Don’t demonize Savage
Just as j. always demonized, censored and never told the whole truth about Rabbi Kahane who courageously spoke out uncomfortable truths, so you’re doing with Dr. Michael Savage (“Hate debate: Advertisers urged to drop Savage show,” Dec. 14).
You label him a hateful racist and totally distort and omit facts because he doesn’t fit your left-wing liberal agenda. You failed to mention that he has the third-largest national ratings in radio; has a Ph.D. and two master’s degrees; has over 20 published books in nutritional medicine, with three N.Y. best sellers on politics — including “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” — whose title perfectly describes the j.’s yellow journalism; has over 35 million online registered fans supporting him for president; publicly supports and helps Israel and speaks out against anti-Semitism and racism and defends women who are mistreated worldwide; speaks positively about the majority of Muslims, etc.
Savage deserves the Jewish community’s support now that his freedom of speech is being threatened, regardless if you like him or not. CAIR wants to stifle his speech because he has much influence and speaks out against Islamist fascism that is terrorizing and threatening Jews, Israel and Western civilization. It’s clear to me who is “hateful” here.
Aaron Seruya | South San Francisco
One-sided coverage
The article and headline about Michael Savage seems to be one-sided against him. Have you verified the alleged statements by Mr. Savage? And they are stated out of context? You printed extensive statements by those who criticized Mr. Savage, but it wasn’t until the 17th paragraph that the article said Mr. Savage has filed a lawsuit against CAIR. I suggest j. interview Mr. Savage and his attorneys, and print their explanation about the suit. J. should make a better effort to present both sides of this issue.
Norman Licht | San Carlos
Hateful shout-out
I was disappointed to read that your article limited discussion of Michael Savage’s psychotic and dangerous views to Muslims.
He hates lesbians and gays. I have heard him say to a gay man on the phone, “I hope you get AIDS and die.” He hates women — he has said that attorney Gloria Allred should be put in a burqa — he calls Third World countries “Turd World” countries, he calls San Francisco “San Fransicko,” he hates the Latino community and would deport all illegals from this country. And he advocates violent and dangerous warmongering.
I don’t believe hate speech should be pouring out of our airwaves. My feeling is the producers of his show are at fault for allowing this kind of mob mentality to shout their hatred.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of same-minded people who listen to his show and agree with him.
Sandy Tate | Sebastopol
Change the channel
Those who would join CAIR in condemning and urging a boycott of Dr. Michael Savage, the radio talk show host, are surely fools or ignorant of some basic facts.
First, how can anyone, let alone a Jewish person, support a boycott? (And, yes, good rabbi, by siding with CAIR you are supporting a boycott.) And why would anyone seek to curtail another’s free speech? If you don’t like the content of Dr. Savage’s shows, and certainly he is not everyone’s cup of tea, change the channel.
Setting aside for the moment Dr. Savage’s unequivocal and ongoing support of Israel (and why should one?), please do not take out of context his remarks. The fact is that not one Muslim cleric or community leader has ever unequivocally or unambiguously denounced terror or a specific act of Muslim terror without adding well-known code words that amount to saying: Terror is bad … unless committed against those who occupy our lands, or those who oppress us, or those with whom we disagree … you get the idea.
CAIR itself has such a web of connections to outlawed terror organizations that its logo might as well be a black widow spider.
Don’t be naive or stupid. Support Dr. Savage, do not stand with the savages.
Gerald Sanders | Sonoma
Local activists, international impact
A critical piece of the story was absent from the coverage of Chanukah at the White House (Dec. 7). Judea and Ruth Pearl, parents of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, were guests at the celebration. Ruth Pearl is a Jewish refugee from Iraq, and she raised the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab lands with the president.
Before this White House meeting, Ruth Pearl was briefed by Regina Waldman, chair of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa, and Yitzhak Santis of San Francisco’s JCRC. Maurice Shohet, JIMENA’s representative in Washington, D.C., provided the president with background information on the nearly one million Jews forced to flee from 10 Arab countries. Ruth Pearl talked about how the Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim lands were successfully absorbed into the mainstream of American and Israeli life and this is the reason their story is known by so few.
President Bush said he had also never heard about the tragedy of the Jewish refugees from Arab countries and that the issue should be raised in future negotiations. This is a shining example of local activists having an international impact on issues vital to the Jewish people.
Natalie Shamash | San Francisco
Respect the president
Let’s face the facts. The U.S. president gets the honor and the responsibilities of serving his country by a mandate from a majority of Americans.
When he is from the Republican Party, about 80 percent of Jews vote for his opponent, for whatever mystical or non-mystical reasons. Still, he represents the majority of our country. When we Jews feel that he is wrong on war, environment, science and other issues, he still represents the majority who voted him in the White House.
Now this president, representing the majority of Americans, wishes to “all people of Jewish faith a happy Chanukah,” and his greeting is relegated to page 33 of j. (Dec. 7), after the news about Ahmadinejad, Chavez and other “significant others” of the world.
Something is wrong with this picture. Don’t you think that there should be matters above politics? Like simple respect for the office of the president.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
Swig sale ‘an insult’
For many, it has been inconceivable that the Union for Reform Judaism has considered disposing of Camp Swig when there has been so much interest from the Jewish community in retaining this asset (Nov. 30). As a former board member of Camp Swig, I know that it has been one of the most important sources for fostering Jewish identity and interest among the thousands of young people who have participated in its programs over the years.
The URJ should be willing to simply transfer the property to the local Jewish community, at no charge, considering that significant fundraising will be needed to make it functional again. Given the $5 million offer made by the Jewish bidder, the URJ has the opportunity to retain Swig and its architecturally significant Holocaust memorial center as a resource for the Jewish community while also realizing a handsome return in the deal.
To sell off the camp and Holocaust Memorial to the “highest bidder” would be the highest level of irresponsibility and an insult to the entire Jewish community.
Janet Naymark Stone | Oakland
Outlandish accusation
Jimmy Carter would be most delighted in his latest disciple David Rocha (Letters, Nov. 23), who probably graduated cum laude from the University of David Irving. The letter written by David Rocha would have certainly earned him an A+ in these most renowned establishments of academia!
The choir of Israel and the Jews are at fault of everything would be most honored to have David Rocha join their ranks right along with friends of Israel, such as David Duke, Louis Farrakhan and their ilk.
David Rocha in his preposterous accusation against Israel with the so-called ethnic cleansing needs to redirect his eyes at such fine human right countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Libya and many others where for the most part there aren’t any Jews left! And in some like Iran where there are some Jews left, but they live in constant peril for their lives!
Yet, no Arab has to fear for his or his family’s safety as long as they are not involved in terrorist activities against Israel and its people! And yes! Freedom for its people according to Hamas means the death and destruction of Israel! A little detail you deliberately overlooked!
Zevika (Zee) Salles | San Francisco
Rights for last rites
I have encountered several Jewish families who were told by funeral directors that embalming is required for interstate transfer of a deceased person. Everyone should be aware that this is untrue. Further, any funeral director making such a claim is a violation of federal law.
California, unlike many states, does not require a degree in mortuary science for those who plan and arrange funerals. They only need a basic knowledge of California Mortuary Law. This can leave significant gaps in their professional knowledge.
Embalming should be a matter of personal choice and should not be forced on unwilling families. Be aware of your rights. Further information can be obtained by calling California Board of Consumer Affairs at (800) 574-7840 or Mandel Funeral Services (866) 962-6335.
Daniel A. Mandel | Mandel Funeral Services of Northern California
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