Predicting that “the occasions for disagreement and dissent within the Jewish community are likely to increase” as the concept of social change broadens, Aaron Goldman, chairman of the National Community Relations Advisory Council, told the 71st annual national convention of the Jewish War Veterans here today that Jews should strongly support the right to dissent.
Mr. Goldman’s remarks to the veterans were obviously in response to the JWV veto of a resolution supporting dissent in connection with Vietnam, at the recent Washington plenary session of the NCRAC. Mr. Goldman stressed that “this nation was founded by dissenters, ” and said: “Let us always remember that Jews — as a minority — have been dissenters from the prevailing forms and practices of many societies.”
He pointed out that dissent must be preserved both in the nation generally and in the Jewish community, including the NCRAC, which reflects the views of diverse organizations. He said that “freedom is only as secure as the freedom of the dissenter to express his dissenting opinion, however unpopular or obnoxious it may be.”
“Liberty is best served by scrupulous protection of dissent, and never more so than in difficult times when the nation is confronted by agonizing choices of momentous historic import,” the NCRAC chairman said. “It is precisely at such times that dissent, by compelling the most rigorous examination of official views, contributes most to the wisdom of foreign policy. If this be true of Government, how much more true it is of a voluntary association like NCRAC?”
He lauded the JWV role on a number of issues, but indicated that he did not share the JWV philosophy on dissent as expressed by the veto invoked at the Washington plenary meeting.
President Johnson, in a second message to the JWV, commended the veterans’ patriotism and said: “You will, I know, continue to support the objectives of our nation and our men in uniform, who are giving so greatly of themselves.” Vice-President Humphrey will address the convention tomorrow.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
