1984). He married
his present wife in 1987 and has a son, Jamal, 18, from
his first marriage.
It remains to be seen whether the black groups will
officially come out to oppose him. Women’s groups have
openly opposed his nomination as have many Jewish
groups. Abortion rights groups are up in arms and senior
citizens’ groups are not happy that Thomas let languish
some 13,000 age-discrimination suits at the EEOC.
I, for one, feel that Thomas is not the person I would
like to see on the U.S. Supreme Court for the rest of his
life (perhaps for another 40+ years). It is not a matter
of whether he is black or white; it is a matter of what
he represents. It is not a matter that he was Catholic...even
though until recently, religion has been important in court
nominations. The Roman Catholic seat (first occupied by
Chief Justice Roger Taney in 1836) has been filled almost
continuously since 1894. But it would be nice to have
another minority represented again...the so-called Jewish
seat existed only from 1916 to 1969.
What President Bush has looked for is candidates who
have had little to say about most things and what they
do say exhibits extreme conservatism.
Clarence Thomas will come before the Senate Judiciary
Committee next month bringing a long record of judicial
opinions upon which he will be judged. Let us hope that
the committee will, themselves, judge wisely.
By Marc Tanenb&um
(JTA)
The welcome decision by
Austrian President Kurt Wald
heim not to run for a second six-
year term may make it possible
f^or Austria finally to come to
terms with its Nazi past.
The years-long international
controversy over Waldheim’s
involvement with Nazi units in
the Balkans, which he tried to
suppress during his first election
campaign in 1986, had the par
adoxical effect of casting him as
a “supervictim” in the eyes of
large numbers of conservative
Austrians.
They rallied to his support in
angry resentment against what
they called “the international
Jewish lobby” — which they
charged with trying to dictate
who the president of Austria
should be. It became common
place in these circles to associate
the honor of Waldheim with the
honor of Austria.
That polarization of the Aus
trian population had the disas
trous effect of putting on the
defensive a substantial number
of decent, often younger Austri
ans who were determined to face
up to Austria’s horrible Nazi
past in order to uproot the
poisonous weeds of anti-Semit
ism deeply buried in that ancient
soil.
For several years, beginning in
1984, I and a number of my
colleagues from the American
Jewish Committee worked in
Vienna and elsewhere in Austria
to organize systematic programs
in schools, universities, churches
and the media for confronting
that nation’s pathological Nazi
past, and to lay the foundations
for a new attitude toward Jews,
Judaism, the Holocaust, and
Israel.
It was startling and reassuring
to fmd a significant number of
Austrians who were prepared to
work with us on a long-term
program. Foremost among them
were the eminent Cardinal Ko
enig, the Mayor of Vienna, the
Minister of Education, and key
people in both the conservative
People’s Party and the Social
Democrats.
We were encouraged by the
progress we began to make with
the Education Ministry, produc
ing impressive educational mate
rials and arranging for regular
visits and lectures at the Mau
thausen concentration camp in
an effort to reorient the under
standing of every student in the
Austrian school system.
The more successful these
immunization programs against
Nazism and anti-Semitism be
came, however, the stiffer grew
the resistance of-* Waldheim’s
many supporters. More “Jewish
interference and manipulation,”
they caricatured this oral cleans
ing, calling the philo-Semitic
Austrians “traitors.”
With Waldheim stepping
down, and the equating of the
president’s political fortunes
with “Austrian honor” possibly
soon to become a thing of the
past, it may now become
smoother sailing for the decent,
younger Austrians who are
determined to create “a new
Austria.”
A final word.
During the height of the
vigorous campaign led by the
World Jewish Congress to defeat
Waldheim’s first election cam
paign, I agreed completely with
their objective, but differed on
the method and style of the
international campaign, con
cerned that Waldheim not be
made into a “supervictim” of.
“international Jewry.”
Whatever our differences, the
result that we all wanted has
been achieved, and I express to
the World Jewish Congress
leadership and others involved
a hearty “ye-yasher kochachem”
— well done.
Rabbi Marc Taninbaum, for
30 years the director of interre-
ligious and international rela
tions at the AJC, is now a
lecturer, writer and consultant.
Jewish Power
By Pam Appelbaum
— Rita Mond
In reading a CLAL publica
tion, 1 was intrigued with the
analysis of Jewish leadership
styles and its evolvement over
time. In the CLAL publication,
modern Jewish leadership is
referred to as “A New Era in
Jewish History.” Leadership has
evolved along a continuum from
the Biblical Era, the Rabbinic
Era to the Third Era. Respec
tively, leadership has changed
from divine leadership. Rabbin
ic leadership, to lay professional
leadership. In contrast to Bib
lical and Rabbinic leadership,
modern leadership is highly
participatory, reaching all Jews
alike. “To be a Jew is to taste
the flavor of Jewish history every
day whether eating food or
through the mind.”
Today, we can enhance and
embrace our Jewish identifica
tion with Jewish power. Jewish
power allows us to be active
Jewish leaders. In fact, Jewish
leadership is a function of ac
celerated Jewish power. Jewish
leaders no longer work within
clearly demarcated borders. Our
Jewish leadership crosses many
boundaries and touches many
Jewish lives. We have developed
a collaborative Jewish system in
which we can effectively balance
a wide ranging set of Jewish
issues. By working collabora-
tively, we are enhancing the
quality and quantity of the
enterprise of Jewish leadership.
The rescue/airlift of Ethiopi
an Jews is a prime example of
the.coordiiuUion of Jewish, pow
er among three countries, many
organizations, Jewish communi
ties and individuals. The culmi
nation is indeed reflected in our
unique Jewish leadership. Jew
ish power has accelerated be
yond our wildest imagination.
Recognition of Jewish leader
ship has changed throughout the
years. In Biblical times, Moses
and G-d were recognized for
their leadership roles in the
parting of the Red Sea. How
times have changed! Today,
recognition for the airlift of
Ethiopian Jews would be diffi
cult to determine. We are all
instrumental players in the name
of saving and preserving Jewish
lives. I am proud to be a Jew.
I am especially proud to be a
Jew today. Being a Jew is to be
in the business of Jewish power
development.
The avenues for involvement
in the Jewish enterprise are vast.
You can make a difference. Your
actions are not solely reflected
by philanthropic measures but
also by cultivation of your
Jewish power. Interested in
increasing your level of Jewish
power? Please call the Federa
tion Office at 366-5007. Well put
you in touch with the power.
Deadline for
September Issue
is
August 9
THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH HEWS
P.O. Box 13369. Charlotte, NC 28270
366-5007 Fax 36S4507
Published by:
Charlotte Jewish Federation
Foundation of Charlotte Jewish Community &
Jewish Community Center Barry Hantman, Director
Lubavitch of N.C Rabbi Yossi Groner, Director
Editor Rita Mond
JcMl Qotdnwn, chair, PM Joit, Marcia Shnoa
Dr. S«l«»yn Spangwewl, Ron Waintr, Bany Won, Bartara Ziagltr
PubNahad monthly mcapl lor Ju(y
Copy deadline the 10th of each month
preceding month of issue
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