My Letter in Today's Jerusalem Post

Blind, or just respectful?

Sir, - David Kimche made a sweeping generalization in "Breaking the law" (October 3). He wrote: "When Menachem Begin was prime minister, it was well known among those working closely with him that one of his weaknesses was his blind idolization of anyone in uniform."

Blind? Kimche should reconsider. Equally well known is that Begin tweaked Ezer Weizman, sardonically putting him down as "my mischievous general."

Indeed, Begin exhibited more outward respect for the army, its ensign and its generals than other politicians; but then again, he also wore a tie regularly, probably more in one week than David Ben-Gurion wore in his lifetime.

"Blind" is too extreme an adjective. And Kimche would surely tremble at being thought extreme.

YISRAEL MEDAD
Shiloh

As originally written:

David Kimche makes quite a sweeping generalization ("Breaking the law", Oct. 2) when he writes, "when Menachem Begin was prime minister, it was well known among those working closely with him that one of his weaknesses was his blind idolization of anyone in uniform". Blind?

Kimche would do well to reconsider that assertion. As is equally well-known, Begin tweaked Ezer Weizmann, calling him sardonically "my mischievous general" as a put-down. Indeed, Begin exhibited more outward respect for the army, its ensign and its generals than other politicians, but then again, he also wore a tie regularly, more in one week than David Ben-Gurion in perhaps a lifetime. Nevertheless, to use the adjective "blind" would be being too extreme. And Kimche would trepidate (*) at being extreme.

(*)

The Latin verb trepidare meant 'hurry, bustle, be agitated or alarmed'. Via French, it led to the English verb trepidate (tremble with fear or agitation)