By Andrew Coen
He expressed concern about one of the main challenges facing him and the entire country, balancing the need for security in a post-9/11 world while still maintaining civil liberties.
The challenge were facing is how to maintain ... the understanding of openness and civil liberties in an environment where it is possible for individuals to act [in terror], Spitzer said.
He praised the work of the Israeli government in maintaining civil liberties despite the repeated terror attacks the Jewish state has suffered. Imagine what our society would be like if we had the same frequency of attacks, said Spitzer. I dont think we would have anything close to the civil liberties that we still have, so I think that Israel has been doing a spectacular job, a remarkable job of balancing the need to maintain civil liberties with the unbelievable security threat that they are facing.
The standard by which we should judge ourselves is Israels standard, because I dont think there is a nation in the world that has done as well as Israel in protecting civil liberties, he added.
Spitzer gave an example of Israels balancing act with security and civil liberties by pointing out how the Israeli Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that argued that certain Israeli Defense Force tactics against potential terrorists were illegal. Here you are in a society under assault that is hearing the case with a Supreme Court that will reflect upon principals of law in determining how to address its security problem, said Spitzer. That is a remarkable, remarkable thing, so I hope we do as well as Israel has done in addressing the problem.
Spitzer also spoke about restoring ethics and accountability to leadership in the private and public sector. He explained how much of the wrongdoing that has occurred in the private sector, such as in the much-publicized case of Enron, is also occurring in the public sector. The trust that was invested in individuals in leadership positions was violated, he said. As a government official, I feel obligated to acknowledge that the government has failed in a similar way. We have seen too many government officials, elected and un-elected, either indicted or investigated, and you get the sense that somehow the overall value structure of those who are governing our society diminished over time.
Spitzer said his office has made an effort to improve the trust in the private sector by revealing gross violations in the investment banking industry and recently questioning some of the practices of the mutual fund industry.
In the question-and-answer period following his speech, Hewlett resident Pam Sheldon raised an issue with the attorney general that has affected a neighborhood in Lynbrook, where pamphlets have been distributed praising Adolph Hitler. Perhaps you can tell us what is the most effective way we can deal with material that comes to us this way, Sheldon asked.
I believe that the power of oppositional voice against that sort of hate-mongering is still the most powerful way to respond, said Spitzer. Those who distribute it, if we know who they are, should be exposed and they should be subjected to ridicule not ridicule that is merely vehement name-calling, but ridicule by simply exposing them to the public as having said these horrific things. We should stand up with all the dignity of our position and say, ÔHow can you possibly articulate this view? Here is the historical record.
Spitzers speech was given rave reviews by those in attendance. I think hes a remarkable speaker, said Bert Millner of Queens.
He is a brilliant man who is very knowledgeable, said Leah Silverman of Hewlett. He cited the facts, he was concise, he was not boring he really knew what he was talking about.
He is so articulate and the words just flow from him, said Adrian Singer. It was just wonderful to listen to him.
I thought he was outstanding, and I think that he will do a lot for New York state, said Alleene Barash.
The next program meeting by NCJW is scheduled for noon on Nov. 18, at the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, with terrorism expert Steve Emerson as the keynote speaker. For further information, call (516) 569-3660.
