There was an interesting article in the Jewish Exponent, April 8, 2004 by Lori Lowenthal Marcus. Ms. Marcus is the President of the local chapter of the ZOA. Her article made the point about ho Jews themselves give impressions to the non-Jewish world if something is anti-Semitic or not. This create real confusion and often very offensive materials find their way with no protest.
Ms Marcus made mention of an exhibit at the Free Library of Philadelphia that presented editorial cartoons attacking the Patriot Act. She indicated that the exhibit was promoted as "US Patriot Art." Most cartoons depicted President Bush. In one cartoon " a grinning Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says to President Bush : You don't know how much we rejoice when we fire a missile on Palestine and Children Die." Sharon is the only foreign leader portrayed in the exhibit. This fact was brought to the attention of a Jewish member of the library board. He admitted that it was offensive but added that Jews shouldn't waste their time on minor offenses. A generation ago if there was a depiction in the Arab press that was vicious there would be much protest. Today none at all. I wrote a letter to the Jewish Exponent which was published April 22 where I indicated that it is interesting that should an anti-Israel exhibit should be in the public library. I think I smell a rat and it sound like ALA. I indicated in my letter ALA's extreme position on Israel as well as the SRRT's Alternative Resources on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the resolution on the destruction of Palestinian Libraries. It is imperative that people in our profession and especially those in a Jewish library association be aware of these subtle anti-Israel pieces and raise voices in protest. If we don't it is a tacit signal to the hate mongers to accelerate their hate peddling to a highly uninformed American public. The rabbi teach us that silence is tantamount to admission Eliezer M. Wise Library Director Tuttleman Library of Gratz College 7605 Old York Road Melrose Park, Pa. 19027 215-635-7300 extension 159 Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
