1 August 2014
by David Arthur Walters
MIAMI MIRROR
The word on 41st Street of Miami Beach is that businesses there want to rid the street of the name ‘Arthur Godfrey Road,’ and have asked the city commission to do just that. Whether or not that has anything to do with the anti-Semitic policy of the hotel Arthur Godfrey performed in back in those days, or the fact that the area is predominantly Jewish, as is the current commission, is a matter for speculation.
A man on the street who wishes to remain anonymous for religious reasons said that he believes prejudicial revenge is at play.
“Jewish commissioners should adopt a forgiving Christian attitude in the matter, for the Lord said vengeance is his alone. If they are unable to do so, I think they should rename the street Jackie Mason Boulevard.”
“What about the fact that Jackie Mason has referred to President Obama as a shvartze, and before that he called Mayor Dinkins a svartze with a moustache, and he has also said that Arabs should be expelled from Israel?” I asked.
“That depends on the context and emphasis. Svartze is a neutral Yiddish term for black. Maybe the commissioners agree on the Arab thing, and maybe not, but Jackie Mason Boulevard is still a great name for 41st Street.”
“Well,” I said, “I do not care for any name, because when someone says ‘Arthur Godfrey Road,’ I forget what street that is, that it is 41st Street. Anyway, streets should have either a name or number.”
“Why not have both? I lived on Edgar Allen Poe Street on the Upper West Side. Poe lived on that street.”
“Where is that?”
“Near Zabars.”
“What?”
“Never mind, schmo, I have an appointment with my dentist on Arthur Godfrey Road.”
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