Commentary
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Arlene Peck archives

We are pleased to feature the insightful commentary of Arlene Peck, syndicated international columnist and talk show hostess with a television show of mostly celebrity interviews which has been seen all over southern California every Monday night at 9pm for the past twelve years. Arlene speaks throughout the USA and Europe about Israeli and Jewish issues. She has traveled to the Middle East more than twenty-five times, and she covered the war in Lebanon in June, 1982. Arlene is currently working on a book about her interviews and amazing experiences. 

Politically Correct?

October 2004

Not a day goes by that we don't hear of yet another atrocity perpetrated by terrorists in the name of Islam. Yet the world's media -- of which the Los Angeles Times is a particularly prime example -- continue to treat these terrorists with respect by not calling them "terrorists." And by giving them a platform to spout their hate and lies. How long must this go on? How long are we going to stay in denial?

I recently wrote a column about my visit to a meeting at the IMAN Center where the Los Angeles Iranian community expressed its concern about hate crimes allegedly directed at Moslems, and about our alleged lack of political correctness about them. In the Q&A session of the meeting I questioned what all 1.3 billion of them are doing about these atrocities. I asked, " Where is your outrage at, and your condemnation of, such barbaric acts? What leaders, what imams, what intellectuals from among you are speaking out about the disgust and shame you feel about what is being done in your name and in the name of the Koran? "

At that meeting I was told that they really, really were speaking out, but the media was not paying attention. Do they really believe that? Because I have to question the motives of these "nice" Moslems. Today, after watching the latest carnage in Egypt, I feel disgust for these so-called moderates. How dare they have their politically correct town hall meetings and forums with representatives of the Justice Department, and with fellow Arabs/Moslems in the U.S. legal system, about how fearful they are of retaliation to them?

I do not have the patience, or any emotion other than anger, when I hear about their concern for "hate crimes" against Moslems -- which according to them seem to be on the rise. Not while I am watching the carnage they cause. 

Israel is doing the right thing in going after the terrorists' leaders and killing them. Israel is simply helping them to meet the 72 virgins in Paradise that they yearn for. Although the leaders who send their people to do these bombings apparently think differently for themselves. They are all for living well -- or at least for having offshore bank accounts and staying alive. 

These barbarians know how to live graciously in their caves or under their rocks like the roaches they are. Yet their funding comes from somewhere, and the "nice" mosques and centers, such as the one I visited, are no doubt all contributors to their charities -- charities that supply the funds for their murderous activities.

G-d forbid we should consider racial profiling. It is "un-American." I'll tell you what I find astounding is how the Arab groups -- oh, and let's not forget the ACLU -- have learned to use our system against us. We even send out representatives from the Justice Department and legal system to teach them how to arrive at their goals!

Better than addressing their concerns about racial profiling and unfairly targeting Moslem and Arab Americans, the speakers should have told these "nice" people in the Moslem center that I visited that we are at war with radical Islamic extremists. And since they don't seem to be able to show us which Moslems are terrorists and which are the "good ones" (like they proclaim to be), they should understand that in a war  the gloves are off! 

I wish those good folks from the Justice Department, who were there that day to address Arab/Moslem concerns, were more interested in impressing upon their audience the fears and needs that the rest of the world has about them. They seem oblivious to the fact that, finally, we in America are -- slowly and reluctantly -- coming to the realization that it is only the people of Arab and Moslem backgrounds who are teaching their youth to strap bombs around their bodies and kill anyone in sight. That their culture has no conception of civilization as the rest of the world knows it. 

We are talking about war and peace in Islamic terms. These people haven't a clue as to what democracy is. Nor do they have any intentions of doing a damn thing to secure it for their people. We're not talking about Haiti here. Iraq is a county of many millions of people with the world's second largest oil reserves. Still we are incurring 90% of the cost of this war to "liberate" them, and 90% of the soldiers we're losing are Americans -- just to keep them safe? 

I don't give a diddly-squat about seeing their children in their nice schools rebuilt with U.S. dollars. I care if there is toilet paper for ours. And what is that about "we don't want oil?" Why shouldn't we? I just filled up my car (which is not and SUV) and it cost me almost fifty dollars. Whose fault is that? 

Although the local Moslems appear to be totally oblivious, it seems the Americans are beginning to wake up to the fact of how many of their Arab/Moslem "brothers" were living in the United States before September 11th -- and how many thousands of Americans they have slaughtered. Instead of hearing their politically-driven complaints, it would be nice if just once I was able to sit in a auditorium and hear their anger, disgust, and outrage for the monsters who put the "peaceable" Moslems in the United States in this position in the first place. 

The Moslem world has been killing Americans on a regular basis for the past thirty years. How stupid are we going to continue to be? The more passive we have been in our response, the more the barbarians who live in caves and cut off hands and heads became empowered. Contrary to what our State Department believes, it is not possible to negotiate with them. If they would reach an agreement, it would be useless anyway because their word means nothing. 

What they do understand and respond to is power . I remember the late Rabbi Meir Kahane telling me twenty-five years ago, " I don't want their love. I don't want their understanding. I do want their respect. And, the only way that would come will be through fear." With this crowd, fear is the necessary ingredient that makes them understand. They really understand power, and it would make them realize that if they mutilate or murder ours, then theirs will be soon after. 

How many 9/11s is it going to take? 

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Mosque

October 2004

The Iman Cultural Center is not like any Moslem center you would expect. It is located just a couple of blocks past the Beverly Hills Country Club. The parking lot was filled with Mercedes, Porsches, and Jags. This "town hall" meeting was attended by American Moslem Public Affairs (MPAC), presenting speakers from Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, the Iranian Council, and Justice Department representatives on discrimination and civil rights.

I arrived early, and when the crowd filed in slowly, I noticed that only four of about twenty women who attended were wearing the hijab headdress. The crowd of about sixty was a mixture of students, homemakers, and -- mostly -- professionals.

I was surprised to see the small turnout, as the Iranian/Shiite Moslem community in Los Angeles totals about a half-million. Then again, I have attended rallies for Israel in Los Angeles -- a city which has close to four hundred thousand Israelis -- and only fifty turned out to march.

I attended the MPAC meeting because I received a flyer announcing a forum to “communicate with the U.S. government about the issues and concerns of your community.” I was curious to hear first hand what the concerns of the Arab community might be. I also wanted to see what the attempt of our governments at all levels might be to pander to this group.

One of the guest speakers was Shaarik H. Zafar, who is the "Special Counsel on Post-9/11 National Origin Discrimination" to the Civil Rights Division of the Office of the Assistant Attorney General.

I found it interesting that the Moslem Public Affairs Consul is partially funded by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission. I always like to see how my tax dollars are at work. 

The focus of this meeting seemed to be how necessary it was to "educate" the ninety-seven attorneys in the country in the Justice department about Islam. Ray Rototo from the Los Angeles County Human Right division stressed that “We need to hear your concerns so we can apply resources to solve your problems."

They emphasized the necessity of training law enforcement about Islam. “We're at a unique time now. We are holding the key to educate law enforcement to outreach and teach them about Islam. They want the knowledge. Give them training.” L-rd, I wish I heard that sometimes from the Jewish community -- and especially the Israeli community. Their public relations have been nil under the leadership here in Los Angeles under [Israeli Consul] Yuvel Rotem.

Another theme of the town meeting was that the time is ripe to encourage their children to cultivate influence. “We need more influence in two crucial areas, which are media and government. We need more involvement in both those areas to be the "silent force.” Repeatedly they were told that now is the time to encourage their children to go into these fields, to study journalism and government in school. "We need more Moslems to get in front of the TV camera and convince younger people to get into journalism to gain more power.”

Out of the four speakers who were there, all of them -- as expected --  were Arabs, and were there to address their concerns. Which, in this case, were "hate crimes" and how to prevent them. According to them, there have been about 600 "incidents" against the Arab community since 9/11. [No evidence supports this contention. - Editor]

While they spoke of how United States foreign policy has to change and that it was up to them to "educate" us, I wondered: What exactly did that mean? Racial profiling seems to be an issue. Frankly I wish there were more of it. Truthfully, who are the terrorists who have changed our lives? It is certainly not people from Finland or Norway. You won't find terrorists amongst little school girls from Japan on holiday. But Moslem children are being carefully trained in martyrdom, about going to Paradise and getting their 72 virgins as payback. 

Much of the focus of the meeting was their need to be more involved and represented in government. The theme was reiterated repeatedly: “If we have more representation in government, they will know what we are thinking and it will make our jobs easier.” They weren't too specific as to what those "jobs" were, which made me a little uneasy. I tend to think that the infiltration of their dangerous religious philosophy is destroying much of France and Europe, and it should be a clear warning to us with our "open borders." Even Spain is "trashed" now.

Their concerns were about George Bush and his re-election, as they feel that American Iranians are Americans and entitled to the same rights. In addition, they feel that if Bush is elected, there will most likely be a war with Iran and then their situation in the United States will be tenuous.

All of them were articulate, and they appeared charming. When I introduced myself at the question and answer portion as a writer for Jewish newspapers, I felt no hostility (as I had expected) when I stood up. I said, “For every action there is a reaction. You who are the educated and affluent Moslems are seeing seventh century behavior performed in the name of the Koran.” I continued:

“There are 1.3 BILLION of you. Where is the outcry from you? Who is out there telling the world that terrorism is dysfunctional, sick behavior? Where are the Moslems who say ‘We do not believe in shooting babies. We abhor those who blow up discos and buses. We revere life instead of death and we will be vocal about it.'? Forget your million man marches; do you have a fifty-man march to say that? Why don't centers like yours join with others, with even one mosque? Moreover, why don't you say this is not the way we believe? You could be role models for the entire Moslem community.”

The audience sat there in stunned silence for a few seconds and finally one woman raised her hand. She said, “We do say that, but the media won't pay attention to us!” Apparently the Moslems seem to think that the Los Angeles Times is as biased against them as the Jewish community thinks it's biased again us. The Iranian group insists that when they condemn terrorism the Times will not report it. “The moderates are not given any attention” I was told, in answer to my question. "The media spurs people to do things they normally wouldn't do.” Well they got that right.

Later a few women approached me, and one told me, “Moderate Moslems are squeezed on both sides. We know we should speak out, but many are afraid.” I told her that because they did not speak out, the entire world is afraid of what the future holds. Terrorism happens in more places than the streets.

The Arab/Moslem culture has changed our world, and we have to realize that life just is not "safe" any more. The days of keeping your doors unlocked are long gone. Virtually all of the wars and conflicts going on at any place on the globe at this moment are Moslem.

Maybe it would have been easier for me to accept their premise that “The mainstream of the majority of Moslems are peaceful. American Moslems are part of the solution … we are not the problem” (as they  repeatedly asserted) if only IMPAC and the like were less timid in their response to their culture's dysfunctional behavior. Then I might have been convinced.

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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Give Them the Death They Revere

September 2004

The Arabs are bombing, murdering, mutilating, raping, and wreaking havoc all over the Judeo/Christian world. Israel has nothing to do with it … nothing!

The front pages of The Los Angeles Times been completely filled with the latest catastrophic actions of these savage, barbaric Arabs who tortured and slaughtered hundreds of school children and their mothers during the past few days in the horrific school bombings.

Children! Babies who were forced to drink their own urine, tortured and denied water and food for over two days in 95 degree heat. One six-year old child was reported to have been killed by having a bayonet thrust through his little body when he had the audacity to ask for water from these "brave men" who were holding them hostage. If that wasn't bad enough, over twenty of these small children were shot in the back from snipers on the rooftops as they were trying to escape and run to the safety of their mothers' arms.

The Moslems are experts in killing babies. I remember the massacre of the kindergarten in Ma'alot in 1974. More so, while covering the war in June of 1982 in Lebanon and saw what cowards these vermin were. They excel in bombings and terror attacks on subways, planes, and schools. But when they are in a real combat situation and have to fight, then they disappear or run with their hands in the air, waving white flags before the first shot is fired.

They have also taken two French journalists as hostages in order to influence French domestic laws. This is especially interesting since Mr. Jacques Chirac and France, since 1967, have gone out of their way to alienate their western allies and openly side with the Arabs in the name of "special relationship and understanding of the Arab world."

The Arabs/Moslems want to pressure the French to change their laws prohibiting the wearing of religious symbols, including headscarves, in schools. Otherwise they were going to use the journalists to make a political statement. This is only the beginning. Within five years the required fashion in Paris will be burqas .

Page two in The Times continued with a story of how a female “suicide” bomber wearing an explosive device stuffed with metal bolts killed at least nine people in a Moscow subway station in a blast and injured about a hundred more. This in addition to the two airplanes that Moslem fundamentalists blew up a few days ago in Russia. About a hundred innocent people were killed in those two attacks. I can't even look at the television and see the nightly death toll of our soldiers in Iraq. We are paying a great price with our soldiers' blood to bring freedom and democracy to this modern day Babylon. 

The reality is that if we don't root out terrorism in all its manifestations, wherever it is, this nightmare which right now we are just watching on the evening news will eventually reach our shores as well as the other free nations around the world.

Somewhere buried in The LA Times was a story about how these same subhuman savage “militants” who had killed twelve Nepalese workers want even more! More concessions and more blood! Later in the day I received a graphic video of them beheading these poor civilians. We are dealing with a mentality that only understands force.

The Russians aren't known for being very politically correct. If I were living through the horror they've gone through these past few days, I'd pressure my government into sending a laser-guided missile into every one of those mosques where they plan, train, and finance these attacks -- with a note attached reading "Never again!"

In fact, now would be a perfect time to drop leaflets on the mosques that plan and train the terrorists that from now on the next thing dropped on them will be missiles dipped in pig's blood. No more "restrained action" (as they are regularly recommended by our government, the EU, and the UN). When the next terrorist action happens, just do it!

Somebody has to do something! President Bush is out there trying to defend his policies and locate Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. Everyone and their Arab brother knows that the weapons have been moved into Syria. Who do we think we're kidding?

The effort against fundamentalist Islam must be worldwide, whether it's Afghanistan, Russia, the Philippines, the United States, or Israel! It is the freedom of every individual that is at stake here! When are we going to wake up? Our lives are being disrupted on a daily basis.

Today the Los Angeles airport was shut down because of a "terrorist" threat. As I vented my anger to my kid she said, "Mom, how do you know it's Arabs who are behind this?" Yeah right, it's probably a gang from Norway or Finland! Of course it's the Moslems! Name me one other group that is bent on destroying our lives as we know them?

I haven't even begun to get around to the horror caused by these same Moslem fundamentalists who are rampaging, raping, and killing hundreds of thousands of Sudanese Christians and black Africans because they refuse to bow to their god "Allah."

It doesn't matter where they are. It all boils down to the fact that the Judeo/Christian free world is at war with an evil, vicious, seventh-century barbaric Islamic culture. These people kill indiscriminately. The Islamics don't care who they target: children, old people, people riding on buses, teenagers going to discotheques or eating in pizza parlors, are all fair game. Even other Moslems. I think that the world is finally realizing that it's not just Israel who is the target. It's anyone who isn't “THEM” -- and by that I mean anyone who isn't a fundamentalist Moslem.

Interestingly enough, while watching the horror in the Russian school unfold on the news stations, I was speaking on the phone with a technician about a glitch on my computer. We had been speaking for a couple of days and he sounded like a very nice man. He told me he was a Moslem man from Iran who had left that country thirty years ago, and how badly he felt about the ongoing horrors being played out on the television as we spoke. Yet when I asked him what he did personally to speak out about the actions committed by others in his culture that he apparently found so disturbing -- he was silent. I asked what was being said about the behavior from those in his mosques. He was quiet, then said, "What can I do as one person? You have a newspaper column. You have a voice." That seems to be the attitude of all of them.

Ironically, most people here that I've spoken with don't even comprehend that this is a long-term problem that has been foisted upon us by 1.3 billion people. My daughter said, “Mom, my friend Selena is an Arab and isn't like that.” Well, that's quite possible. Maybe there are millions of them that are like her friend Selena. Yet where is the outcry from the Selena and the Moslem community? The newspapers and television are filled with the outrages caused by her culture. Show me one mosque or protest by those peaceful Moslems? ONE!

These barbarians are quick to dance in the streets and pass out candy to all their children at the joy of seeing the carnage in Israel or any other part of the civilized western world. I fully expect to turn on the television and see them dancing on the rooftops in Iraq, Iran, and Gaza, celebrating the dead babies in Russia.

The only way we are going to defeat this issue is with TRUTH! The first step is to cut the political correctness over this issue. Enough is enough. Secondly, we need to help Israel complete the security barrier as soon as possible, despite the United Nation's objection. Finally, we need to implement the same policy regarding "rooting out terrorism in all its forms, wherever it is" -- whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, the Sudan, Iran, Syria, or Israel. We should not be applying a double standard when it comes to eliminating this evil around the world.

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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When In Doubt … Blame The Jews

August, 2004

When I was in college, I used to kid around and say that I was majoring in “popularity and friends.” It's a good thing I didn't know then all that I know today. Because anti-Semitism is alive and well. And today it's not just in those redneck areas of Georgia where I grew up. Now they're more polished, and re-elect terrorists such as Cynthia McKinney. Even mall stores like The Body Shop are now promoting the Arab homeland along with their bath salts, and are sending their profits into funds to “return the Palestinians [sic] back into Israel" which they claim the Jews took away from them.

I am sick and tired of reading newspapers that are literarily filled with stories of Al-Qaeda, and pictures of the adventures of hooded terrorists and who they've bombed and mutilated.

We start our day with the latest terrorist attack and end with who was beheaded by these seventh-century barbarians. Iraq? They are like the rest of them: They have no idea what democracy is and perhaps never will, no matter how hard we and the rest of the world try. They don't want democracy, and they hate everyone from the outside who tries to help. They don't even want to help themselves. It's easier to send our soldiers to the front lines to get blown up.

Yet with all of the daily updates of terror from this evil, dysfunctional society which is 1.3 billion strong, there are not even a dozen or so mosques from thousands -- from Morocco to Indonesia -- who find this barbaric and savage behavior from their brothers abhorrent. I've yet to hear from even one who is even a teensy bit vocal about it. Out of 1.3 billion people … not ONE!

If the European Union and United Nations can sit calmly by and watch hundreds of thousands Sudanese murdered by Arab Moslems, and a million displaced from their homeland, do you think that they are going to come to any aid of the Jews? This is the group that is still aggravated that the Jews survived the Holocaust! I remember when Israel tried to deport 400 vicious terrorists from Lebanon, and the United Nations met almost daily to take their resolutions against Israel. CNN covered the story with glee.

These organizations meet and have conferences to protest the security wall, which seems to be extremely effective in stopping the terrorists from entering into Israel and blowing themselves and everyone in sight to smithereens. It's okay for us to have a fence in California to keep masses of Mexicans from pouring over our borders. And they don't even want to kill us ... they just want to get our drivers licenses and onto our social services and send money home.

I was in El Arish in Egypt as a journalist on the day the “peace” with Egypt gave the booty of Yamit (in Sinai) and another large city. I sat there while Egypt was also given back the only producing oil fields which had been developed by Israel and which had made Israel independent of oil imports. I watched them pass over the buffer of the Sinai Peninsula and many militarily important sites. Even after getting everything, the Egyptians haggled successfully about Taba, which was a resort built by Sonesta Hotels. (It was the same thing the Lebanese did about Sheba farms.) And in return for all this, Israel received a "cold peace." 

Back then the Egyptians were primitive in their knowledge. A lot has changed since then. During that time, the United States has armed them to the teeth with the most sophisticated and deadly of modern weapons. And of course we've taught them how to use them. Who are they expected to use them against? Their Arab brothers? I don't think so.

I find it pretty scary that a President -- who all of Israel's polls say that they find preferable to Kerry in the upcoming election -- has cut Israel's aid from 3.7 billion dollars last year to 2.7 billion this year because Bush is angry about the security fence that Israel has been forced to build. Yet he sends enormous amounts of money to Egypt to not attack Israel. 

I'm tired of fighting the world ... and, more importantly, the self-haters who somehow think if they make nice to the enemy they'll be loved. Well I've got news for them: The double standard that everyone takes for granted is anti-Semitism. Pure and simple hatred for the Jews. And I don't care anymore. 

But I do care that the Jewish state desperately needs to have new leadership that has Israel's best interest at heart. When Bush says “jump” Israel's leaders say, “how high?" It's time for Israel to do what they have to do and the h*ll with everyone else. My mother, Queen Mollie, used to say, “Don't worry about what ‘they' think. When ‘they' are paying your bills, then you can worry.” I don't notice anyone paying my bills.

I think the daily sight of American citizens being carried home in body bags because of these same savage barbarians who've been getting a free ride in the arena of world opinion is starting to sink in. But for the most part with our State Department its business is usual ... and whatever it is, has to be the fault of "the Jews.”

I've given up trying to understand why everyone hates the Jews, although I tend to think I have a pretty good idea. I think it's because we gave the world a conscience with the Ten Commandments. Until then, they were perfectly happy coveting other people's wives and sleeping with their sisters or with sheep.

It annoys the Moslem world and the European Union that in fifty-six short years the Jewish nation has accomplished far more than most of them put together. Israel leads in the field of medicine, bio-technology, hi-tech fields, and yes, agriculture. Those amazing drip irrigation systems they perfected save between 40% to 50% water usage while giving a 300% return in crop increase. To Israel's neighbors and critics (who are vast in number), and to those who have never done one productive thing in their entire existence, Israel's achievements become a breeding ground for envy and jealousy. 

I remember when I was a kid, and my mother would go out and collect rents in an old Dodge when she had a Cadillac at home. I used to ask her why, and she'd tell me, "People don't like it when you have more than them. They're jealous.” How right she was!

Israeli Jews have been at the highest levels in all areas of scientific research, biotechnology, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics and software, with a per capita GDP of $20,000. Compare that to the average of no more than $1,000 for the barbarian Arabs. It bothers Jew-hating Europe tremendously that Israel's technology is so far ahead of anything they've been able to come up with. Israel -- with a population of just six million, has more high-tech and bio-tech start-ups than either UK, France, or Germany.

People who get to be too successful aren't always liked. Those with no accomplishments or with sub-human savage mentalities and actions are resentful of those whose technological and economic gains are light years beyond their comprehension. The only basic national resource that Israel had (since they gave Egypt their only oil wells) has been its people and their talent. 

Its pretty much a secret, but Israel's expertise in the matters of fighting terrorism since 9/11 have been invaluable in helping our country fight it. Have you ever wondered how Israel can pinpoint the terrorist in West Bank and Gaza right from the air, when these masterminds of terror are on their way to carry out bombings? Israel knows where all the bodies are hiding ... and is helping the United States find them. 

Maybe it's time for The Jewish State to start billing us for their aid, which I'll bet is a lot more valuable than the paltry 2.7 billion dollars Israel receives. I think that our average CEOs -- like Michael Eisner -- are taking that much out of the till of their companies every year!

Recently when I went out with a man who told me that it was time for the Israelis to get out and leave the country to those it belonged to (the "Palestinians"). I sat there astounded: this imbecile was a Jewish man! I don't know who worries me more, the obvious enemies or the brain-washed self-haters who give them encouragement.

Editor's Postscript: Hypocrisy?
"After European representatives launched a campaign against Israel's separation fence, and voted against Israel at the UN general assembly, the EU is planning a separation fence of its own. The EU plans to build a fence to separate its new members -- Poland and Hungary -- from its new neighbors -- Russia, Belarus and Ukraine -- to prevent the free movement of migrants seeking to enter the EU. Israeli companies that specialize in the construction of warning fences and security systems will participate in tenders to build hundreds of kilometers of fences along the EU's new eastern border." Published by Globes [online], August 12, 2004. (Link opens in a new window.)

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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Enough of the Inner City!

August, 2004

I surprised myself yesterday. I received a call from The Jewish Federation. They were soliciting for my yearly donation. In the charming words of Teresa Kerry, I almost told them to "shove it." Frankly, my reaction shocked me. I used to be one of the people who sat at the 'phones and made calls to people like me.

I came from a family of big Federation workers. In fact, in my hometown of Atlanta, I believe at one time or  another many of my relatives have been president of that particular branch, and founded most of the Jewish organizations there. 

My doubts about the value of this particular organization began many years ago when my kids were little. My husband came to me one day, demanded a divorce, and I didn't know where to turn. Here in California, everyone is either a therapist or seeing one. However, in those days and in that city, I didn't have the leisure of that choice. So I turned to the Federation for help. 

Silly me. They told me that they were busy "settling the Cambodians" and could give me an appointment in six months. I pleaded with them that the situation being as it was, six hours might be too long. Nothing moved their “family service” department, and I was left waiting for them to get around to me after they finished making their plans to settle the Cambodians.

I've spoken to too many others who've had that same experience. One friend recently told me “I was widowed with no income and they told me that unless I was a minority they wouldn't help." It's appalling that the Jewish Federations think that “Jewish” is the wrong minority.

The output of funds into these organizations and where it's going needs to be examined. Maybe after having to deal with CEOs like the Michael Eisners of the world, who live like kings on stockholders dividend checks, I've gotten suspicious. Or maybe it's the simple fact that some of the people leading these organizations and Israeli consulates seem to have the IQs of eggplants. Whatever. I've gotten where I don't want to give them a dime until I see where that money is going. And from what I've seen, too little is going into Jewish education. 

One would think that after all of these years their attitude would have changed. Not so. I'm seeing the same callous attitude toward Jewish education twenty years later. My children were given a background in Judaism. Now my daughter, thankfully, wants to continue to see that her children are able to have what she was given. Now, however, she is having to face the fact that if she wants to have her three babies of three-, four-, and five-years old get that Jewish education, then she must pay the tab of thirty-six thousand dollars a year to keep them in the Jewish Day School. Thirty-six thousand dollars a year!

My other daughter and her husband are planning a family. Where they once spoke of three or four children it's been cut down to two. This so they might be able to see that their children have the Jewish education they want to give them. Atlanta is cheap by Los Angeles standards and the going price for a good Jewish Day School (grammar, not college) is seventeen thousand dollars a year per child. 

This, in my opinion, is crazy. Not only that, but it answers my question of why there is no great connection of the "new generation" to Judaism.

And why so many of these Jewish guys that I see out here going off into the sunset with Asian girls? They have no idea what the word Jewish means. Israel? They couldn't find it on the map because the values of Judaism were not taught to them from babyhood. They had a Bar Mitzvah and that's about it.

Jdate? I hear from my daughter how her Asian and blond Nordic girlfriends think it's a really neat way to meet cute Jewish guys. After all, they don't beat their wives or drink too much and are "good to their wives."

I asked the girl on the 'phone what programs the Federation was promoting. I wasn't surprised when she went on about the plans they had to help the "inner city" kids. I remember in Atlanta how busy everyone was working with the black churches in sending kids from the "inner cities" to the Jewish camp the week it closed for the summer. I wondered then: What black group has ever worried about having a joint program with Jewish children? Name one of these benevolent groups that feel they must include Jewish children? 

Recently I spoke to a group at the synagogue in Portland Maine. I told them that they'd best be looking into the growing problem of children not having any Jewish identity and the reasons behind it. While I'm not privy to what the inflated salaries of our leadership moguls are, they have so much money and channel it into their ideas of worthy causes. Unfortunately, most times the idea of a child getting a proper religious education doesn't even cross their minds.

Funds are being cut to the Jewish community centers, which is bad enough. But the price of seeing a Jewish child stay a Jewish child is forgotten. Good L-rd, lately they've even taken to closing Jewish Community Centers -- which is, in my way of thinking, the unthinkable. With all of their fund-raising, the cost of the average person being able to join these centers and day schools is getting beyond the affordability limit. 

I'm a strong believer in protecting Israel. But let me tell you something: Belief begins early. The leadership of the Islamic fundamentalist movements understand this, and they train their children in hatred beginning with their nursery rhymes. Jewish youth have to be taught in the same way -- but to have a love in their hearts for Israel.

In Judaism the key word has always been education. Education with a capital "E." Yet in today's high-flying world, the very basics of our religion are lost in high tuitions. 

The Hollywood crowd? Forget them. [ See Arlene's column Hollywood ] They have no love or concept of what the word Israel means to them. Why? Because they probably also grew up in a Federation world where AIDS victims in Africa and Children's Hospitals in Los Angeles were benefits they should attend to raise money. Most of their trophy wives think Jewish is something that's "cool" like Cabbalah, and they can hang out with Madonna and Britney. If they are convinced to attend a fund-raiser, then they are usually paid a hefty price just to put their name on the list of "attendees."

Israel does its best by promoting low-cost trips to visit for high school students. Even my own kid benefited, probably for the rest of her life from the SAREL program that she was part of. But that's not enough. It has to begin long before that first trip to Israel.

For information about Jewish young adult trips to Israel, see:
birthrightisrael.com or israelfree.com
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Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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One Less Terrorist

July, 2004 

Several months ago, I "discovered" Walid Shoebat . I was asked if I would be interested in having a former PLO terrorist on my television show as a guest. When I was told that he was now a big supporter of Israel and Jews, I became intrigued and said “Sure, why not?”

His story was unusual, to say the least, and when I heard his background -- as one who had been raised on hate and revering death to the Jews -- I wanted to see what had caused this change. Especially since he had been a fund-raiser for Hamas in college, and had gone beyond throwing stones at tanks and was "suited up" for bombings. Walid was a bad guy. A very bad guy.

What caused the change? Well ... basically it was the love of a good Christian woman who came into his life at the right time and said, “Before I become the Moslem wife you want, I want you to read my Bible.” The rest is history. Now he is in demand at universities, radio talk shows, and a multitude of newspapers -- except The Los Angeles Times, who I called to cover his talk at the Zen Buddhist Center and couldn't drum up any interest. I wasn't surprised: As I said, he was supportive of Israel. 

But I have yet to understand why the Israeli Consulate and the office of Yuval Rotan, and the Israeli public relations people, have had much the same reaction when I tried to impress upon them what a treasure Mr. Shoebat is for The Jewish State. What is wrong with them that they don't support someone who is one in a million -- no, several million -- who is helping Israel without backing from the people who should be promoting this man?

Five or six hundred Zen Buddhists didn't seem to have any problem with attending his lecture, and at the end giving a standing ovation to what this man had to say. Interestingly enough, the group looked more Jewish to me than what I had pictured as Buddhist but, what do I know? [Sounds like a "Jewbu" audience. - Ed.] 

Our guest said things that I have been writing for years, but coming from a man who grew up under the canopy of terrorism, they listened when he told them: "There can be no negotiation with this culture. It is the cycle of Nazism repeating itself, and now called Islamic fundamentalism ...  We have to blame somebody. Kill the men and rape the women.” The difference, and the horror that the world is facing now, is that “Germany was one country. Islam is in fifty-five countries.”

Mr. Shoebat related the parallel to the Nazis, how they began with the youth. They had the Boy Scouts and the youth in media creating facts from myth. The same "facts" were used during his upbringing -- except that he attended schools that were funded (and still are today) by the Saudis, to promote hatred against The Jewish State. He spoke of how the text books in virtually every Arab country are filled with quotations of “Death to the Jews.” 

The audience soaked up his statements that Arabs are taught “We will knock on the gates of Paradise with the skulls of the Jews.” It really got their attention when he said, “Of course, that's because we behead them first.”

He spoke of how the Moslems don't want just a share of Israel. “They want the whole pie. I've never read a Moslem publication in relation to the Jews that doesn't say 'From the River to the sea.'" He continued: “And let there be no mistake. Once they get Gaza, then they want Acre, Ramallah, Haifa, Tel Aviv. Israel was never interesting to the Arabs. The only time they wanted it was when the Jews had it.”

Mr. Shoebat told his audience, “You never hear about the refugee problem of 850,000 Jews who were forced to flee the Arab countries after the 1947 partition. All you hear about are the Arabs. Why won't people accept the fact that the biggest refugee problem in the world is the Jewish people? For over two thousand years Jewish people had their presence in Israel. The American people have no clue … none!” Well, he's got that right. I wondered how many Arabs had ever been told, as he told his audience, that “Israel throughout history has not been occupiers, as I was taught. Instead, they are the liberators.” 

I have always known that the Moslem goal has been to wipe away anything Jewish from the land. They build mosques over synagogues and remove all artifacts, and destroy holy places and anything that ties Jewish people to the land. Anybody out there remember what they did to Joseph's Tomb?

"There are no 'Palestinian' refugees. It is a 'cause' that is passed down from generation to generation. No matter where they live, the Arabs of the entire region all say that they are 'Palestinians,' and look upon that to be a privilege -- and get free food. The productive people will never go back to any state of 'Palestine.' The only ones will be the fanatics. And there are enough of them."

It was no great surprise to me that the Saudis use their barrels of oil to profligate Nazism. But coming out of this man, they listened. 

And as much as I knew about the Saudis I found it interesting when Walid set out the “plan.” “The majority of Moslems have an agenda. The Saudis aren't spending billions in oil money to propagate peaceful causes. They are all over the world building mosques, usually over churches, and giving to terrorist charities in the first stage. That is the 'jihad of the pen.' That's the stage where they use massive public relations and rush to the United Nations for yet more of those resolutions against Israel. 

"The second stage is the 'jihad of finance.' That's when the Saudis with their their fund-raisers and big donations to terrorist organizations and schools come in. The mosque is nothing but the jihad of finance which includes giving to terrorist charities (which most of them are fronts for)."

"And the final nail in our coffin of culture is the 'jihad of the sword.' That is when all these nice, 'peaceful' 1.3 billion Moslems are to unite and oust all secular government and reinstate Islamic laws."

And finally, on the topic of democracy: Walid finds the thought that despite the billions and billions of dollars that our tax dollars have invested in bringing democracy to Iraq, it's never going to happen. At least not in our lifetime. "The only time that they use ‘democracy' is one time, and that will be to hold elections to insure that the Islamic fundamentalism will continue to flourish."

Chilling.

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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Return Me to an Island

June, 2004 

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I have recently returned from a speaking tour to Portland, Maine. While there, I had a chance to spend a few days visiting cousins on a little island that is accessible only by ferryboat. The people on Peaks Island were totally different from those here on the West Coast. The children look like children instead of baby bimbette Britney Spears clones. Their world was innocent. 

These people don't even watch television, and that is wonderful. They talk, take walks, ride bikes, read, play games ... and life was utopia. For the better part of two weeks I didn't know what was happening in the world, and I think I much prefer it. 

I returned to Marina del Rey, California, turned on the television, and life was back to usual. Every station, every page in The Los Angeles Times were about the latest horrific attack by Moslems. I wanted to go back to the old days when all we had to worry about was whether Britney wore implants or who J-Lo was going to marry next. 

Who would have thought that we would become desensitized by sub-humans who routinely chop off heads of hostages? I "get it," and I think a lot of you readers do as well: We are fighting an enemy who is not only violent, but one who is part of a seventh-century mentality. Land has nothing to do with the issue. Never has. The enemy hates us because ... just because. 

Yet after my visit to the nice people of Maine and speaking with many of them, I see how lovely people like those just can't comprehend the vicious barbarism of Islamic fundamentalism. Our culture is so different that we are nearly a different species. The people with whom I spoke truly believe that people should "be nice," and that everything can be solved by negotiation. Maybe giving them a hug or two.

Many told me, "Surely you don't believe all Moslems to be like that?" No, not all, but I wonder. Out of two billion of them, can anyone out there name me one million-man/woman march protesting the idea of "suicide" bombs or cutting off heads? No? Well then, how about giving me the names of fifty of these nice Moslems who are protesting the evil of their culture? Have any of you seen protests by that many? Maybe you know of a mosque or two that has come out publicly stating that their Moslem brothers are dysfunctional, and that what is happening is just wrong? You don't, because they just don't exist.

Out of two billion Moslems, where is the outcry from their own culture that what they are doing is savage and they have a Stone Age mentality? Normal people do not regard their women with less consideration than their farm animals. Chopping off heads and various body parts is beyond dysfunctional. I've been to Gaza a few times, where these morons have designated "days of rage." They probably have special "blowing up" holidays, too. 

I've had it with politically correct people -- even those in Maine, who try to see a situation with "fairness." They only opt for disappointment. Dealing with this kind of enemy is as simple as them versus us. I can't hear one more time that there can be a peaceful co-existence and mutual cooperation and tolerance when the enemy's culture teaches their children to hate, and glorifies death. 

It's very simple. You do not negotiate with an alligator. Nor do you legitimize it by inviting it to diplomatic conferences and promising anything that's on our State Department's mind at that moment. Our government would let Israel be the sacrificial lamb in a heartbeat, and what's scaring me is that Israel's leaders don't seem to have a problem with that. Yasser Arafat could have been taken care of long ago, but it didn't happen because George Bush demanded that Ariel Sharon not harm the PLO leader. 

Israel should have walked away the same as Arafat did when President Bush pushed his Roadmap to Hell on The Jewish State. We should also be questioning why Israel is the only party expected to produce specific hard results for some fictitious peace. Israel is singled out for "ethnic cleansing," and Sharon seems to be going along with dividing and carving up the Land of Israel. No matter how much they, or we as Americans for that matter, give up, it will never be enough. I understand the political reasons for Bush's actions -- he's been in bed with the Saudi family the better part of his life. But Sharon? 

Why are we so hesitant to acknowledge that the last few times we Americans went to war it was in defense of the Moslems? We have forgotten, along with the Arabs and Moslems, how we saved their butts in Bosnia, Serbia's Kosovo province , Gulf Wars #1 and #2. They now want apologies for our humiliating them? Fine. But where have the marches and vocal apologies been for 9/11, when all the murderers on that fateful day were Islamic Arabs? We even flew the Saudi family out when no other planes were flying the day after. [Editor's note: Members of the Saudi royal family were permitted to fly out of the USA a few days after 9/11; they were on one of the first flights after commercial air traffic resumed.] But hey, they've got their own problems now that their own homegrown terrorists are turning inward on them. Couldn't happen to a nicer group. 

For years Israel tried to tell the world about the Saudi culpability in promoting and funding terrorism. Nobody cared. Now, however, since United States soldiers and civilians are being murdered and mutilated on a daily basis -- also at the hands of our "good friends" the Saudis -- the tone of the State Department and assorted talking heads has changed. 

I think I began to lose my compassion the first time I saw our own people being killed, mutilated, and having their burnt bodies being dragged through the streets amongst the joyous crowd dancing and passing out candy. I know for sure I lost my patience while watching my tax dollars continue to be sent into the bottomless pit of "aid" to countries and organizations like the "Palestinian" Authority, which is never going to reach its intended goal anyway.

I've never thought President Bush to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he knows that the Saudis and Pakistan have been behind terrorism and they have been funding it for decades. They fund, breed, and raise these global Islamic jihadists , and have been getting away with it for decades. Bush gets away with pressuring Israel at every turn to "show restraint." I lost my patience watching television and seeing Bush riding the Saudi prince around his ranch in a golf cart, while giving photo-ops and calling this terrorist culture peaceful and great. 

Hey, I once had compassion and I still do. I'm sorry for those masses whom we support financially, but I wonder why it's acceptable for the obscenely wealthy Arabs to accept our aid, and force their people to live in squalor and "refugee camps" for their own public relations. And I'm truly sorry that they feel they have to blame the USA for anything that angers them. 

I wish I was a virgin again like those good people in Maine, burying my head in the sand and no longer facing the reality of what I see. Life is ever so much nicer that way. 

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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Airing Our Dirty Laundry

June 2004

I wonder: Do Jewish liberal politicians -- who most times I find to be self-serving and self-haters -- have any idea of the damage that they do to Israel or the Jewish people when they speak their garbage? 

Our enemies take comfort from a simple uttering by a Tommy Lapid about how the behavior of the Israel army reminded him of what his Holocaust survivor mother endured. That stupid comment made headlines around the world. Did the man intend the damage that he caused? I don't know, but it was done. 

In the same way, a few renegade soldiers were remiss in their treatment of enemy soldiers in the Abu Ghraib prison. The damage to the vast United States armed forces has been done. Did they mean it? Or were they just guys and gals who wanted to have fun and "photo-ops" with the prisoners of war under their jurisdiction?

Who knows? Who cares? The damage has been done. The liberal and enemy press took hold of those pictures and it's going to cost us dearly. 

Why do I mention this?

Well, for starters, it has come to my attention that Prime Minister Sharon, in his apparently senile years, has proposed the idea of compensation to hundreds of Palestinians whose homes were demolished during the widening of the death road, the Philadelphia Corridor. Who in heaven's name does he plan on paying the "reimbursements" to for damages done?

As far as I'm concerned, these same displaced homeowners/terrorists have cost enough, making it necessary to erect a wall to keep them out of Israel. I'm writing columns about how there are children in Israel going hungry and the economy is in difficult times, and the powers that be want to pick up the tab for the buildings that were demolished in Rafah? 

And The Los Angeles Times , incredibly, wrote an editorial that the reins of the turnover (that apparently is a done deal) should be turned over to Egypt. 

Excuse me? 

Wasn't one of the primary reasons for the incursion into Gaza to seek and destroy the tunnels coming in from Egypt for bringing weapons to be used against Israel?

I interviewed a mother who was one of the victims of Arab terrorism; specifically, Gazan terrorism. She decried how she didn't have money to pay her babysitters to watch her other three children while she stayed at the hospital to take care of her injured daughter. 

The Prime Minister wants to pick up a tab? Who is going to compensate for all the damages these savages have caused? Have all the bills for the thousands and thousands of wounded and maimed they've caused been settled? Is Yasser Arafat and Company, the EU, or the UN going to send their checks to repay Israel for the continuing surgical operations, the medical supplies, and disability costs of those who will never function normally again?

I suppose the expenses of all those hotels, discotheques, bus companies, malls, and military vehicles that have continuously been destroyed by the savages have been covered. Surely the bills for all of those have all been taken care of by the EU and the United Nations. Generous donations from the Red Cross took care of the victims of Arab terrorism, just like after 9/11.

No? Then why are Sharon and company making comments to the biased press (who hate them anyway, no matter what they do) about plans for Rafah compensation? 

Do the Israelis have any idea how detrimental it is when prominent leaders or members of the IDF make stupid public statements? The Los Angeles Times is one of the more rabid anti-Israel papers in the nation. Recently they were delighted to print a huge column written by Uri Dromi, who is now the director of international outreach at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem. 

I knew him when he was the Director of the Press Office in Israel, and thought him a terrific guy. I believe he even made it possible once for me to enter Gaza with a press pass to report on what I found at the time. This was before the intifada , but it was getting dangerous at that time. I saw firsthand what a cesspool it was of bored and violent people. Even then. I remember thinking I had never seen such hate-filled and old eyes on children. And they didn't even know that I was Jewish. 

Mr. Dromi, I am sure, is well aware of the situation and the mentality of the crazed savages who roam the streets of Gaza. So I was a little surprised and dismayed to read that he thinks, like our President Bush, that we must win the hearts and minds of the enemy. Well let me tell you: people who thrive on death and destruction don't have hearts or rational minds to be won.

They are out to kill us -- both the Saturday and the Sunday people. Yet according to Mr. Dromi, "Israel should do its utmost to heal the wounds of this recent, bitter episode. Compensating those people whose homes were demolished is a good first step toward that goal." 

An outrageous comment, and more so because he should be talking about compensation for the carnage caused by the Arab terrorists, about the victims of Arab terrorism. 

Dromi continued speaking about the love they will feel for Israel for withdrawing from Gaza, and what Israel should do to heal their wounds: "Instead of deepening their animosity toward Israel, and instead of demolishing the settlements once they are evacuated, Israel should generously hand them over to Palestinians who desperately need better housing."

As though it were already a "done deal," he continues. "This move would neither diminish the strength of Israel nor harm its security. On the contrary, it would prove that Israel is not only mighty but also magnanimous: not running away but pulling out in a thoughtful, positive way." 

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I truly believe that for issues as important as what Sharon, Dromi, and The Los Angeles Times have decided, I believe that there should be a referendum of the entire Israeli people as to how they feel on issues such as this. It is not up to one man, or to  outside countries that don't have the Jewish homeland in their minds or hearts. 

While all this is going on, however, it might be wise to put a muzzle on the usual suspects -- Tommy Lapid, Shimon Peres, and now Uri Dromi -- before they give their press conferences to Israel's enemies, write extensive columns to any newspapers who gleefully use their words against them. 

They want to show their sensitivity and do something "touchie-feelie?" Tell them to go hug a tree.

My momma, Queen Mollie, used to tell me to keep my skirts clean and don't ever wash my dirty laundry in public. Now I understand what she meant. 

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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Never Thought I'd See The Day

May, 2004

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Being out here in Tinsel Town, we sometimes become a bit jaded about what is really happening in the rest of the world. The Hollywood crowd is so insulated that most of them don't even know that there is a war going on and wouldn't know where to find Israel on the map.

I speak on that topic often on the Christian Radio program " Front Page Jerusalem ." It is broadcast in well over one hundred cities across the United States. Thank G-d there are good Christians out there who are supporting Israel, because I don't often find the necessary concern from the rest of the population. They, like me, are concerned that "celebrities" -- Jewish or otherwise -- are not supporting Israel.

Jewish people here in the land of Hollywood are over-programmed, and are being hit upon by every group from Save the Whales to fighting-AIDS-in-Africa funds. Most of the time, these charitable stars never even think of sending any of their charity dollars to Israel. They're so assimilated that they think ordering bagels with a "smear" is really, really Jewish. Gefilte fish is something they truly believe is caught in the sea. I am appalled by individuals who are biologically Jewish but have no conception as to what being Jewish really means.

Unfortunately, most of the Hollywood crowd that can afford to finance or make a difference for Israeli charities are so lacking in Jewish identity that it never even occurs to them that their Jewish brothers in Israel might need money for basic things like food. Occasionally, you'll get a Jason Alexander who will offer to fly there and take a poll to solve the Arab/Israel problem.

The over-indulged crowd spends a fortune at spas to diet away unwanted pounds. These self-absorbed and indulgent "celebrities" aren't even aware that there are actually children in Israel who are going hungry! I was amazed that the situation has gotten so serious in Israel that there are now programs like Hazon Yeshaya Soup Kitchens . Their slogan: "Adopt a hungry child" to make a difference, to replace hunger with hope.

It seems the savage and senseless intifada over the past few years has caused the percentage of Israeli children who live below the poverty line to grow to approximately 25%, and this number is climbing. That translates to over 690,000 Jewish children living in Israel who are going to bed hungry. Ironic how one of the fears that we in America have is that schoolchildren are becoming obese because of lack of exercise and over indulgence in junk food. Yet amazingly enough, children in Israel as young as ten have been arrested in the act of stealing food to ease their hunger. According to a recent poverty statistic abstract from Haaretz , one out of five Israelis nationwide, including one fourth of Israeli children, live below the poverty line. And their poverty line is a lot lower than what is considered poverty in Beverly Hills.

Recently I had an opportunity to meet with Abraham Israel, the director and founder of Hazon Yeshaya Soup Kitchens . I was amazed when this wonderful man told me that he and his terrific organization are quietly providing more than 120,000 hot meals each month to those that need them the most in Israel. And the lines grow longer every day. 

Over here, we yawn when the homeless stand on street corners. The issue of homelessness and hunger never used to arise when it came to The Jewish State. Now it has. And so there are those like the good rabbi who are there to offer hot meals and encouragement to the homeless, elderly, disabled, and poor children with Down's Syndrome and/or special needs, to distribute clothes and shoes to Israel's needy in order to make them feel less so. And let's not forget the one thousand Holocaust survivors the organization feeds each day. There is a waiting list of nine thousand more Holocaust survivors waiting to be fed when funding is available.

Of course there are now a lot of things in Israel that I would have never thought there could be.

Who would have thought that there would exist the need for an organization called Efrat (the Committee for the Rescue of Israel's Babies) [Hebrew only] ? Last year it saved the lives of 1,336 babies in Israel by providing financial support to their mothers, who were considering abortion due to financial concerns. This year looks even more dismal. 

Unbelievably, there are fifty thousand abortions in Israel every year, most of which are done for economic concerns. As an American who knows how long the waiting list is for adopting babies here in this country, I found it difficult to believe that more Jewish children have been lost to abortion in Israel (two million since 1948) than were lost in the Holocaust. That's why organizations such as Efrat are beginning to reach out to these women.

I receive emails from and have met with so many representatives from Jewish groups coming out of Israel hoping for help that sometimes it is mind-boggling to think of all the causes that we need to support. 

I recently spent some time with Pinchas Gerber from Shomron Development Fund . He is the deputy director of social work for the Shomron Regional Council, a municipality made up of thirty-three settlements. It is sad that he had to educate me on how the children of Israel have forgotten how to laugh. The Fund sends a traveling carnival to each community a few times a year to give these children a few tension-free hours. They live in fear of driving on terror-filled roads to go to a dentist in another community, so the fund sends a dental van to them so they don't have to take the chance of being killed on the road by a savage "Palestinian" [Arab] sniper.

The kids in the Shomron Development Fund are going hungry, but they still provide food packages to about two hundred families twice a month. And they have a waiting list of another two hundred. They have to distribute the food late in the evening in their bulletproof truck so the neighbors don't know who is receiving assistance. This damned intifada has affected everybody.

Israel's growing poverty is in part also due to constant attempts by Western countries to place boycotts on Israeli produce. Luckily (so far) these attempts have had only a limited effect, but nevertheless they are a factor to be considered. In addition, the 18% VAT tax that is put on the Israeli people cuts into their ability to buy the very food that's most needed. 

I suppose I'm getting carried away, but the point I want to bring out is that these are groups that I and most of my fellow Americans never even knew existed. 

"Who woulda thunk" that the land of milk and honey was running out of food for its children?

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.

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The Pendulum Swung

May 2004

There was a time -- actually not so very long ago -- that I would have made a bet that Israel had the worst public relations in the world. But that was before I realized that we in the United States had a tiger by the tail, the same as Israel.

We also have an election coming up, and like most of my fellow Americans I am walking around confused as to which of these two men would be the lesser evil. I have voted in every election since reaching voting age; this is the first time I have no idea for whom to cast my ballot. I hate them both.

George Bush, as bad as he may be, is supposedly better for Israel. According to a recent Zogby report, the vast majority of Arab Americans favor John Kerry. That, folks, is an issue that concerns me greatly. Kerry's billionaire wife, Teresa -- from what I've heard -- makes donations to organizations that fund Hamas. 

A lot of issues worry me. In the past couple of years, I've watched my country go from a favorite tourism spot for the rest of the world to a hated entity. 

In addition, I resent the billions and billions of dollars going into the "rebuilding" of Iraq. They hate us and want us dead. Nor am I happy about paying almost $3.00 for a gallon of gas. Our economy is down the tubes and our entire work force is being farmed out. All of the one-time American employees now seem to be originating from India. We are not happy campers. 

O ur daily press is stressing how our government wants to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq -- despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise. We have never dealt with an entire culture that breeds terrorism and haven't the faintest idea how to deal with it now . We Americans are naive, and have absolutely no conception of the mindset of the Islamic fundamentalist. 

I receive a lot of email, and one that I think perfectly shows the mentality of the enemy is from a young Arab girl in Jordan. She has been questioning what her father and brothers, who are members of Hamas, tell her. This is the most recent message I received from her (original, uncorrected text).

"hi Mrs

"maybe you are wondering why i wasen't writing to you the last days; My father knew about me; he saw somthing that i had written about islam; he got very angry; he had beaten me and he said that i was no longer his girl; and that i was a kafir so i was his slave. he raped me in front of my mother... then he denied me to go out of my room; i'm writing to you from his laptop that my mother had succeeded to pass to me; so i have to hurry

"bye"

The most recent "incident" (and it's a biggie) surrounds the deplorable pictures that the Arab world is turning into a public relations bonanza. I, like everyone of conscience, am also appalled by the scenes of treatment of captive prisoners at the hands of our soldiers. Yet these humiliated and mistreated prisoners are alive. They will once again return to their families and loved ones. (Do terrorists have loved ones?) And they will probably be compensated in the millions by our tax dollars. 

Do you remember the mileage the CNNs and BBCs of the world made out of "poor, downtrodden Arab boys throwing stones at the big, bad Israeli soldiers?" Or what about that set-up picture that went around the world of the kid hovering behind his father while under attack by the Israelis? One picture is worth a thousand words, our enemies are loving the pictures of the abuses of Iraqi prisoners. We are going to pay dearly for them. 

I don't have a doubt in my mind that had the situation been the other way around, these same Iraqis would kill, burn, and mutilate our soldiers. And as a finale they'd pass out candy, shoot rifles, and celebrate while serving the victims' intestines on platters for the crowd. They've already done that in Israel. And remember how they dragged the burned American corpse through the streets? So we in the United States are now facing the very same statute of conduct that Israel has been living under. I don't remember the worldwide cry when it happened in Israel. 

They are savages and barbarians with absolutely no reverence for life. While countries like Israel, and we as Americans, cannot betray the principles and values that we stand for, it's open season for the world of Islam. They can shoot down an eight-month pregnant woman with her four little girls and have it reported as "fighters in conflict."

What I have never been able to fathom is how scenes of Arab atrocities are glazed over and cheered by much of the world. But it's interesting how now the pendulum has swung and my fellow countrymen are facing the same harsh criticism that Israel has faced. The usual suspects of the anti-Semitic press seem confused. As usual, they allude to the perceived United States tilt toward Israel and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And how this alienates Iraqis and Arabs in general. If the truth be told, however, we are finally coming to grips with the fact that land has nothing to do with the jihad or the ingrained hatred. We are fighting the same enemy and it's beginning to sink in.

I'm in no way condoning torture, and believe that the Geneva Convention is something to be upheld. The stupid conduct by a few is coming down heavily on our country and we will pay for it. These soldiers who did such stupid and evil things put their fellow soldiers in great danger, because the savages will see themselves as having justification to do what comes naturally for them. And the rest of the world, as usual, will applaud.

The recent transgressions by American soldiers are detrimental to our international image. In the same way, the hundred or so IDF soldiers who made their displeasure with the Israeli defense policy so public a while back harmed Israel when their story hit the world of electronic news.

Again, I believe that the actions of a few have already cost us. We are Americans and I've always believed that Americans don't do things like the pictures showed. But then again, I used to believe that the United Nations was a good thing, and that cigarettes were cool and couldn't do any damage.

Copyright © 2004 Arlene Peck . Reprinted here by permission of the author.