SAM BEBER DISTINGUISHED AZA ALUMNUS AWARD ACCEPTANCE REMARKS
PRESENTED BY IRA A. LIPMAN
CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
GUARDSMARK, INC.
B’NAI B’RITH PERLMAN CAMP
STARLIGHT, PENNSYLVANIA
AUGUST 20, 1988

THANK YOU, JACK.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER WHEN JACK FIRST ASKED ME TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO B’NAI B’RITH BACK IN 1970. HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF B’NAI B’RITH AND OTHER WORTHY CAUSES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE WELL KNOWN. HE DESERVES OUR ADMIRATION AND CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE FOR AZA, BBYO, B’NAI B’RITH, AND WORLD JEWRY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OTHER DISTINGUISHED ALUMS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY-JACK WEINER AND SIDNEY CLOSTER. JACK WEINER, WHO WAS DISTRICT 7 BBYO DIRECTOR DURING MY YEARS IN AZA, WAS A GREAT SOURCE OF PERSONAL INSPIRATION TO ME WHILE I WAS IN AZA. HE HELPED KEEP ME ON AN EVEN KEEL, AND I WILL REMEMBER HIM ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. SIDNEY IS AN ARMY VETERAN, A LAWYER, AND A FUND- RAISER PAR EXCELLENCE. HE IS A GREAT FRIEND AND ONE OF THE PILLARS OF B’NAI B’RITH IN THE WORLD TODAY. FEW PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HE HAS MADE OVER ALL THESE YEARS TO B’NAI B’RITH. HE IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL MAN.
DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO PUBLIC SERVICE. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE ENRICHED ALL OF US BY INVESTING THEIR TIME AND TALENTS IN THE SERVICE OF WORLD JEWRY AND YOUTH. WE ALL OWE THEM A GREAT DEBT.
I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW THRILLED AND PROUD I AM TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD. OVER THE YEARS A NUMBER OF HONORS HAVE COME MY WAY, BUT NONE OF THEM CARRIES THE DEEP PERSONAL IMPORTANCE THAT I ATTACH TO THE SAM BEBER AWARD. FOR ME AZA WAS A CRUCIBLE, A PROVING GROUND, WHERE I FIRST WAS MADE AWARE OF MY RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND WHERE I FIRST WAS TESTED IN A PUBLIC ROLE. AND THE FRIENDSHIPS I MADE IN AZA AND THE BBYO-WITH FOGELMAN, STERN, PEISER, GINSBERG, LANSKY, BRENNER, SPRINGER, AND OTHERS-HAVE LASTED A LIFETIME.
MY FOUR YEARS IN AZA TAUGHT ME THE NEED FOR HUMAN RELATIONS BASED ON UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR HERITAGE; THE NEED FOR GREATER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL; THE NEED FOR A BROADER-BASED CONCERN FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN, FOR THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS AND DESIRES FOR A MORE FULFILLING LIFE; THE
MORE JUST SOCIETY.
THROUGH AZA, I LEARNED LESSONS THAT I’VE TRIED TO LIVE UP TO. BUT THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDED MODELS TO EMULATE, WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PATTERNS OF LIFE DESERVED A YOUNG MAN’S ADMIRATION. OF COURSE, THERE WAS THE LEGENDARY SAM BEBER, WHO SAW SO CLEARLY THE NEED FOR AZA AND WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE HIS VISION A REALITY FOR US.
AND THERE WERE OTHERS. I REMEMBER SITTING WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND LISTENING TO THE GRAND ALEPH GODOLS-WASSER, ROTHMAN, GINSBERG, LEFCOE, AND ROSENBERG-RECIPIENTS OF THE SAM BEBER AWARD-LEO CHERNE, DR. JOSEPH LOHMAN, AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED WINNERS-Alik1D I REMEMBER DREAMING OF SOMEDAY STANDING UP HERE TO TAKE MY PLACE IN THEIR COMPANY.
YOU HAVE MADE THAT DREAM COME TRUE. AND I THANK THOSE MEN AND
HOW THEY LIVED THEIR LIVES-FOR THE INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION THEY PROVIDED ME.
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. YOUR DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. BUT NOT BY CROSSING YOUR FINGERS AND CLICKING YOUR HEELS. IT TAKES HARD WORK, DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, COURAGE, A HUNGER FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND AN ABSOLUTE REFUSAL TO QUIT. AND YOU MUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
BUT YOU MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN YOUR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN. IF YOUR PURSUIT IS ONLY FOR YOURSELF, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO BE SATISFIED WITH SELF-APPLAUSE AND SELF-CONGRATULATION. THE SOLITARY MAN PURSUING HIS OWN ENDS IS LIKE A DOG CHASING HIS OWN TAIL-FULL OF FURY AND SOUND AND A LOT OF MOTION, FUN TO WATCH FOR A WHILE BUT ULTIMATELY BORING, BECAUSE IT IS MOTION WITHOUT MEANING, INTENSITY WITHOUT INTELLIGENCE, PURSUIT WITHOUT PURPOSE.
IT IS IN UNION WITH OTHERS, IN UNION FOR OTHERS, THAT WE FULFILL OUR
NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD ALL QUIT SCHOOL AND GO WORK IN THE SLUMS OF CALCUTTA LIKE MOTHER THERESA OR IN HOSPITALS IN AFRICA LIKE ALBERT SCHWEITZER. YOU WILL HAVE TO CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINY AND YOUR OWN PATH.
MY PATH LED ME TO BUILD A COMPANY. AT GUARDSMARK WE THINK WE’RE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS AND A LOT OF EXPERTS AGREE WITH US. I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THAT AND IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CREATED JOBS FOR MORE THAN 8,000 PEOPLE. BUILDING GUARDSMARK TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK AND LONG HOURS. THERE WERE YEARS OF ENDLESS TRAVEL, SCORES OF RED EYE SPECIALS, AND TOO MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. THERE WERE MEALS NOT EATEN, WEEKENDS WITHOUT DATES, CONCERTS THAT I NEVER HEARD. THESE GRAY HAIRS HAVE BEEN EARNED. BUT IT PAID OFF.
AND ALONG THE WAY I NEVER FORGOT THE SOCIAL CONCERNS THAT SAM BEBER, AND JACK WEINER, AND MAX BAER, AND DAN THURSZ WOULD HAVE WANTED ME TO REMEMBER. THOSE CONCERNS HAVE STAYED WITH ME
ALLIANCE OF BUSINESSMEN, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, AND THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS. A PASSIONATE BELIEF IN THE NEED FOR FAIRNESS HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN BOTH MY PRIVATE LIFE AND MY SOCIAL CONCERNS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE UNITED STATES IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY THAT HAS EVER EXISTED. HOWEVER YOU LOOK AT IT-IN TERMS OF THE GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER; LEGAL AND POLITICAL PROTECTION FOR MINORITIES; OR ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL FREEDOMS-NO COUNTRY BOASTS A BETTER RECORD.
NEVERTHELESS, IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO FIND AREAS WHERE WE AS A PEOPLE AND A SOCIETY DO NOT LIVE UP TO OUR IDEALS. AND THOSE IDEALS, WHICH ARE STATED SO WELL IN OUR CONSTITUTION, ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND THROUGHOUT OUR JUDAEO- CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, ARE THE STANDARDS THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO USE AS THE MEASURE OF OUR GREATNESS.
PROBLEMS OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN OUR SOCIETY. THERE ARE FOUR THAT I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.
THE FIRST IS THE DECREASING PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS WHO VOTE. IN 1986 LESS THAN 38 PERCENT OF ADULT CITIZENS EXERCISED THEIR FRANCHISE. THAT WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE SINCE 1942. OUTSIDE THE SOUTH, IT WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE SINCE 1798! MORE THAN 107 MILLION AMERICANS COULD NOT FIND THE TIME TO VOTE, OR LACKED THE INTEREST, OR HAD FAILED TO REGISTER.
THAT SO MANY TREAT SO LIGHTLY WHAT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DIED TO PROTECT IS BOTH A DISGRACE AND A SHAME. WHATEVER THE REASONS-AND POLITICAL SCIENTISTS DISAGREE ON EXACTLY WHAT THOSE REASONS ARE- THE FAILURE TO VOTE IS THE FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS. IT IS A REFUSAL TO HELP SOLVE THE CRITICAL PROBLEMS THAT FACE US. AND IT IS A REJECTION OF ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM; THAT SO MANY OF THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE WERE POOR AND DISADVANTAGED IS BOTH A POLITICAL AND A SOCIAL PROBLEM. THE PLAIN TRUTH IS THAT WE STILL DO NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE IN OUR COUNTRY. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE OVERLY COMPLICATED AND CAN SEEM TO BE DESIGNED TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN VOTERS.
THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN WORLD THAT- EXCEPT FOR NORTH DAKOTA-REQUIRES A CITIZEN TO PROVE HE OR SHE IS QUALIFIED TO VOTE. IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IT IS THE JOB OF THE STATE TO SEE THAT VOTERS ARE ENROLLED AND VOTING LISTS KEPT CURRENT. STUDIES SHOW THAT REQUIRING PEOPLE TO PERSONALLY REGISTER LOWERS THE TURNOUT RATE BY ABOUT 10 PERCENT. IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 20 MILLION MORE PEOPLE WOULD VOTE IF OUR PROCEDURES WERE MADE LESS COMPLICATED.
WHAT MAKES THIS A FAIRNESS ISSUE IS THAT THE MORE COMPLICATED WE
UNEDUCATED ARE TO VOTE. OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE BETTER OFF-IN INCOME, EDUCATION, OR OCCUPATION-ALREADY VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS, WITH TURNOUT RATES OF 70 AND 80 PERCENT. BUT PEOPLE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF OUR ECONOMIC SCALE HAVE TURNOUTS OF ONLY 40 PERCENT. THAT DIFFERENCE SKEWS OUR GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND POLICIES, AND MIGHT WELL RESULT IN A GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS NOT THE PEOPLE, BUT THE VOTERS IN THE LAST ELECTION.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, “THAT’S TOO BAD. THEY SHOULD HAVE VOTED.” THAT’S TRUE, BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT OUR NATION IS PLURALISTIC. WE INCLUDE AND WELCOME ALL GROUPS, AND NATIONALITIES, RELIGIONS, AND RACES. IT IS BAD FOR OUR SOCIETY, AND BAD FOR MEMBERS OF ANY PARTICULAR GROUP, IF PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO A DIFFERENT GROUP ARE EXCLUDED, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, OR TREATED LIKE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS. THE FATE OF THAT GROUP TODAY COULD BE THE FATE OF OUR GROUP TOMORROW.
ARE SPENT CONVINCING PEOPLE TO CHEW GUM, OR WEAR LEVI’S, OR DRINK COCA-COLA, OR A THOUSAND OTHER THINGS. WHY CAN’T WE PURSUE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE SAME WAY?
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE DECLINE IN VOTING? A GREAT DEAL. AND THERE’S A GREAT DEAL THAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR HOME STATES. WE CAN MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER. WHY SHOULD IT BE HARDER TO GET A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD THAN IT IS TO GET A DRIVER’S LICENSE?
SIX STATES DON’T THINK IT SHOULD BE. IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, IOWA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, AND NEVADA, PEOPLE CAN REGISTER TO VOTE WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE. IN NEVADA AND COLORADO, THEY CAN SIMPLY CHECK OFF A BOX ON THE LICENSE APPLICATION FORM. COLORADO’S SYSTEM BECAME EFFECTIVE IN 1985, AND IN THE FIRST YEAR ADDED 140,000 NEW VOTERS TO THE ROLLS.
THIS SYSTEM IS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. ANOTHER, EVEN MORE
FOR A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE IS PASSED BY CONGRESS. UNIVERSAL SERVICE WOULD REQUIRE ALL 18-YEAR-OLDS TO PERFORM A PERIOD OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. OPTIONS WOULD INCLUDE MILITARY DUTY OR NON-MILITARY PUBLIC SERVICE WORK. AT TILE TIME OF REGISTRATION, ALL 18-YEAR-OLDS COULD ALSO REGISTER TO VOTE.
MY SECOND MAJOR CONCERN IS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. EVERY AMERICAN WHO WISHES TO ATTEND COLLEGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO. IN TODAY’S WORLD, A PERSON WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE IS A PERSON WITH OPTIONS, MOBILITY, A CHOICE OF CAREERS, AND THE SOPHISTICATION NEEDED TO FUNCTION IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SOCIETY. IT WASN’T ALWAYS THAT WAY. WE STILL CELEBRATE THE RUGGED INDIVIDUALISTS WHO CONQUERED A CONTINENT WITH NOTHING MORE THAN THEIR NATIVE WITS AND A BOWIE KNIFE; THE IMMIGRANTS WHO RELIED ON THEIR HARD MUSCLE AND STRONG BACKS TO BUILD OUR FACTORIES, RAILROADS, AND FARMS; AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO, LIKE HORATIO ALGER, RAISED THEMSELVES UP THROUGH HARD WORK, DILIGENCE, AND GOD-GIVEN TALENTS TO BECOME MASTERS OF COMMERCE.
HEROES, WHOSE TALENTS WERE EQUAL TO THE TIMES, WOULD MAKE IT IN TODAY’S WORLD. TODAY’S HEROES ARE NOT BLAZING TRAILS IN THE WILDERNESS, BUT IN THE BEST SCIENCE LABORATORIES. THEY ARE NOT BUILDING FACTORIES, BUT SUPER-COMPUTERS, ADVANCED TELE- COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, AND SERVICE CORPORATIONS THAT CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
TOO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY CANNOT GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PARENT WITH THE MEANS TO PAY THEIR TUITION, NO RICH UNCLE TO FURNISH THEIR ROOM AND BOARD, NO CORPORATION WILLING TO SUBSIDIZE ANOTHER SHAKESPEARE SCHOLAR. THEY ARE NOT IN THE TOP 10 PERCENT OF THEIR CLASS, SO NO COLLEGE EXTENDS FUNDING.
THESE YOUNG STUDENTS, THROUGH NO FAULT OF mErR OWN, CAN HEAR DOORS CLOSING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS THEIR OPTIONS ARE CUT OFF AND THEY ARE CHANNELED INTO JOBS THAT, FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, WILL NOT MATCH THEIR POTENTIAL, THEIR TALENTS, OR THEIR DREAMS.
THAT IS A TRAGEDY, AND IT IS ACTED OUT EVERY YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY, WITH TREMENDOUS WASTE OF TALENTS, SKILLS AND UNTAPPED ENERGIES. THOSE ARE RESOURCES THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SQUANDER IF WE WISH TO REGAIN OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION IN THE WORLD ECONOMY. OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ARE OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS, AND WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THOSE STRENGTHS INCLUDE MORE THAN THE ABILITY TO BUILD BRIDGES, SOLVE EQUATIONS, OR CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS. A GREAT SOCIETY IS ALSO A CULTURED SOCIETY. AS A FREE PEOPLE, WE ALSO NEED POETS, PLAYWRIGHTS, DANCERS, MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, HISTORIANS, AND PHILOSOPHERS.
MY THIRD MAJOR CONCERN IS EMPLOYMENT. WE NOW HAVE MORE PEOPLE WORKING THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD IN OUR HISTORY. THAT IS A TRIBUTE TO THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. NO OTHER ECONOMIC SYSTEM CAN MATCH OUR SYSTEM OF FREE ENTERPRISE IN THE CREATION OF JOBS. BUT WHEN WE ARE DONE PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK, WE MUST LOOK
BRILLIANT ECONOMY FAILS TO SHINE.
WHAT WE SEE THERE IS NOT ENCOURAGING. WHILE THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 5.2 PERCENT, THE RATE FOR HISPANICS IS 9 PERCENT AND FOR BLACKS IT IS 11.5 PERCENT, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL RATE. WHILE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR ALL TEEN-AGERS IS 13.6 PERCENT, IT IS 28.4 PERCENT FOR BLACK TEEN-AGERS.
PERCENTAGES ARE ABSTRACTIONS. THEY CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL THE STORY OF DESPAIR, AND PAIN, AND ANGER THAT THESE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FEEL EVERY DAY. NUMBERS DO NOT CRY AS SMALL CHILDREN DO IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEIR STOMACHS ACHE WITH HUNGER. NUMBERS DO NOT FEEL THE FURY OF A DESPERATE PARENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO MEDICINE FOR SICK CHILDREN AND NO DECENT HOUSING FOR THE FAMILY. NUMBERS DO NOT HURT AS HUSBANDS AND WIVES DO WHO CANNOT PROTECT EACH OTHER FROM THE SENSE OF WORTHLESSNESS AND GUILT THAT COMES FROM REJECTION BY ONE’S OWN SOCIETY.
A FACE, AND A HISTORY, AND HOPES NOT SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOURS AND MINE. WE DO NOT KNOW THESE STORIES SO WELL, BECAUSE THEY TAKE PLACE IN BLACK GHETTOS, SPANISH BARRIOS, REMOTE MOUNTAIN AREAS, AND LITTLE RURAL TOWNS THAT WE HAVE NO REASON TO VISIT. BUT THESE STORIES ARE AS REAL AS ANY STORY EVER TOLD.
WHEN ADAM WAS DRIVEN FROM EDEN, HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO EARN HIS BREAD BY THE SWEAT OF HIS BROW. HE PROBABLY THOUGHT, GIVEN THE SITUATION, THAT HE HAD GOTTEN OFF PRETTY LIGHT. WHAT HE MAY NOT HAVE REALIZED AT FIRST, BUT WE CAME TO KNOW, IS THAT WORK BRINGS DIGNITY AND A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH. A JOB WELL DONE GIVES REAL SATISFACTION BEYOND ANY MONETARY REWARD.
PEOPLE WHO, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, DO NOT HAVE JOBS AND CANNOT GET JOBS, ARE DEPRIVED OF MORE THAN SPORTS CARS AND VACATIONS IN THE BAHAMAS. THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF WHAT ALL CHILDREN OF GOD DESERVE: A MEANS OF MAINTAINING THEIR HUMANITY, THEIR SELF-RESPECT,
CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
MY FOURTH MAJOR CONCERN IS THE PROBLEM OF CRIME. LAST YEAR ONE IN EVERY FOUR HOUSEHOLDS IN THIS COUNTRY WAS TOUCHED BY CRIME. IF WE COUNT ONLY CRIMES THAT PEOPLE REPORT TO THE POLICE, AND DON’T TRY TO ESTIMATE HOW MANY CRIMES GO UNREPORTED, THEN LAST YEAR SOMEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES A MURDER WAS COMMITTED EVERY 27 MINUTES; A RAPE EVERY 6 MINUTES; AN ARSON EVERY 5 MINUTES. A ROBBERY WAS COMMITTED EVERY 62 SECONDS; AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT EVERY 38 SECONDS; A MOTOR VEHICLE STOLEN EVERY 25 SECONDS, AND A BURGLARY EVERY 10 SECONDS; A LARCENY EVERY 4, AND A PROPERTY CRIME EVERY 3 SECONDS.
THERE IS NO EASY, QUICK ANSWER TO THE CRIME PROBLEM. NOR ARE THERE SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO ANY OF THE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT WE FACE TODAY OR WILL FACE TOMORROW. SOME PEOPLE THINK WE SHOULD JUST LOCK UP THE CRIMINALS. BUT THERE AREN’T ENOUGH PRISONS TO HOLD
TO LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS: MAYBE LOCK UP THE MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINALS, BUT FIND ANOTHER WAY OF HANDLING THE OTHERS.
SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR SYSTEM WHEN IN THE UNITED STATES-FOR EVERY 100,000 PEOPLE-WE INCARCERATE 250, BUT WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INCARCERATE ONLY 15 OR 20.
AND THERE IS THE MATTER OF FAIRNESS. SHOULD A YOUTH OF 16 WHO STOLE A CAR BE PUT AWAY WITH MURDERERS AND OTHER HARDENED CRIMINALS? SHOULD A 12 YEAR-OLD CAUGHT SHOPLIFTING A LOAF OF BREAD BE PUT IN FED A GOOD MEAL? EACH YEAR, SOME 60,000 JUVENILES ARE INCARCERATED IN ADULT JAILS. ON ANY PARTICULAR DAY 40,000 YOUTHS ARE INCARCERATED IN ADULT JAILS, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, OR STATE INSTITUTIONS. BECAUSE WE STILL DO NOT KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT REHABILITATING CRIMINALS OR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, MANY IF NOT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE IMPRISON COME OUT WORSE THAN WREN THEY WENT IN. SOME DO NOT COME OUT AT ALL. IN 1986, 74 YOUTHS DIED WHILE
AND 21 COMMITTED SUICIDE.
ON THE ONE HAND, WE ARE BESIEGED WITH CRIME; ON THE OTHER WE ARE BESET WITH DRUGS. SOME OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN FRIENDS OR ACQUAINTANCES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN SCARRED BY THE ABUSE OF DRUGS. OUR SOCIETY IS BEING RAVAGED BY DRUG ABUSE, AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT HAVE PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.
THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS IS NOT RESTRICTED TO ANY CLASS, RACE, OCCUPATION, AGE GROUP, OR GENDER. THE WEALTHY, THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND THE POOR; WHITE, BLACK, ORIENTAL, AND HISPANIC; INVESTMENT BANKERS, TOP ATHLETES, AND TAXI DRIVERS; YOUNG AND OLD; MEN AND WOMEN ALL HAVE SEEN THEIR LIVES SHATTERED, THEIR FAMILIES TORN APART, THEIR CAREERS ENDED, THEIR BODIES AND MINDS LAID TO WASTE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN LIVES RUINED BY DRUGS, YOU WILL. YOU’LL SEE IT IN SCHOOL, AND YOU’LL SEE IT ON THE JOB. IF YOU HAVE EVER USED
THIS GREAT LIFE-THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF GOD-FOR A MOMENT OF PLEASURE AND AN ETERNITY OF ANGUISH.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE COMPLICATED PROBLEMS WE FACE AS A NATION. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. MORE AND MORE OF OUR PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS, AND I APPLAUD AZA EFFORTS IN THIS AREA. AS GENERAL CAMPAIGN MANAGER OF THE UNITED WAY IN GREATER MEMPHIS, I TOURED 53 AGENCIES AND SAW MST-HAND THE AWFUI, REALITY OF THE HOMELESS THE FULL BEDS AT THE SALVATION ARMY-AND THOSE WHO COULD NOT GET IN, SLEEPING ON FIRE ESCAPES. ACCORDING TO ONE ESTIMATE, WITHIN 2 YEARS ALMOST ONE OUT OF EVERY 14 PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY WILL EITHER BE HOMELESS OR ON THE VERGE OF BEING HOMELESS. SUCH A SITUATION IN THE MIDST OF SUCH WEALTH IS LUDICROUS. BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A SYMPTOM OF OTHER PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY UNEMPLOYMENT. THERE IS NO SCARCITY OF PROBLEMS: THE DETERIORATION OF THE OZONE LAYER; THE SHIFTING WEATHER PATTERNS AND DROUGHTS OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT; THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR
PROLIFERATION; AND THE SCOURGE OF AIDS.
WE LIVE IN DIFFICULT TIMES. IT IS NOT THE TIME OF THE DIASPORA, OR THE HOLOCAUST, OR ARMAGEDDON. BUT WE ARE IN THE BALANCE, NONETHELESS. IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE NATURE OF THINGS THAT EACH GENERATION MUST BE WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE, MUST BE TESTED, MUST ENDURE ITS OWN TRIALS AND FIND ITS OWN ANSWERS.
IN MANY WAYS, YOURS IS A FORTUNATE GENERATION. YOU WILL WITNESS GREAT THINGS, WONDERFUL INVENTIONS, INCREDIBLE FEATS OF TECHNOLOGY. IN YOUR TIME, YOU WILL SEE MAN WALK ON MARS, HEAR INSTANTANEOUS TRANSLATIONS OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, AND TASTE EXOTIC NEW FOODS FROM THE OCEAN DEPTHS. GENETIC ENGINEERING WILL HOLD FORTH THE HOPE OF ELIMINATING DISEASES. YOUR HOME COMPUTER WILL GIVE YOU INSTANT ACCESS TO THE WORLD’S GREAT LIBRARIES AND RESEARCH CENTERS.
WILL REPLACE THE SURGEON’S SCALPEL; YOU’LL EVEN KEEP A LASER DEVICE IN YOUR KITCHEN DRAWER TO TREAT MINOR CUTS AND BURNS.
YOUR GENERATION-AND YOU AS INDIVIDUALS, AS RESEARCH SCIENTISTS, TEACHERS, ARTISTS, ENGINEERS, LEGISLATORS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES-WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF THESE EVENTS-AND THESE PROBLEMS. IT WILL BE EXCITING AND DANGEROUS, WONDERFUL AND TERRIBLE, EXHILARATING AND DEBILITATING. AND IT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THE WORLD IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE YOU WERE IN IT.
WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, ALL OF YOU WILL BE DECIDING THE PATH YOU WILL TAKE. WHATEVER IT IS, PURSUE IT WITH PASSION. WORK AS HARD AS YOU CAN IN YOUR TWENTIES-HARDER THAN YOU BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE-TO MAKE YOUR DREAM REAL. IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED IT BY THE TIME YOU ARE 35, YOU PROBABLY WON’T. USE YOUR YOUTH AND YOUR ENERGY- THE GREATEST ADVANTAGES YOU HAVE-TO CREATE YOUR FUTURE.
AND ETHICAL VISION. WHETHER YOU WORK ON WALL STREET OR MAIN STREET, DON’T BE SEDUCED BY THE EMPTY SUCCESS OF THE GORDON GEKKOS OF THE WORLD. FOCUS YOUR TALENTS ON ADVANCING THE HUMAN STATE- CREATE JOBS, DEVELOP NEW MEDICINES, BECOME INSPIRING TEACHERS, AND MATERIAL SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW. BUT MATERIAL SUCCESS DEVOID OF ETHICAL CONDUCT LEADS TO A FOOL’S PARADISE.
WHEN YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR SUCCESS, REMEMBER TO HELP OTHERS ALONG. DON’T HOARD YOUR HARD-WON EXPERIENCE LIKE A MISER. BE A MENTOR TO THOSE STILL COMING UP, PEOPLE WHO CAN PROFIT FROM YOUR ADVICE AND KNOWLEDGE.
AND REMEMBER ALSO TO GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. GIVE ALL YOU CAN-IN TIME, IN ENERGY, IN MONEY. THE WORD “PHILANTHROPHY” MEANS “LOVE FOR MANKIND.” IT IS AN UNHAPPY LOVE THAT REMAINS SILENT AND DOES NOT SHOW ITSELF. IF YOU PROFESS TO HAVE A LOVE FOR MANKIND, MAKE CERTAIN IT IS NOT THE THEORETICAL KIND THAT DOES NOTHING FOR MAN.
THAT OF A BREEZE, THAT LIGHTLY TOUCHES WHATEVER IT ENCOUNTERS, AND MERELY RIPPLES THE SURFACE OF LIFE. OUR TASK-AS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE MEMBERS OF AZA-IS NOT TO TREAT LIGHTLY AND LEAVE UNDISTURBED THE WORLD AS WE FIND IT, TO THYME THROUGH THE YEARS THE WAY PEOPLE DO IN A MUSEUM, EMBARRASSED TO LEAVE EVEN AN ECHO BEHIND TO MARK THEIR PASSAGE.
IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR MARK BEHIND TO SHOW WHICH WAY YOU PASSED, YOU HAVE TO USE ALL THE FORCE AND WITS AND STAMINA AND CHARACTER THAT YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO INHERIT AND SMART ENOUGH TO DEVELOP ALONG THE WAY.
AND REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE WITHOUT CONFLICT, NO CAUSE WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. IN OUR PLURALISTIC SOCIETY, WE MUST TRY TO REACH CONSENSUS ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE GREAT ISSUES THAT FACE US AS A PEOPLE. BUT WE AS INDIVIDUALS MUST NOT PROSTRATE OURSELVES BEFORE THE IDOL OF CONSENSUS WHEN CENTRAL, INVIOLABLE PRINCIPLES ARE AT STAKE.
THE PEOPLE THERE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. LIKE YOU, THEY ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. LIKE YOU, THEY WANT TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL. LIKE YOU, THEY WANT AND DESERVE RESPECT, FAIRNESS, AND A CHANCE TO FIND THEIR OWN PATH.
WE SHOULD THINK OF OUR SOCIETY AS A BANQUET TABLE, TO WHICH ALL OF US HAVE BEEN INVITED. WE WERE NOT INVITED BECAUSE OF OUR INTELLIGENCE, OR OUR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS, OR OUR TABLE MANNERS. WE WERE INVITED BECAUSE WE ALL ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.
WHO ARE WE TO TELL THE HOST THAT IT IS TIME TO BOLT THE DOORS, THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FOOD TO GO AROUND, THAT THOSE PEOPLE OUTSIDE HAVE LOST THEIR INVITATIONS, OR DID NOT DESERVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR WILL EMBARRASS US WITH THEIR LACK OF ETIQUETTE?
WE HAVE ALL BEEN ASKED TO COME TO THE TABLE, TO SHARE IN THIS GREAT BANQUET OF LIFE. SOME OF US WILL BE GIVEN A LARGER SHARE THAN
WILL BE REQUIRED.
A QUOTATION FROM HILLEL SAYS IT ALL IN A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND SIMPLE WAY:
IF I AM NOT FOR MYSELF, WHO IS FOR ME?
IF I AM ONLY FOR MYSELF, WHAT AM I?
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
TO ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, AS ONE AZA MEMBER TO ANOTHER, I SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD. AZA IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION, AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.
LET US GO FORTH INTO THE WORLD TO SHOW ALL NATIONS THAT WE PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLES OF PATRIOTISM AND JUDAISM.