Your Vote Matters

Dear Readers,

Thanks for the wonderful reception that you have given to Jmore. Readers, community leaders, and advertisers have shown their eager support. Jmore was a hit at Super Sunday and Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars. In total, we distributed 18,000 copies. And yet, with all this early success, the magazine is a work in progress. We invite the suggestions, criticisms, and contributions of the readership. This is your magazine. In the next few editions, we will be adding family milestones – births, engagements, marriages, deaths, etc. This improvement was the number one suggestion received from the readership.

On another topic, I’ve been told that I should stay away from discussing national politics. So naturally, I find it important to make a few comments on the subject. Despite what certain politicians want to tell you, the U.S. is still a great country. Anyone who has traveled overseas will come back realizing there truly is no better place to live.

Great leaders, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, for example, knew that optimism from the top led to a stronger economy and a national sense of purpose. The constant negativism of our politicians is a contributing cause of our slow economy. Presidents need to be cheerleaders for greatness, not Complainers-in-Chief. Great leaders promote the great American ideals – personal freedom, equality, religious freedom, opportunity, civil rights, etc. The U.S. is stronger when we remember our roots as a nation willing to accept the “tired, the poor, the huddled masses.”

Demagogues try to claim power and control using fear, divisiveness, and scapegoating. As Jews, we should never forget what happens when demagogues come into power. If we ignore the voices of hate, one day those voices may turn their attention to us.

There are some who miss the days when white rich males ran this country. They often don’t even realize that’s what they miss. As Jews, we were never really part of that group. As immigrants, we worked hard, became educated, and amassed a bit of wealth. We’ve pushed our way, as a group, into a position of national influence. But let us not forget that when we protect the rights of minorities, women, Hispanics, Muslims, gay people, that we are setting the precedent for our nation to respect of the rights of Jews.

The past few weeks in our presidential election process have been bizarre. While I am a Democrat and a strong supporter of liberal social causes, I have also raised money and supported Republicans who focused on economic issues, supported Israel, and stayed out of the muck of conservative social positions. Our current governor is a great example. I can understand folks who hate the Democratic party candidate. I get it. She is flawed and not particularly likeable. However, be aware that the political right has conducted a 20-year campaign to vilify her. She’s not as bad as they’d have you believe.

The Republican candidate is truly troubling. His behavior over the past year has included insults and mimicry of minorities, women, the handicapped, etc. He preaches hate. He talks about how terrible our country is. He brags about how he could order the military to act in ways that are illegal. Just this week, he proffered that he’d refuse to accept the election results if he lost. Those are the words of a usurper, not a leader of a democracy. The recent taped vulgarities and admission of sexual violence are unacceptable. He is a demagogue and dangerous.

I’m sure my choice is clear. Vote your conscience. Vote for civility and decency. Mostly, however, vote against the real danger of demagogues. No group should understand that slippery slope better than we do.

Sincerely,

Scott Rifkin, MD, Publisher