Letters to the Editor 11-14-08

A late endorsement

To the Editor:

I don’t know if I have been placed under a cheirem or nidui, but I have riled up a well-attended Jewish news group on the Internet, including the moderators.

I expressed my resentment at the Israelis who participate in the discussions, who advise Americans on how to vote and what to vote for. I pointed out the transgressions of the Prime Ministers and the corruption in the Knesset as apt subjects for their scrutiny, rather than how I vote.

“Discussions” in private e-mail messages have revealed the hidden agenda of these otherwise rational Jews, and many of the Jews in the U.S. Like the pope, their driving obsession is abortion.

Is this why my neighbors wanted an old, physically ailing man to be elected president of the U.S.? Along with his Pentecostal bimbo running mate? Is this why The Jewish Star endorsed the Republican ticket? A man whose campaign hit new lows in unfair innuendo and character assassination and a woman whose husband believes Alaska should secede from the U.S. and who believes G-d wants “the Jews” to accept Jesus as our Savior?

All of these are acceptable as long as the Republican platform contains an anti-abortion plank.

Now, look at the first two appointees Barack Obama has announced. They are both Jews. One of them is the son of an Irgun fighter in Israel’s war for independence. While I can understand the preference of many Jews for a ban on abortion, I think the survival of Israel and the U.S. depends on more than that one issue.

Maybe after the hotheads in Israel calm down and accept my well-meaning but harsh criticism, and maybe after my neighbors here see what the Republican administration will be doing to in the days they are still in power, some will realize that blind acceptance of Republican candidates is not the best way to go.

Leon Schwarzbaum

North Woodmere

Fighting the flu

To the Editor:

November is National Flu and Pneumonia Month.

Remember last year when there weren’t enough flu vaccines available? Flu shots were being given to the most vulnerable, the elderly and very young. Aside from following the suggested preventative measures, the rest of us could only hope that we didn’t fall victim to the flu.

This year the Nassau County Health Department has told us that there is a record supply of the vaccine available, great news for residents. They’re also recommending that everyone get the flu vaccine, not only the elderly and very young.

You cannot get the flu from the flu shot. I mention this because you’d be surprised how many people believe this fallacy. Another thing people don’t know is that you can spread the flu to others even before you feel sick –– as early as one day before you even feel the symptoms. And you can infect others up to five days after you become sick.

Most people know the symptoms of influenza. They include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur but are more common in children than adults. They know the symptoms because they’ve either had the flu or know someone who has had it. It’s my hope that more residents will get a flu shot this year and perhaps never experience the debilitation that occurs from getting the flu.

November is National Flu and Pneumonia Awareness month. Each year approximately 226,000 Americans are hospitalized with complications from influenza and on average, 36,000 people die from the virus and its complications including pneumonia.

This doesn’t have to happen. I urge residents to get a flu shot.

Legislator Jeff Toback

D-Oceanside