JEWISH VoLLXXXI
No. 5
Omaha, NE
25 Tvslhm, 5762
October 12,2001
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR 80 YEARS
Two Declarations of War by DANIEL PIPES, director of the PhHadefphia-based Middle East Forum •
In remarkably symmetrical fashion, George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden delivered roughly simultaneous declarations of war yesterday, with each one presumably not knowing what the other one said. In certain obvious ways the statements could not have been more different. The clean-shaven U.S. President sat in the elegance of the White House in suit and tie, with nary a gun around. The bearded leader of Al-Qaeda sat in what appeared to be a cave, in a turban, with a gun close by Ms side. The President spoke calmly and generously; the terrorist leader spoke angrily and vengefully. They disagree on substance, of course. Those individuals Bush disparages as "terrorists," bin Laden praises as "vanguard Muslims." Likewise, the American's "barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name" are for the Saudi a sanctified lot, "the group that resorted to God." What Bush portrays as a righteous "campaign against terrorism," bin Laden mocks as "falsehoods." They differ on how this war came about. Bush refers to the "sudden terror" that descended on the United States just 27 days earlier. In contrast, bin Ladin sees it resulting from more than 80 years of "humiliation and disgrace" at American hands, through which the Muslim world's sons have been killed and its sanctities desecrated. But in many other ways, the two talks surprisingly resemble each other. Both are crisp and short (under a thousand words). Both invoke God (Bush only once, bin Laden 10 times), interestingly, Islam is the only religion either of them ever mentions (Bush refers to it once, bin Laden four times), and both do so in order to praise it. The two leaders each dwell on the fact that the U.S. government has managed to find wide support among Muslim governments, tacitly agreeing on
the importance of this development. Bush alludes to it with pride, drawing frosi it the conclusion that the U.S. military strikes oa Afghanistan "are supported by the collective will of the world." Conversely, bin Laden evinces great anger at this treachery, devoting a large part of Ms talk to the "hypocrites* ruling Muslim countries, whom he accuses of "toying with the blood, honor and sanctities of Muslims." He even deems them apostates and reads them out of the Islamic faith, Each divides the world in a binary fashion into two camps, denying the possibility of neutrality. For Bush, "every nation has a choice to make"— fight terrorism or be part of the problem. For bin Laden, there are .two sides, "the camp of the faithful and the camp of infidels,* and each, person has a choice to make. (For bin Laden, it bears note, the "faithful" do not include all Muslims, just those who agree with his outlook.) Both refer to oppressed people, but different ones. Bush points to the inhabitants of Afghanistan, suffering under the Taliban regime; bin Laden focuses, instead, on those of Iraq, whose plight he blames entirely on Bush, the "head of international infidels." Looking beyond the specifies of the speeches, these two declarations of war do accurately convey the vast gap between the sides in outlook and morality. Note the contrast between sudden terror 27 days earlier and 80 years of humiliation; the contrast could not be starker between the stunned American sense of ruptured innocence versus the brooding militant Islamic feeling of betrayal and trauma. Americans see themselves Handing their own business, going to work in the office or going on a plane, and suddenly being fearbarically attacked. Islamists see themselves under the Western heel for generations, and consider the Sept/11 attack as a major step in defending them-
selves.
Finally, the statements point to the fact that this war is not a clash of civilizations but a clash between civilization and barbarism. Bush promises airborne foodT medicine and supplies to the "starving and suffering* Afghan people, but bin Laden sneeringly delights that "America has been filled with horror from north to south and east to west." like World War II asd tite Kawaifc War, this conflict offers a clear-cut choice between good and evil. The strategy for fighting tMs war will be novel but bin Laden resembles prior American enemies such as Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein in that he represents as close to absolute evil as can be found among humans.
Statement from Israeli Prime Minister T h e Ufised Slates has begun its offensive agamst the bases of Osama bin Ladsn's terrorist organization in Afghanistan tonic^t. Thss offensive comes in the wake of the ierribte terrorist aitecks on §ie United States on SepL 11. "Over the past three days, US Secretary of State Coin PoweS has kept me apprised as to the taring of the American offensive, and the appropriate coordination look pface. 'President George W. Bush cafed me Jhis afternoon to update him on the offensive. President Bush noted that the offensive was part of an overaB campaign against terrorism. I wished President Bush, the American People and the forces in the fieid, the best of luck, and offered any assistance that might be required in addition to the assistance aiready given. "ft Is important to remember this evening that the war against terrorism was, and continues to be, the State of IsraeTs war. Israel has provided, and wiiE continue to provide, assistance to She nations of the free world in any way they may require m the struggle against terrorism. ^ r a e ! has provided, and wifl continue to provide, assistance, but fsrael is not participating in the offensive, israet has taken ail the necessary steps to maintain the security
of its citizens.
Ariet Sharon
Jewish Women's Archive Director Keynotes Klutznick Symposium by, ADRIAN KOESTERS, Creighton University
Gail Twersky Reimer, Director of the Jewish Women's Archive, will present the keynote address at the Jewish Community Center in Omaha on Sunday, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.rau Her talk is entitled, "Women of Valor: Posters and the Changing Representations of Jewish Women's History." h am looking forward to being surrounded by so many keen minds all focused on women and Judaism," Reimer said. Reimer's address is part of the annual two-day *Klutzmek Symposium, Oct. 28-29. This is the 14th year of the symposium, according to Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, holder of the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, but the first time co-sponsored by the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Dr. Reimer will examine two series of posters that explore the changing understandings of Jewish women evident in the production, content, design, and distribution of the posters. "I'm interested in seeing how these changing understandings are either reflected in or challenged by interpretations of the posters," she said. "My focus will be heroines--why they're important to us, particularly to girls. "As events continue to unfold here and abroad, I expect I will begin to focus my research on leaders and leadership. We would encourage anyone to make a special effort to communicate to girls and young women that there are heroines of their faith and tradition out there," she added. Reimer, founder and Executive Director of the JWA since 1995,' said the mission of the JWA is to
Gail Twersky Reimer more fully share the history of American Jewish women that is often hidden in history books. The project, "Weaving Women's Words," an oral history of Jewish women, 75 and older, will next come to Omaha. Pilot projects began in Baltimore and Seattle. "Storytelling has always been a tradition in Jewish culture," Reimer said. "Our cutting-edge history project will use face-to-face conversations and the collection of digital images of treasured family artifacts-in fact, the gamut of traditional to the most technological methods of collecting historical materials," she said. Her lecture will be followed
by the Omaha opening of the exhibit "Women of Valor," which will be on display in the JCC Gallery. "Women of Valor is an educational outreach program celebrating the lives and accomplishments of Jewish women," she explained. Anyone interested in learning more about the archive can visit their website at: ~www4wa.org. People can join JWA by clicking on the "Join Us" link at the website. The events are co-sponsored by the Philip M. and Ethel Klutzniek Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Jewish Federation of Omaha, and the Creighton Center for the Study of Religion and Society. Tha Symposium, "Women and Judaism," begins Sunday, Oct. 28,10 a.m., on the UNL campus and continues on Oct. 29 at Creighton University. For more information about events at UNL, call Dr. Jean Cahan, Director of UNL's Harris Center for Judaic Studies at 1-402-472-9561, or Dr. Greenspoon's office at Creighton, 280-2303.
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