Democrats and ‘Jewish Patch’

It was with a mixture of disgust and disbelief that I read the unfortunate comments of Rabbi Marvin Hier (“Democratic Convention Extends No Hand and Brings Loneliness to the Jewish Patch,” Op-Ed Page, July 25). I don’t know which convention he was watching, but as a fellow American Jew my disappointment was not that the Democrats seemed unwilling to “weave a Jewish patch into the quilt.” My disappointment was in the fact that so-called Jewish leaders like Rabbi Hier have so polarized Americans (Jewish and non-Jewish alike) regarding the Palestinian question that the chance for an intelligent debate on the subject was precluded. The rabbi even states that the saving grace with Michael Dukakis was that he did not allow a vote or televised debate on the subject.

What have we come to when an issue is too sensitive for discussion? I am sorry if I appear naive, but I was under the impression that in America one can debate the issues of the day without fear. I did not support Jesse Jackson in the primary, but I found Rabbi Hier’s descriptions of his positions to be framed in the most negative light possible. After all, even our Secretary of State George Shultz has advanced ideas which have been soundly rejected by factions in Israel. Shultz is hardly a gentleman known for his reactionary and radical views. If there are faults in Jackson’s ideas I would think that a debate on the subject would only serve to expose them.

If Rabbi Hier wants to vote for George Bush and join the trend of affluent Jews, who having made it in the world now seek sanctuary in the conservatism of the Republican Party, allow me to show him the door. The Democrats are the only major party truly concerned with the struggle of minority groups, including the Jews. It is a shame that Rabbi Hier would rather be pandered to than join and participate in the other important struggles which exist in our country. The rabbi could make a difference: Instead he chooses to guard his own precious patch of quilt.

BEN MARKS

Los Angeles