Detroit Jewish News

October 08, 2015

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October 8 • 2015 37 business » Have Courage And Be Kind … To A Point I was on a cruise, returning to the ship after taking a quick jaunt on the island. As I entered the pool deck, there was an eerie quiet and stillness. I glanced across the deck and noticed that everyone was look- ing up at the large screen, eyes trans- fixed and glossy. I'm talking about men and women, young and old, guests and crew, from virtually every nationality, all glued to the large screen. No hoots and hollers with beers in hand and no flopping or slosh- ing in the pools. All eyes were fixed on the screen. I thought, "What is going on?" What could muster such attention and emotion among all of these people, many in a rowdy party mode? The answer — Cinderella — the latest Disney release. As I walked across the desk, reach- ing Bonnie, my wife, who was also one of the watchers, I felt a sense of satisfaction that amidst all of the problems of the world — ISIS, the mass shooting in Oregon, the U.N. vis a vis Israel, Iran, North Korea and so on — there remains "good- ness" in the world, such that people from all nationalities and ages can be captivated to the extent of silence and tears by the words and emotion conveyed in a movie. My daughter, Jenny, and son-in- law, Shawn, were also on the trip, and we all ended up in a discussion as to important quotes from the movie. Most notable is the death- bed words told to Cinderella by her mother, "Have courage and be kind." The moment I walked upon the ship's deck and witnessed this heart- felt silence, I knew it was something I wanted to write about; but as I thought about the quote, I realized it presents a multitude of issues in the context of addressing today's dif- ficult affairs. Courage certainly is needed and is a worthy attribute, but precisely how does "be kind" fit in if faced with a hostile foe? A Google search con- firmed diverse views on the message ranging from assertions that it is a Mother Teresa-type global message for all to overcome the ills of man- kind to others assailing the quote as but another outdated suggestion for women to be subservient even when subjected to undue hostility. I remembered an old movie favor- ite, Road House, a 1989 movie star- ring Patrick Swayze as a cooler hired to tame a dirty bar. His advice to his bouncer staff, in telling them how to escort the troublemakers from the bar, was, "Be nice." His instruction was to be nice in attempting to achieve your goal as long as you can possibly do so, until it was time "not to be nice." The Swayze advice works for me and, as a lawyer, I've always abided by that with the opposition. If you can achieve your goal and be pleasant about it that is cer- tainly the right road. If, how- ever, you face a hostile adversary, courage is certainly necessary, but at some point "being kind" is simply not in the cards. Be kind to ISIS? Be kind to the Ayatollah, who repeatedly calls for annihilation of Israel? I don't think so. There is unimaginable evil in this world — and evil, just as goodness, transcends everything. Cinderella's task was to "be kind" and "have courage" in dealing with her evil sisters and the misfortunes she had to bear. In addressing our enemies, we should display courage and be polite (not kind) in seeking appropriate solutions, but we should also heed Patrick Swayze's advice and not be nice, when it is time not to be nice. * Ken Gross is an attorney with Thav Gross and host of Law and Reality that airs Tuesdays from noon-1 p.m. on WCHB 1200 AM/99.9 FM and 11 a.m. Sundays on T V20. Ken Gross 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2020 Chicago, IL 60606 (877) 642-AFHU (2348) afhu.org/CGA4 Dr. Ofra Benny is prepared to stop cancer in its tracks. An expert in drug- delivery systems, she developed Lodamin (from the Hebrew "no blood in"), a drug shown to inhibit skin, lung, brain, liver, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. But the work is far from over, which is why she has chosen to continue it at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. When you create a secure AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity, you not only ensure a high lifetime return, tax deductions and substantially tax-free annuity payments; you also help propel the groundbreaking work of brilliant young researchers like Dr. Benny. It's a rate of return that assures you retirement income for life and keeps Israeli higher education on the rise. MORE INCOME FOR YOU. RISING STARS FOR ISRAEL. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem RESEARCH ENGINE FOR THE WORLD. ENGINE OF GROWTH FOR A NATION. AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuity Returns For information on AFHU Hebrew University Gift Annuities, please call AFHU Midwest Region Executive Director, Judith Shenkman at (312) 329-0332 or email: jshenkman@afhu.org. 65 6.0% Age Rate 70 6.5% 75 7.1% 80 8.0% 85 9.5% 90 11.3% Rates are based on a single life. Cash contributions produce annuity payments that are substantially tax-free. CALL OR EMAIL NOW. The returns are generous. The cause is priceless. Brain Gain: After researching at Harvard, Dr. Ofra Benny returned to Israel to join The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Medicine. Learn more about her research and the work of other talented young faculty at afhu.org/cga4 2039890 If you face a hostile adversary, "being kind" is simply not in the cards.

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