There is a wise newspaper rule: “When in doubt, leave it out,” and please allow me to apologize for a grievous blunder in “The Saturday Funnies” (which has since be removed from the Chattanoogan.com website.)
I had read where humor can get you through almost anything and was moved that the Jewish people, looking in the very near eyes of death, embraced humor to help in their sorrow during the Holocaust. I should have stopped there.
But, no, I tried to press with several examples attributed to Jewish sources and suddenly became the very lout I most despise.
By printing the absolute worst jokes I can ever recall in “The Saturday Funnies,” I offended and disappointed many people who I love and, most of all, myself. What I stumbled into will take a long time for me to prove my deepest heartfelt apologies are hardly enough to beg.
I have forever been a great supporter of the Jewish people and anti-Semitism makes me nauseous. I was raised to love and respect Israel and its people. My personal Savior is a Jew. In my 70 years, I cannot remember one time that I failed to love and embrace “the chosen tribe of Israel.”
I stand in awe and in praise of what its members have contributed to the betterment of the American people, both locally, nationally, and internationally. I take great pride in the fact Israeli scientists are at the very heart of the worldwide race to conquer the novel coronavirus; “novel” is a scientific term for “new” – we have never seen anything like this – and the Israelis are making great strides in research for all of us.
Again, I sincerely apologize and will try hard to earn your forgiveness. I can, and will, do better.
Roy Exum
royexum@aol.com