Page 12-The Canadian Jewish News, TTiursday, October 22, 1992
The Canadian ]ewisrmews
An independent Community Newspaper sen/ing as a fonimfor diverse viewpoints
Vol. XXXIII, No. 25 (2,624)
Publisher and Proprietor The Canadian Jewish News, a corporation without share capital. .
Head Office: 10 Gateway Blvd. Suite 420, Don Mills, Ont.. M3C 3A1
Published 47 times per year
One-year Subscription Rate in Canada $2&75, Including GST.
Directors:
—Charles Bronfman, Donald Carr.Q.C. J      George A. Cphon, Jack Cummings, ~        Murray Koffler, Albert J. l^tner, Rose Wolfe, Rubin Zimmerman
Founding President: Ray D- Wolfe (1971-1990)
General Manager
Gary Laforet Advertising & Assistant General Manager
' VeraGiilman
Editor
Patricia Rucker Managing Editor
Len Butcher'
TIshri 26, 5753 - Bereshit
Candielighting: Toronto 6:01, Montreal 5:35
The Canadian Jewish News resen/esthe right to refuse advertising that in its-opinion is misleading, in poor taste or incompatible with the editorial policies of the newspaper. The Canadian Jewish News assumes no responsibility for the kashnjth of products advertised.
Oui auCahada
La decision a laquelle les Canadiens feront face la semaine prochaine constitUe un delicat exercise politique que la plupart d'entre nous ait jamais pratique. A travers des textes et des interpretations il y'a une question fondamentale a laquelle nous devons repondre: la situation des Canadiens sera-t-elle meilleure si I'accord de Charlottetown est ap-prouve? Nous devons repondre en tant que Canadiens; en tant que Juifs canadiens, nous evaluerons cet accord, bien sur, par rapport a notre experience ausein du Canada. Nous ,croyons que la reponse est Oui.
L'accord ne ressemble a aucunmodele constitutionnel connu. Mais le Canada est un pays unique. Son histoire est celle de deux nations europeennes qui, successivement, ont impose leur culture a celles des autochtones qui existaient deja; et qui ont accepte — et cbntinuent d'accepter — des vagues d'immigration provenant de tous les coins du monde. Nous avons connu plusieurs concepts de nation: celui d'Etat-nation. forge durant 300 ans de fidelite a une langue et a une culture distinctes; celui de la nation des immigrants, expansive, egalitaire et assimilationiste; et enfin. apres des si^cles de refoule-mentetd'exploitation, celle des premieres nations, en queted'une puissance qui leur permettraderetrouver leur sens d'etre chezeux dans une terre qui, autrefois, n'appartenait qu a eux seuls.
Le Canada est un pays Unique au monde. II s'agit un pays qui s'est forme en 1867 a la suite d'une entente unique entre les Canadiens frangais et anglajs ou nationalite et homogeneite ne sont pas synonymes: un pays qui au cours des 125 annees suivantes a cherchc a developper une structure qui, sous la protection de la loi constitu-lionnelle. pourra accommoder les aspirations, non seulement des Canadiens d'origine anglaise et frangaise, mais aussi de tous ses groupes disparates. L'accord de Charlottetown, developpe a la suite de debats et de compromis, est 1'extension Idgiquede ce processus constitutionnel. C'estjustementparcequ'il cherche a recpncilier des visions differentes de ce qui constitue notre nation qu'il ne.satisfait pas ceux qui ne sont loyaux qu'a une seule vision de notre nation — sojt celle de rEtat-nation, soil celle d'une terre qui doit etre regag-nee parses premiers habitants, soit celle d'une societe du Nouveau Monde qui doit, assimiler tous ses citoyens selon une identite nouvelle.
Ce que I'accdrd de Charlottetown aecomplil, en fait, c'est de reconnaitre que le Canada comprend toutes ces visions — et bien plus. Tout comme le pays lui-meme. cet accord est iin accomplisse-ment remarquable. Si les Canadiens, dans toutes leursdiversites, disent Oui, nous disons que nous avons le courage de batir un pays dont le tout est plus grand que les parties. Un Non voudra dire que nous avons abandonne cette entreprise.
En tant que Juifs, nous avons connu la souffrance d'etre deplaces; la force de la cohesion nationale; et la liberte et les benefices d'une societe ouverte et egalitaire. A la lumiere de cette experience, nous pouvons reconnaitre la justice derendre aux autochtones lepouyoir de se gouverner qui leur a ete enleve. Nous pouvons comprendre le desir des Quebecois de preserver leur culture et leur langue, tenement enracinees dans le sol canadien.
La situation de tous les Canadiens, sans aucundoute, sera meilleure dans un pays qui peut accommoder nos differences et leur permettre, non seulement decoexister, mais aussi de nous enrichir.
La critique la plus vigoreuse qu'a ete lancee contre cet accord est, qu'en arrivant a ce compromis, le concept del'egalite des in-dividus est serieusement remis en question. Si nous n'aviohs ni la Charte des Droits, ni les decisions ayant trait a ces droits rendues par la Cour Supreme, on pourrait avoir des raisohs legitimes d'etre craintifs.
La "Clause Canada*, le point de mise des inquietudes que les droits collectifs puissent remporter sur les droits individuels, decrit des caracteristiques de notre pays qui existent deja: elle ne cree pas de nouveaux droits — oude caracteristiques nouvelles du Canada. Pretendre que notre cadre constiuilionnel devrait etre erige sans refer- : ences a ces caracteristiques fondamentales equivaut a denier la rea-lite de notre pays.
Encore une fois, notre experience en tant que Juifs a demontre qu'un systeme judiciaire permettant le debat et les avis contraires, mais fermement implante dans la nature fondamentale de notre societe, est un instrument remarquable pour maintenir la continuite ainsi que poiirfaire face au changement.
La situation de tous les Canadiens sera meilleure dans un cadre constitutionnel qui reconnait notre volonte d'avoir un pays, ainsi que notre volonte de preserver notre diversite tout en retirant des benefices.
La choix entre Oui et Non est, en fait, un choix entre noUs re-jouir de c-e-que nous avons accompli et continuer a creer un nouveau genre de nation, ou de retomber dans des modalites demodees et un debat sterile.
La situation de tous les Canadiens sera meilleure si nous avons le courage de voter Oui.
BERLIN JEWS PROTEST
Berlin Jews and other protestors stand in front of the barrack in the former concentration camp at Sachsenhausen recently to protest against a possible flre attack that burned down big parts of the barrack early Sept. 26. Sign reads, "Germany has not only to be in mourning." About 200 people protested. [R.N.S. photo/Reuters]
Letters to the Editor
Letters arewelpotne if they are brief,, in English or French, typewritten with lines double spaced, and of interest to our reading public. Readers are cautioned not to make sweeping claims against persons or institutions which they cannot verify, as libel laws are very stringent. We reserve the right to edit and condense letters, which must bear the sender's address, phone number ariicLh0^ handwritten and typed signatures.
THREE ACCORD MIRACLES
The long and tortuous road to the Charlottetown Accord and the immense amount of detail in it make it difficult to know exactly what one is voting for — and many feel, when in doubt, vote No. ■ ■ : '
I suggest that we vote on the f>osi-tives that happened: three accomplishments — almost miracles — deserve a resounding vote Yes. . 1. Seventeen responsible leaders of diverse interests — plus two federal of>-position leaders — reached agreement: a first of such magnitude in Canadian history! How soon will such togetherness happen again? And how different would a future agreement of ^uch diverse interests be? '
2. Compromise is honorable, not dishonorable. All parties gained, Canada has been a compromise from Confederation and earlier. Did you ever buy a house, a car, negotiate a labor contract?
3. Working out agreement on individual points and clauses within a united family will be vasdy different from outside the family. The knife will hot be at the throat each day. Who knows? Even a mood of reasonableness may settle in across the country.
Monty Bergier
Montreal, Que.
. ' *       ■ * THE BEST THERE IS _
My wife and I are long-time emigrants to the very best land on earth, Canada, and this little story has been in my heart for many years.
In my observation we are going through life's journey. On one of our own journeys a few years ago, we hap-
pened to be in the beautiful city of Bayeux, France, and we had die opportunity to visit the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry shows French history and the confrontations centuries ago between the French and the English that lasted over a century. . I may not know a great deal about human nature, but I wonder: has history not taught us anything? We are living in this God-given land, in Quebec, wiUiin Canada, with all kinds of people in it. Can we not compromise?
You have only to read a newspaper to realize that you have the very best there is, just like parents, who loving: ly look after their children, so must we look after our wonderfiil country to keep it whole and away from harm. You mustn't look for Utopia; your life isn't long enough to ever find it.
I hope I have covered my deep-rooted feeling on this subject; even though it is said that "Silence is golden," at times one must speak one's mind.
Alexander Jakab
Laval, Que.
TWO GERMAN VIEWPOINTS
Ten days ago I returned from a short visit to Halle-an-der-Saale, a city of approximately 300.000 inhabitants, in what was East Germany. I came away with a feeling of reassurance and a determination to help the "bridge-building" between generations, as advocated by Halle's mayor. Dr. Rauen.
In contast , the Sept. 16 issue of Toronto's Deutsche Presse, which describes itself as The No. 1 newspaper of the German community in North America, contained an article by Erhard Mattheas, president of the Trans-Canada Alliance of German Canadians (TCA). Under the heading. Success for Freedom of Speech — Supreme Court decides for Freedom of Speech, Mr. Mattheas, like The Globe and Mail in earlier editorials, lauds the recent decision of our Supreme Court, striking "down as unconstitutional the false news prohibition in the context of. the Zundel case.
Perhaps Mr. Mattheas' pronouncements, in his capacity as president of the TCA no less, will give some of us food for diought — and the incentive for further vigilance:
After providing a fairly factual background to the Court's verdict andclear-ly indicating his approval, Mr. Mattheas goes on to say (my translation):
"Who are those from whom npiifih" provement is to be expected? It is une-
quivocally die self-appointed fanatics, who claim to be spealdng for their Jewish communities. Thus, immediately after die publication of the Supreme ■ Court's verdict, the Canadian Jewish Congress, Canada's' largest Jewish group, demanded that new charges [against Zundell be laid under a different section (of the Criminal Code] and the League of Human Rights of B'nai Brith asked that Ontario's attorney-general institute hew proceedings. .•
"These fanatics are not.interested in , rights and in the law. They are only interested in the dictatorship of their minority and ab.solutely opposed to the freedorn of speech of the Canadian majority ...
"To publish truths (my italics) without fear of persecution will now be easier . . .
"However, uniforms, helmets and shouts of 'Sieg Heil' do not help to spread the truth. They create antipathy and complicate the efforts (to disseminate) the trudi. systematic argumentation, readers' letters of protest (etc.) . .; ." .
My reading of this is that, in die view of Mr. Mattheas. Zundel's rubbish is "truth" and that Nazi paraphernalia is only to be avoided because it causes antipathy.
Officially at least, Ernst Zundel only speaks for himself. Mr. Mattheas' article seems to have a wider support in his constituency: I hope I am wrong, because I still would like to build bridges.
Eugene Strauss
Toronto
•'■■■■*'♦   ■ * ■
SILENT HOLOCAUST
On behalf of the Association for Jewish Continuity, one of the co-sponsors of the panel discussion on intermarriage that took place in Shaarei Shomayim (C^M Oct. 8) I would like to thank ne CJN and Ruth Schweitzer for the excellent report on the presentations made.
A quotation was presented by Dr. Lipsitz during the panel discussion of which I feel diat your readership should be aware:
"We have lost almost four million American Jews (through assimilation arid intermarriage), two-thirds of the American Jewish community. That is a greater proportion of Jewish population than was losUn the Holocaust of Europe."
Yom Toy Frasco ^^Association of Jewish Continuity
Toronto