Dear Ann Landers, Years ago Ann Landers wrote a great column that went something like this: you don't have to like Jewish people but, if you want to boycott them, you won't feel very good. She went on to list a number of accomplishments that Jewish doctors, scientists, etc. have given to mankind. It was a great piece and I wish I still had a copy of it. It would be very timely for what's going on in this country today. I hope you can find it for me, please. Thank you! - A Faithful Reader
Dear Faithful Reader, That column first appeared in July 1981. It was written by Sam Levinson. Here is the updated version printed in 1991. The research was done by David Gaus, who was then a student at Tulane University Medical School.
An Answer to an Anti-Semite
It's a free world. You don't have to like Jews if you don't want to, but if you are going to be an anti-Semite, you should be consistent and turn your back on the medical advances that Jews made possible.
I am talking about the vaccine for hepatitis discovered by Baruch Blumberg, the Wasserman test for syphilis developed by August Von Wasserman, and the first effective drug to fight syphilis developed by Paul Ehrlich. Bela Schick developed the diagnostic skin test for diphtheria. Insulin would not have been discovered if Oskar Minkowski had not demonstrated the link between diabetes and the pancreas. It was Burrill Crohn who identified the disease that bears his name. Alfred Hess discovered that vitamin C could cure scurvy. Casimir Funk was the first to use vitamin B to treat beri-beri. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine, and later, Albert Sabin developed the oral version.
Humanitarianism requires that we offer these gifts to all the people of the world, regardless of race, color or creed. So, the anti-Semites who don't want to accept these gifts can go ahead and turn them down, but I'm warning you, you aren't going to feel so good.
Hi! It's Margo here. I'd love to know what you think of the letters -- and the answers!
Also, any additional thoughts you might have. Thanks!
Reader Comment
I believe it was 1996, Ann Landers wrote a column about life's journey for that year high school graduates, The ending was to let them know that standing room only at their funeral reflected their life. I hope you can find that column.
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