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| WSJ Opinion Column Points Out That "Passion of Christ" Has Not Incited Anti-Semitic Attacks |
| 2004-04-05 |
| Record-breaking multitudes over a span of many weeks have now viewed Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of the Christ" in every major and far-flung U.S. locale, and not one American synagogue has been torched or Jewish cemetery vandalized by the Christian faithful who have seen the movie. Having been forewarned that in medieval Europe, passion plays and Easter sermons roused the public to immediate pillaging of Jews and their property, Americans should be proud that the warnings by Jewish organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League of anti-Semitic outbreaks did not materialize here. I never had any doubts, since it has been obvious for decades that American Christianity embodies a warm and symbiotic attachment to the Jewish religion, believing as it does in a Judeo-Christian ethic with strong, literal emphasis on the Old Testament. Such did not prevail in pre-World War II Europe, which viewed the Jewish religion as basically illegitimate. Moreover, Americans, in contrast to Europeans, have repeatedly shown themselves to be philo-Semitic. In America, Jews are not considered "outsiders." .... Anti-Semitism is a real problem in the world today, but it mostly arises from the Muslim world and the political left. It’s easy to attack American Christians, schooled on love and forbearance, who will never requite these attacks with any sort of comparable intensity. It takes real bravery to confront the anti-Semitism of militant Islamists and left-wingers who have been inclined to physical violence. The Muslim world may well use this Christian film to depict Jews as evil and further their anti-Jewish propaganda. They do so steadily with the fictitious and European-based Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and every week some state-sponsored Egyptian newspaper carries editorial cartoons depicting Jews as apes, devils, Nazis. Last week Reuters reported that " ’The Passion of the Christ’ is all the rage among Palestinians, curious about complaints by Jews that it is anti-Semitic." Likewise in much of Europe, predisposed as it is to Jew-hatred, the movie may stir continued demonization of Jews. In contrast, American Christian leaders will continue to use this as an opportunity to show friendship to the Jewish community, ignoring the taunts of Abe Foxman and the vulgarities of Frank Rich. To be sure, even in America there will be occasional incidents of anti-Semitism, as there were before the film, but in a nation of almost 300 million, they will be statistically insignificant. The heads of American Jewish organizations ignited this world-wide controversy by implying that American Christians are but one movie away from attacking their Jewish neighbors. Now that the evidence is in, will they apologize? |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #7 Could you imagine the Catholic Church making such broad statements about Jews, being publicly proven wrong, and not having a retraction and apology demanded? Sauce for the goose... The ADL at least owes a public "I'm Sorry" to Mel Gibson and the Christian Community for tarring it with the idea that Christians would go after Jews as a result of this film. Where's the Mea Culpa from the ADL and very vocal critics in the press? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-05 8:15:47 PM |
| #6 LH, do you agree that the large majority of the people who would go to see this are committed Protestants and practicing Catholics - two demographic groups that predominantly support Israel? I'm sure there are anti-semites who support Israel, but there can't be many of them. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-04-05 3:44:44 PM |
| #5 1. My daughter reports a boy in her 6th grade class saying "jews suck" America is the greatest country on earth, a damned sight better for Jews than ANY country in Europe, and MOST American Christians ARE followers of Christian ethics, and are NOT antisemitic. But antisemitism still exists here, and it is not unreasonable for the ADL to worry about it. They do a damned good job of it. And its not so long ago that antisemitism WAS more widespread here. Im not saying the movie in question IS antisemitic - but if an antisemitic film by a big director WERE shown here, i think that would be a cause for concern. 2. ADL supporters include people who visit Israel despite the danger, and who have relatives there. The ADL is quite aware of the dangers of Islamic violence and spends much effort on it, and on antisemitism in Europe. TO get a better idea of what the ADL actually does take a look at its website. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-05 3:35:18 PM |
| #4 Anti-Semitism is a real problem in the world today, but it mostly arises from the Muslim world and the political left. It's easy to attack American Christians, schooled on love and forbearance, who will never requite these attacks with any sort of comparable intensity. It takes real bravery to confront the anti-Semitism of militant Islamists and left-wingers who have been inclined to physical violence. Too bad the courage of the IDF has not been matched by the lawyers and leaders of the ADL. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-04-05 3:06:56 PM |
| #3 You have to be taught hatred you are not born with it. It's only the Fringe right and the left that would conclude that American Christians are anti jewish. At mass this weekend we offered a prayer to Jews. Really vile hatred spewing there. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-04-05 1:03:06 PM |
| #2 ...all the rage among Palestinians, Palestinians, rage? I never would have connected the two otherwise... |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-04-05 12:43:36 PM |
| #1 But....but.....us Yankees are so violent! What do you mean we haven't been acting up and the Europeans might? Aren't they better than us? I read somewhere that they are actually trying to ban the movie in parts of Europe because they think it will incite antisemitism. The sad thing is they might be right. And parts of the Arab world have been using the film to prove that Jews kill prophets (implying that they would have killed Big Mo if given the chance). I guess they're big fans of Jesus if it suits their jihad. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-04-05 12:11:50 PM |