Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

We all think of ourselves as fair-minded and rational. The old expression “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” or any other variation on that same theme is a concept with which we are all familiar. Governments often speak in similar terms of fairness and evenhandedness, but the ideal is quickly forgotten in a mess of rationalization.

While I listened to President Bush’s State of the Union speech, I was appalled at the myopic and one-sided view he expressed. He spoke of the United States as the arbiter of all that is right and good, and therefore is the sole deciding factor as to how the entire globe must live and behave. Though the targets of his comments vary from situation to situation, the overall theme is clear. The U.S. knows best; he is the leader of the U.S. hence, he knows best. And how can we argue with a guy who has a self-described direct line to God?

The president talked of halting the spread of nuclear arms and other dreaded weapons of mass destruction (WMD). He is outraged by Iran’s apparent development of a nuclear weapon, and rattled sabers in their direction; but does he really make the case? Iran is surrounded by neighbours who could wipe them out in a flash with their already existing WMD. Pakistan, India and Israel all have nuclear and chemical weapons, so isn’t Iran entitled to protect itself?

I mention this point not because I am in support of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. No, no, no; that is not at all what I believe. My concern is that the president is focusing on one country in his attempt to stop the proliferation, instead of working with the countries surrounding Iran who need to rid themselves of the nuclear menace. No country, Iran included, would need these murderous destroyers if all the world’s nuclear powers were working toward disarmament.

Ah but yes I hear people saying; “What about the peace loving countries that have nukes only to protect themselves? Israel for example must retain this power to thwart its enemies.”

The Palestinians, who are Israel’s current nemesis, do not possess state of the art conventional weaponry, and other potential threats like Egypt, Lebanon and Syria do not harbour any nuclear weapons. Oddly the president is silent on this point and he also refuses to encourage India, Pakistan (our so-called but dubious ally) or Russia and China to disarm thus making the region and world a safer place.

As Jews, we have a specific duty to improve the quality of the earth. Tikun Olum is a beautiful concept that we should all be proud is part of our Jewish heritage and culture. We must take off our blinders and tell this president to stop saber rattling towards one individual country or government, but to deal with the facts in front of us. The world is unsafe not because of countries that do not have nuclear weapons and want them, but because of those countries that do have them and create the fear that drives the world to arm itself. Be it Russia, China, Pakistan, India and yes, even Israel, or any other country harbouring WMD, we must demand and work towards stripping ourselves of the ability to wipe each other off the planet. All we have really accomplished thus far is the power not to protect ourselves from enemies, but to engage in mutual annihilation.

Much love to all of you,
Michael