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September is 'Go Healthy Month' by AHA

During September, which is deemed "Go Healthy Month" by the American Heart Association, I encourage my fellow school administrators, coaches, parents, and community leaders to take charge of the health of our youth. Nearly one in three children and youth in the United States are overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. Being overweight increases a child's risk for developing life-threatening health conditions including heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

Childhood obesity is now regarded as the number-one health concern among parents in the U.S., topping drug abuse and smoking. The American Heart Association has made a commitment to tackling this prevalent health issue, but parents and guardians play a pivotal role as key decision makers in the health of their children. As a parent, you can empower your children to take charge of their health.

Each day, you can make simple choices to improve your family's and children's health. Simple things like encouraging your children to get the recommended 60 minutes of active play each day and limiting time spent watching television, playing video games, or surfing the Internet can have a big impact on your child's health. Most kids need about two to four cups of fruits and/or vegetables a day. Be sure to include a fruit or vegetable at every meal or as a snack. Another key component of your child's healthy lifestyle is sleep. Most children need at least nine hours of sleep a night.

Start fighting the obesity epidemic today. Turn off the television. Skip the fast food. Take a walk. The American Heart Association offers several resources to guide parents in making heart-healthy choices for their children and family. To receive a free brochure, please call the American Heart Association at (800) AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

John Fraraccio
American Heart Association volunteer
New Jersey recipient of the 2008-09 Healthy Schools Program Champion Award

Senator Lautenberg's actions speak louder than his words

I'm sure that Sen. Lautenberg's views regarding Muammar Qaddafi setting up shop in Englewood are genuine. However, when his actions could register support for Israel where it matters, he's nowhere to be found. So when 71 U.S. senators (including the leaders and whips of both parties) sent a letter to President Obama urging him to press Arab states to recognize and normalize relations with Israel, Sen. Lautenberg was not among them.

The letter did not require courage to sign. It did not question the administration's position toward Israel. On the contrary, it supported comments by the president and Secretary Clinton that Arab states must: do more to end their isolation of Israel; end the Arab League boycott; meet openly with Israeli officials; establish trade relations; and end official propaganda campaigns that demonize Israel and Jews. It is striking that Sen. Lautenberg refused to sign that minimalist rebuke to those who openly call for Israel's destruction.

Yet 75 percent of non-Jewish senators took the opportunity to underscore their pro-Israel stance. Fifty-eight percent of Senate Democrats were signatories; 87 percent of Senate Republicans were signatories. The 46 percent of Jewish signatories was not only less than that of the non-Jewish signatories, but was even less than that of the Democratic signatories.

This is a teaching moment for my co-religionists: just because a candidate is Jewish, and appears at every Jewish event touting his "credentials," does not mean that he will support the interests of the Jewish people. When another 6 million are threatened with extinction, it is principle, action, and courage that count -- not words.

How many of the 78 percent of Jewish voters who cast their ballots for the president believed the words he spoke at the AIPAC conference before the election: "I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security... ensure Israel's qualitative military advantage... ensure that Israel can defend itself from any threat -- from Gaza to Tehran..." and his famous line: "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided"?

Sen. Lautenberg and the other six Jewish members of the Senate who refused to sign the letter teach us that for them, as for Mr. Obama, words are just words.

Hadassah Linfield
Monroe
The writer is former deputy director, Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Jewish Committee.

Pres. Obama and the health care bill

The Jewish prophet, Isaiah said, "For the sake of Zion I will not keep silent. For Jerusalem I will not keep quiet until her righteousness shines forth like brightness." In the spirit of that prophet I am writing this letter.

I have watched in the last year or two how many in the Jewish establishment have put their trust and influence behind President Barack Obama. His smooth speech has convinced even the skeptics that he would be good for Israel and that he would defend our land. In a very short time, we have seen that this is not the case. Rather, he has opted to curry favor with the Islamic nations and has pressured Israel to give up her land. He is no friend of our people.

Since he has been in office he has sought to hallmark "change" at any cost without taking the necessary time and advice to make his ideas workable. In the case of this health care bill: it is untested, not well-thought out, and he is trying to force it upon a people who have already had too many "changes." He is determined to get this bill passed even if the American people don't want it in its present form.

I am appalled at the manipulation that he is using by conference calling 1,000 clergy about this health care bill. He is cloaking this bill in religious garb and putting God in it when his other actions show quite to the contrary. I am also appalled that this newspaper would actually present this issue in a light that favors responding to his plea for passage when you have already seen how he has turned on Israel. How can you trust him? Our government bureaucratic system has already been inept at things, why would we want to entrust them with our entire health care?

That doesn't mean that our health care doesn't need fixing. It just means that such an important area needs time, skill, and excellence. It's not the kind of thing that you force on people and ask legislators to sign when they haven't even processed the information. The rushing: doesn't that tell you something? Proverbs says that he who hurries with his feet sins.

I am all in favor of trying to find a solution to offer health care for those in-need. This is not an issue of caring for the poor. This is an issue of forcing people to give up their choice and also bankrupting the American public. And for me, I'm stunned that the Jewish community still believes this man after how he is treating Israel and how he is behaving on the world stage. It's time to wake up and see the reality of what's going on.

We need to jealously guard the interests of the Jewish people and Israel. We need to exercise discernment and act accordingly with all of our government officials.

MK Rose
Howell