Buerger Bites

Dissing Baltimore

All of the leading Republican presidential candidates decided to skip the debate scheduled for tonight at Baltimore’s own Morgan State University, a historically black college. I’m sure all of their excuses are valid – they all had scheduling conflicts. Just like they happened to have scheduling conflicts recently for the Hispanic issue debate as well.

You know they’re wrong when members of their own party like Newt Gingrich chastise them. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is African-American and a Republican, told the New York Times that he was disappointed and that this is a bad reflection on the GOP. Even Steele’s ex-boss, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, posted in the unfriendly confines for a debate against Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Sadly, this is the direction our national political climate is moving. The man who pioneered this behavior is none other than President George W. Bush. Rather than talking directly with Americans who may disagree with him, he cherry-picks pro-Bush audiences who cheer him. His famous “Mission Accomplished” photo ops keep him in the dark and avoid any tough questions.

In recent years, more Jews have found a home in the Republican Party, which had been known as a primarily white Christian organization. Avoiding issues important to the black community and the growing Hispanic community reflects their poor leadership capabilities, a la President Bush.

The African-American and Hispanic communities – and the Jewish community—deserve better.

Lebanon, Gaza And The Jews

It seems as if Lebanon is quickly spiraling into another civil war. The last one, which raged from 1975 to 1990, changed a Beirut from the “Riviera of the Middle East” into a synonym for a bloody war zone. After relative calm in recent years, the serenity appears to be quickly falling into the hands of Hezbollah – one of the world’s veteran terrorist groups—and its main supporter, Syria.

Yesterday, Antonine Ghanem, a Lebanese Member of Parliament was killed by car bomb. He was a supporter of the current Prime Minister, putting him at odds with Hezbollah and Syria. Two years ago, a moderate, anti-Syrian prime minister also was killed. Other anti-Syrian, anti-Hezbollah legislators have been assassinated as well.

The situation is not dissimilar to Gaza, which also is involved in a civil war between Fatah and Hamas. Of course, Israel is blamed by many for the Muslim-on-Muslim strife in Gaza for not allowing Palestinian workers into Israel, which has to be done for security reasons.

I’m waiting for the U.N. Human Rights Commission to yet again get it wrong and blame the deteriorating situations on Israel. Perhaps they’ll point to last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, one that started when Hezbollah murdered and kidnapped Israeli soldiers on Israeli territory. Then there’s my favorite excuse: Israel still controls the Shaba’a Farms, which every international authority starting with the United Nations says is not Lebanese, but Syrian, and which Israel says can be returned in an eventual peace deal with Syria. What’s reality when you have a good excuse to whip up the terrorists?

Meanwhile, Muslims continue to kill each other across this earth – in Iraq, Gaza, and Lebanon. To cover up these crimes they blame it on the Jews. Otherwise, they’d have to take responsibility.

I’d be dreaming to expect the U.N to take any action based on reality.

3,000 Memories, 3,000 Reasons For Optimism

I spent my 9/11 memorial morning running in Josh Levenson’s Run to Remember. The money from the race goes to support the police and firemen.  I love that run. It has you up before the sun along with hundreds of like minded people.  For 25 minutes you can concentrate on the 3,000 who lost their lives that day. And, running along side police and firemen remind me who the real heroes are in this world.

Tonight, I’m heading for Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars. My co-worker Joe Sugarman heard I was going and approached me saying, “Dude, got any extra tickets for the thing at Oregon Ridge?” like he was trying to cop some tickets to a Phish show.

What? Baltimore Hebrew sold out of its 3,000 tickets more than a week ahead of the Jewish New Year? You mean, even though you may have heard an ad on the radio and ran to get tickets on-line, none were available?

Maybe we’re onto something here Baltimore. Like New York’s B’nai Jeshrun or L.A.’s Temple Sinai, we may have found something that Jews want to do religiously in Baltimore.  We’ve been unable to generate that energy any other way, even copying the above mentioned services.

Just like I love the spritiuality of running on 9/11, many Jews seem to be longing for a casual spiritual Holiday service that doesn’t require expensive tickets, the latest Couture fashions, or a stale sanctuary. You can find God where he is – under the stars.

City Council President

After Michael Sarbanes, candidate for Baltimore City Council President called us for a meeting, we reached out to his main opponent, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The two are locked in a very tight race, and with good reason. Both are qualified for the position. As I wrote in my last blog, Michael would bring a wealth of ideas and a strong resume to the position.

Stephanie, too, is very impressive. The youngest person ever elected to the City Council, since age 25 she’s worked her way towards leadership positions on that legislative body, calling herself “a work horse not a show horse.” Over her 12 years in the City Council, Stephanie has learned when to compromise with her colleagues and when to stand up for what she believes is right.

She’s passionate, tough, and focused. She knows the system.

This primary on September 11 is, unlike most races, NOT about the lesser of two evils, but rather the better of two very good candidates. It’s too bad one isn’t running for a different office.

For the Jewish community, which has a lot at stake, we can’t lose. We have two great people vying for our vote with strong ties to our community and its issues.

We are a diverse community with a spectrum of different needs. Yet, we all have a concern for our local community on issues like:

• The future of Pimlico Race Track;
• Protecting the safety of Upper Parks Heights near the JCC as the neighbor deteriorates;
• Lowering property tax rates so houses are more affordable;
• Ensuring that there are quality, safe public schools;
• and crime, crime, crime.

Either way, it’s more important than ever to perform your civic duty on 9/11. So please, for all of us, if you are a city resident, get out there and vote. And if not, please pay attention. Obviously whatever happens in the City of Baltimore has a direct impact on how the rest of us live.

For me, I think Michael has the ability to be like another Michael – Michael Bloomberg.  Sarbanes, the outsider, has the vision and management skills to move our city forward.