8 | The Jewish Press | October 9, 2020
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Abby Kutler President Annette van de Kamp-Wright Editor Richard Busse Creative Director Susan Bernard Advertising Executive Lori Kooper-Schwarz Assistant Editor Gabby Blair Staff Writer Michael Ivey Accounting Jewish Press Board Abby Kutler, President; Eric Dunning, Ex-Officio; Danni Christensen, David Finkelstein, Candice Friedman, Bracha Goldsweig, Margie Gutnik, Natasha Kraft, Chuck Lucoff, Eric Shapiro, Andy Shefsky, Shoshy Susman and Amy Tipp. The mission of the Jewish Federation of Omaha is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish Community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world. Agencies of the Federation are: Community Relations Committee, Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life, Jewish Social Services, and the Jewish Press. Guidelines and highlights of the Jewish Press, including front page stories and announcements, can be found online at: wwwjewishomaha. org; click on ‘Jewish Press.’ Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole. The Jewish Press reserves the right to edit signed letters and articles for space and content. The Jewish Press is not responsible for the Kashrut of any product or establishment. Editorial The Jewish Press is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Deadline for copy, ads and photos is: Thursday, 9 a.m., eight days prior to publication. E-mail editorial material and photos to: avandekamp@jewishomaha.org; send ads (in TIF or PDF format) to: rbusse@jewishomaha.org. Letters to the Editor Guidelines The Jewish Press welcomes Letters to the Editor. They may be sent via regular mail to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154; via fax: 1.402.334.5422 or via e-mail to the Editor at: avandekamp@jewishomaha. org. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and must be single-spaced typed, not hand-written. Published letters should be confined to opinions and comments on articles or events. News items should not be submitted and printed as a “Letter to the Editor.” The Editor may edit letters for content and space restrictions. Letters may be published without giving an opposing view. Information shall be verified before printing. All letters must be signed by the writer. The Jewish Press will not publish letters that appear to be part of an organized campaign, nor letters copied from the Internet. No letters should be published from candidates running for office, but others may write on their behalf. Letters of thanks should be confined to commending an institution for a program, project or event, rather than personally thanking paid staff, unless the writer chooses to turn the “Letter to the Editor” into a paid personal ad or a news article about the event, project or program which the professional staff supervised. For information, contact Annette van de KampWright, Jewish Press Editor, 402.334.6450. Postal The Jewish Press (USPS 275620) is published weekly (except for the first week of January and July) on Friday for $40 per calendar year U.S.; $80 foreign, by the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Phone: 402.334.6448; FAX: 402.334.5422. Periodical postage paid at Omaha, NE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Press, 333 So. 132 St., Omaha, NE 68154-2198 or email to: jpress@jewishomaha.org.
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Editorials express the view of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the Omaha Jewish community as a whole.
A difference of opinion
speak your mind doesn’t hurt others.” times when we think we see evil, we are correct— ANNETTE VAN DE KAMP-WRIGHT Let’s unpack that quote, because it holds an im- and then, we must speak out. But we MUST know Jewish Press Editor It’s been another exciting few weeks. While the portant truth. “Freedom,” a word that we like to the difference. How did we get here? days already run together without the markers of throw around a lot, doesn’t mean what we think it More importantly, how do we get past it? “normal life,” and it has become a challenge to re- means. At least, it doesn’t in the current political We have less than a month until the election and member whether it’s Tuesday or Sunday, we have climate. Right now, it means we feel entitled not the additional stress of natural disasters and giant just to vote for our own candidate; it also means unless the polls are really off, roughly half the counfires. Meanwhile, a fight over who will and who will we feel that whatever choice we make gives us the try will end up disappointed, the other half elated. With the stakes this high, what will we not take the COVID-19 vaccine —when do? How will we act the next morning? it becomes available— seems to be It’s not a question that is easy to anbrewing. Then, of course, the President swer—but it is one we all have to anand the First Lady tested positive for swer for ourselves. And then, we have to COVID-19. be able to live with that answer. We Constantly in the background, we have to know the difference between have the Presidential election, remindmoral bankruptcy and a simple differing us that we’re bad at getting along. For ence in worldview. those of you who have siblings, it’s like When every political opinion is seen when we were little and we could not in a moral light, it becomes impossible help fighting over that one specific toy. to disagree in a civilized manner. In If we were lucky, our parents didn’t nomaking the political this personal and tice and we got away with it; most times ethical, we have created a very big probwe were all sent to our rooms crying. lem. When we yell ‘Freedom,’ we don’t Growing up means letting go of the childish wish to always get our way. We Joe Biden, left, and Donald Trump during the first presidential debate, Sept. really mean it. When we say, ‘we can 29, 2020. Credit: Jim Watson, Saul Loeb AFP via Getty Images agree to disagree,’ we don’t really mean come to realize that we are different people with different needs, wants and loves, but right to denounce others who don’t make that it. When we claim to respect each other’s opinions, choice. Every choice, politically speaking, becomes we don’t really mean it. Once, there may have been we can still respect each other. How is it that, as a nation, we can’t learn that a moral choice. And what’s worse: we all act as if a time when we were able to have civilized disour own moral choices are better than our neigh- course, but the gloves are most definitely off this simple lesson? “I completely understand and appreciate that we bor’s. Disagree with us? You must be a bad person. time around. Remember when everyone wanted to make fun of live in a country where our freedom of speech is See it our way, or suffer the consequences. And if protected and where we can vote for whomever we our “right to speak hurts others” as Henrique that debate on Sept. 29? The rest of the country really please,” Melissa Henrique wrote for Kveller. “These writes, we often feel that hurt is deserved. What is doesn’t act very differently. We just don’t have a camera pointed at us at all times. Getting better, being are freedoms many have given their lives for around wrong with us? To make things even more complicated, some- better: we all have to start in our own backyard. the world. But that doesn’t mean your right to
Vote NO on 429, 430, 431—Protect Nebraska from unlimited gambling losses Once again, well-funded casino operators want to change Nebraska’s constitution to allow casino gambling. The change would allow all forms of gambling across the state, from slot machines to online sports betting. And such a constitutional change immedi- DEBBIE ately empowers Nebraska’s DENENBERG three tribes to offer all forms Guest Editorial of gambling with no state taxation or oversight. Here are compelling reasons to vote down these initiatives, and to tell your friends and neighbors to vote “no” as well. The initiative is deceptive. It discusses racetracks, but a “racetrack” could offer 24/7 casino gambling 365 days/year by holding just one race per year. Dozens of such “licensed-racetrack-enclosure” casinos could open across the state, approved and overseen by unelected officials with no legislative or public oversight. Who is for casino gambling? Casino operators are. They stand to make millions. Who is against casino gambling? A broad coalition of Nebraska’s leadership, both Democratic and Republican: Senator Bob Kerrey, CEO Warren Buffett, Ron Brown, Governors Pete Ricketts, Dave Heineman, Mike Johanns, Kay Orr, Congressmen Hal Daub and Tom Osborne, and more oppose casino expansion here. Trust them. Tom Osborne said, “Every single congressman that I’ve talked to, when they’ve had expanded gambling move in, has told me it’s the worst thing that has ever happened.” What about the money going over the bridge to border states? “Keep the Money in Nebraska” is a myth. Distributing casinos across communities here would be like throwing gasoline on the fire. Just one casino in Omaha would increase gambling losses in Omaha by 66% and add $132 million in so-
cial costs while Nebraskans will continue to gam- promising them a dream that will not come true. ble in Iowa, according to an Omaha Chamber of There is no way the citizens of Nebraska won’t beCommerce study. We’ve seen this scenario actually come losers...we don’t need it.” His partner Charlie play out. Detroit voters approved casinos to “stop” Monger adds, “Casinos wreak egregious harm.” $500 million going across the river to Windsor, Jewish tradition frowns on gambling. According Canada. More people got hooked on gambling, and to the Talmud, when a buyer and a seller make a the outflow to Canada increased to $700 million. transaction, both must give consent. The buyer Creighton Economist Ernie Goss recently must be happy parting with money to receive demonstrated that citizens pay higher tax rates in something of value from the seller. With gambling, casino states than in non-casino states. That sug- this exchange is dishonest, because the buyer does gests that if we try to balance property tax relief on the backs of addicted gamblers, who account for some two thirds of casino revenues, then other Nebraska taxes will go up (Google “Why Casinos Matter” for the research). The promised tax relief is a shell game. “Slots in Nebraska will just drain more money out of the state,” says John E. Anderson, University of Nebraska Department of Economics. More gambling will mean significantly more social costs. Gambling’s ABCs—Addiction, Bankruptcy, Crime, Divorce, Credit: Jeff Kubina. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons AttriEmbezzlement, and other bution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. side-effects—cost at least three times any benefits, not receive what he expects. The Jewish commuaccording to University of Illinois Economist Earl nity should reject this dishonesty. It’s not difficult Grinols. Casinos won’t pay; taxpayers will. The to see that gambling becomes a harmful, predatory, modern slot machine is not a game. It’s fast, com- regressive tax on those who can least afford it. puterized, and meticulously designed to capture Want to “Keep the Money in Nebraska”? Then keep players. That’s why modern slots are known as the slot machines and sports betting out. Keep unlimited “crack-cocaine of gambling.” tribal casinos out. Keep the heartache and destrucCEO Warren Buffett frequently sets the record tion of addiction out. Vote NO on 429, 430 and 431. straight on gambling. He says “I think that for a Editorials express the view of the writer and state to essentially prey upon its citizens, create are not necessarily representative of the views of more of these addictions…I just think it’s wrong. I the Jewish Press Board of Directors, the Jewish think it’s cynical on the part of the state to raise Federation of Omaha Board of Directors, or the money from people who basically can’t afford it by Omaha Jewish community as a whole.
