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Beglnnlng wlth Begin
In your remarkably fair analysis of
Menachem Begin ("Beginning with Be–
gin," by Dr. Charles V. Dorothy, in the
August-September
Plain Truth),
1 found
three areas that require amplification,
clse they provide your readers with the
false impression that Begin and the lr–
gun were vicious and capricious in their
actions. First, the two British soldiers
were not tortured, as Dr. Dorothy
wrote; they were hung. The Brit ish, in
an attempt to destroy the Jewish under–
ground, instituted a policy of manda–
tory execution for any captured
underground Jewish soldiers, irrespcc–
tive of what they did and without a trial.
The Irgun wanted its captured men to
be treated as prisoners of war according
to the Gencva Convention. The British
rcfused and hung seven Irgunists.
The Irgun then threatened to hang
British soldiers in reprisal to prevent the
further unnecessary killing of Jews.
When the British captured two more
lrgun members, the lrgun captured two
British sergeants and offered to ex–
change the sergeants for the under–
ground fighters. The British refused and
hung the two Jews. The Irgun then hung
the two British soldiers. After that, the
British never again hung another Jewish
underground fighter.
Second, the lrgun blew up the south–
em wing of the King David Hotel be–
cause t h is was where the Briti s h
headquarters was located. The fact that
innocent people died is sad; but one
must blame the British for ignoring the
25-minute warning (a warning which
they never gave the Jews) and for not
evacuating the building.
Third, contrary to what Dr. Dorothy
reported, the viUagers of Deir Yassin
were forewarned by a sound truck, be–
cause numerous villagers tled. Because
of this forewaming the Arab fighters
knew what to expect, and as a result the
Irgun suffered a
40
percent casualty
rate. There was not a single proveo case
of rape; there was no killing after the
The
PLAIN TRUTH
January 1978
fighting ended; and there were no muti–
lations of dead bodies. Each of thesc
allegations is an unsubstantiated Arab
a<;cusation used for propaganda pur–
poses. That civilians died is sad. But it
never would have happened if the
Arabs had not engaged in open warfare
against the Jews after the U.N. partition
resolution.
Sex Education
Sheldon F. Gottlieb,
Fort Wayne,
Indiana
As acting director of the Jefferson
County Right to Life,
1
take exception
to severa! statements in your August–
September issue. In the interview with
Elizabeth Calleton of Pasadena
Planned Parenthood, she stated that
Right to Life groups are opposed to
abortion, opposed to birth control and
opposed to sex education.
Yes, we are opposed to abortion.
However, the policy of National Right
to Life and all other Right to Life
groups regarding birth control has al–
ways been that this is prívate morality,
and we take no stand either for or
against contraception. We are opposed
to Planned Parenthood putting young
children on "the pill" without parental
knowledge because we feel that this in–
fringes on the parents' rights to know
how their children are being dealt with.
ln
no way can this be interpreted as
"opposing contraception." Regarding
sex education,
1
am aware of sorne
members who have investigated the
problem in their own schools and found
E
R
S
that the books being used were actually
books promoting humanism, homosex–
uality and abortion.
Perhaps you should ask Ms. Calleton
why the VD rate and the illegitimate
pregnancy rate increases so rapidly
when Planned Parenthood becomes
firmly entrenched in any arca. Perhaps
it has something to do with their movie
About
Sex
which is shown at their teen
clinics nationwide. This film was la–
beled pornographic by the Arizona Leg–
islature.
Patricia H. Reff,
Acting Director,
Jefferson County Right to Life,
Watertown, New York
The Canal Controversy
1 have just been rereading "Canal Zone
Handover?" and feel more than ever
incensed a t the irresponsible attitude of
the U.S. government in the surrender of
the Canal Zone. What possible reason–
ing is there for giving away a com–
mercial enterprise which benefits so
many just to satisfy the ambition of one
dictator who admits he doesn't know
how he can restrain left-wing students
who supposedly are under his control?
Could these same uncontrolled left–
wingers decide to sell the canal to the
highest bidder? The U.S. did not take
the land - we bought it both from Pan–
ama and various individuals. Picase
senda copy ofthe July
1977
Plain Truth
to Presiden! Carter and mark it for his
special attention.
Maria Sawyer,
Port Medway, Nova Scotia
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