After the news that a plot to blow up John F. Kennedy
International Airport was foiled, Mayor Bloomberg seemed to take
an Alfred E. Neuman "What, me worry?" attitude.
Seeking to calm any hysteria about what was being called a
disaster with more potential than the attacks of September 11,
2001, the mayor said: "There are lots of threats to you and
the world. There's the threat of heart attack for genetic
reasons. You can't sit there and worry about everything. Get a
life!"
This phlegmatic reaction from Mr. Bloomberg is rather puzzling
considering his aggressive battle against smoking and the smoker.
The problem with using this play-it-down approach about a serious
matter is that it repeats President Bush's biggest mistake, which
he made almost immediately after the World Trade Center attacks.
On September 20, 2001, in an address to a joint session of
Congress, Mr. Bush urged Americans: "I ask you to live your
lives and hug your children. I know many citizens have fears
tonight, and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face
of a continuing threat."
Quite a few Americans not only got on with their lives, they
completely forgot that we had entered into a global war on
terrorism. In all fairness to the president, in later speeches he
urged us to get more involved in civil defense, but those
speeches never received as much press. In the minds of many, the
war on terror is strictly Mr. Bush's personal battle.
But not every American has his head stuck in the sand, and
whenever a terrorist plot is thwarted thanks to vigilant police
and FBI cooperation, it confirms the need for greater public
participation in this battle.
So while it's a relief to learn that not all young adults are
vapid night crawlers, that doesn't mean they don't know how to
party for a good cause. Next Thursday, June 14, at 7 p.m., there
will be a fundraiser for Fuel for Truth at a hot new club, Arena,
at 135 W. 41st St., off Sixth Avenue.
The young organizers of the group believe that the best defense
against terrorism is an alert and aware public. Using
cutting-edge entertainment to serve up the key facts at an event
they call "Behind Enemy Lines," the
promoters-turned-activists promise an evening of
thought-provoking information about the growth of terrorist
extremism in America.
One of the organizers, Lance Laytner, told me that the actor who
plays A.J. on "The Sopranos," Robert Iler, has
confirmed. In addition, a member of the Wu Tang Clan, Remedy, is
expected to perform two songs, including "Never Again,"
which is about the Holocaust. DJ Martial and others are also
expected to join in the entertainment, which, at $25, is a
bargain. All the proceeds will go to Fuel for Truth.
Although I'll probably cover the event for the Sun's blog,
"It Shines for All," I'll likely be the oldest person
there. FFT is an organization whose mission is to gather and
disseminate accurate information about Israel and the Middle East
to young adults age 18 to 34.
Its mission statement explains the problem: "We believe that
an anti-Israel bias in the media has led a significant number of
people to become misinformed about the situation in the Middle
East. Along with this, many Americans are unaware of the basic
facts concerning the region. Such facts include: Like the United
States, Israel is a true democracy, and in the summer of 2000,
Israel offered the Palestinian Arabs 97% of the land they are
fighting for, making Israel the first and only country ever to
offer the Palestinian Arabs a homeland. Even with information
more accessible today than at any other time in our history,
there is a lack of motivation to learn - especially among college
students and young adults."
Fuel for Truth funds events on college campuses throughout the
nation to spread the truth about the reality of terrorism and
what's behind it. Those who founded Fuel for Truth are not
religious Jews or political activists, but top New York club
promoters, business executives, and entertainers whose lives were
changed when they lost friends on September 11. They are now
using their talents to promote the truth about Israel and expose
the lies fueling terrorism.
One of the most vicious lies, which cropped up right after
September 11 and was exacerbated by a poem by the then poet
laureate of New Jersey, Amiri Baraka, was the calumny that 4,000
Israelis stayed home from work that day.
If Mr. Bloomberg thinks global terrorism is just another worry
like a heart attack, he needs to show up at Arena next Thursday
for a lesson in reality. Get a life - indeed!