Antisemitism isn't far from home
...yesterday and today
Stroking the pumpkin pie-colored coat of a 12-week-old puppy as news from Israel and Gaza is on in the background, the split screen of humanity stood in stark contrast.
As someone who writes commentary, I thought I had nothing to add to the discussion of the horrors taking place there. Why would any observation I make matter one whit?
Then, yesterday, my friend Barb Royal sent me copies of a letter signed by several members of the Des Moines’ Wakonda Country Club, including my father, about a vote that was about to take place to allow Jews to join the private club. It was 1961, and the letter is a reminder that history can repeat itself if not known and understood.
Her timely email underscored how such blatant antisemitism was in our community, not just thousands of miles away in a foreign land. It’s important to understand how bigotry is usually born in ignorance of those unknown, and it can surface at any time. And in any place.
Should Wakonda Club allow a Jew, who is individually well-qualified by all standards, to become a member?
The letter urging a ‘yes’ vote was signed by 37 members of the 'Wakonda Committee for Reason and Tolerance.' Today, many of these surnames are affixed to libraries, parks, and other community betterment projects:
Hubbell, Kruidenier, Meredith, Weitz, Riley, Mills, and Windsor.
The vote to allow Jews did not pass then. The vote of the membership was secret so that those names would remain unknown. It wasn’t until 1964 that the policy was reversed.
After the vote failed the first time, Dr. Sidney Sands, Barb’s father, wrote a letter to those who voted against the measure. His words are as true today as in 1961.
Finally, on that day which must come for each of us, when time shall be no more, will you hold with pride the record of your life? Will you offer this which you have done as a testament before God?…
The tensions that divide people and nations may destroy us all, but I do know that you cannot save yourselves by denying your neighbor and maintain your pride by destroying his. If we are to be saved, we must save each other, then, there may be peace on earth and goodwill to all.
In the 1960s, Dr. Sidney Sands was ‘society’s shrink,’ a prominent psychiatrist who was Jewish. One can only speculate how many pro and con Wakonda voters were his patients.
Today, the Sands Wing of Broadlawns Medical Center is named for Dr. Sands. His portrait is on the wall outside the door of the psychiatric ward, where countless mentally ill residents are served.
There is much to this story about accepting Jews, Blacks, and ‘others’ to private country clubs that remain unknown.
Stories matter. Barb Royal found these clippings because she’s going through old files, and I hope, this Okoboji Writers’ Retreat veteran is empowered to work on a family memoir. I am grateful to her for sending these clips, and I am so proud my father took a stand on the issue. I’ve sent this to a few descendants of those who made up the Wakonda Committee for Reason and Tolerance, figuring they, too, will be proud of their ancestors.
KKK in Pochonatas
On a related subject, Helen Beneke has authored a guest post that will soon appear in an upcoming Potluck column. She has a report about a movie about Ku Klux Klan history in Pochontas. The film was created by Dr. Michael White, a grandson of one of those families the Klan targeted for a late-night cross-burning.
Helen’s husband, Don Beneke, unearthed KKK paraphernalia when his family took over a local business building and has given talks about the Klan history.
Save the date for a film written by White, a professor at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE.
From Helen Beneke: You can view this film at the Pocahontas Art Deco Rialto Theater from October 20 to November 3. On October 21, the two directors will lead a “Talk Back” session after the evening movie. Movie times are nightly at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. If you want to secure this movie for your local theater, contact Dr. White, at mwhitewtma@aol.com.
Monday Zoomers: Iconic feminist, trial lawyer, and philanthropist Roxanne Conlin will be our guest on October 16. Subscribers will receive a link on Monday morning. Join us! If you are not currently a subscriber, here’s the link:
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Columnists
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Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, Roundup
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Thanks for sharing this sad piece of DM history, Julie. The letter is as much notable for the courageous members who signed it as it is for the missing names noted in the margin, some of whom had sons who were friends of mine and other Jewish kids.
Thank you for writing this. I remember this well; especially everyone's shock at the "no" vote. I think it was the subject of an article in Time Magazine.
Part of the shock was that so many people in DM had both Jews and non-Jews as friends. My parents and I did. There seemed to be no religious discrimination at Roosevelt.
The vote was eye opening. What had seemed to be a non-issue was now an issue, at least for adults.
The issue of who was first to join seems controversial. i was told it was my uncle, Mike Blank.
Art Stein