[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ``60 MINUTES OF SHAME''

                                 ______


                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, on October 23, the television show ``60 
Minutes'' aired a story titled: ``The Ugly Face of Freedom'' which 
purported to examines anti-Semitism in Ukraine. The inflammatory nature 
of the story has raised concerns in both the Ukrainian and Jewish 
communities.
  As part of the story, excerpts were shown from an interview with 
Ukraine's Chief Rabbi Yakov Bleich in which he ways, ``They want the 
Jews out.'' Due to the manner in which it was presented, viewers were 
led to believe that this feeling is widely held in Ukraine. However, in 
a recent interview, Rabbi Bleich explained that he, ``was talking about 
the extremists that they had taken footage of. I certainly didn't mean 
the Ukrainian Government or the population at large. I mean that's 
crazy.''
  The sentiments were echoed by Martin Plax the area director of the 
American Jewish Committee in Cleveland. In a recent article, he stated:

       I was amazed by the selective and highly inflammatory way 
     in which the entire report was crafted. So was Rabbi Yakov 
     Bleich who was sent a videotape of the show by the American 
     Jewish Committee. In a telephone conversation yesterday, 
     Bleich said he was furious with the way his interview was 
     edited. He said that he had told ``60 Minutes'' about many 
     positive things taking place in Ukraine and that when he said 
     ``they want the Jews out'' he was referring to small, but 
     vocal groups of ultranationalists who are anti-Semitic, but 
     not a significant force in the country.

  Anti-Semitism and hatred must be constantly fought. However, as Mr. 
Plax continues:

       The Jews who have chosen to remain in Ukraine and to live 
     Jewishly cannot be aided by an eruption of indignation and 
     panic. We can give aid to them, however, by supporting the 
     forces that exist within Ukraine which are striving to 
     contain any hatred and promote stability and moderation.

  Unfortunately, anti-Semitism does exists in Ukraine, as it exists in 
the United States and in many parts of the world. However, I am 
encouraged that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma visited the Holocaust 
Museum during his trip to Washington. While at the museum, Kuchma 
stated:

       The Holocaust is a human tragedy of universal significance. 
     Humanity can never forgive the criminals and their lackeys 
     who covered themselves with the blood of Jews Unfortunately, 
     there were Ukrainians among the criminals unworthy of being 
     called Ukrainians.

  Such strong sentiments give me hope that things have improved in 
Ukraine since the end of the Soviet Union. Ukraine's Declaration on the 
Rights of Nationalities in Ukraine guarantees the rights of all 
citizens to profess their religion and makes discrimination against 
minorities punishable under law. The Government has been striving to 
protect these rights, and these efforts should be encouraged.
  At this time it is imperative that we help the forces of tolerance 
and openness in Ukraine. To imply that Ukrainians are ``genetically 
anti-Semitic'' will not promote progress and understanding. ``60 
Minutes'' can do better than to air such an inflammatory story. I would 
like to end by quoting Martin Plax once again:

       If we do anything other, we may learn another lesson; that 
     those who distort the present, by assuming that nothing has 
     changed from the past, will increase the probability that 
     they might relive the past from which they had hoped to 
     escape.

  ``60 Minutes'' has done a disservice to both the Jewish and Ukrainian 
communities. They owe an apology to the Ukrainian community in 
particular for defaming their character with such broad stereotypes. 
Shame on ``60 Minutes.''

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