including all the powers, rights, authorities, and responsibilities accorded therein.
And may God have mercy upon your soul.
Posted on 03/21/2003 6:11:06 PM PST by restornu
Those of us who thought the world had finally stamped out anti-Semitism are getting rude awakenings lately.
The most publicized case of anti-Jewish comments involves Jim Moran, a Democratic congressman from Virginia who said American Jews are behind the moves to make Saddam Hussein live up to United Nations commitments. "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq," he argued, "we would not be doing this."
Moran moved to apologize, but many pointed out he has a history of shooting from the lip and has taken political contributions from Muslim organizations that federal authorities at one time suspected of having ties to terrorist groups. He later returned the contributions.
But while the Moran issue continues, there are all other kinds of signs that anti-Semitism is leaking its way back into public discourse, more so than at any time perhaps than the 1930s. Back then, anti-Jewish groups urged the United States to avoid involvement in World War II, saying that America was being dragged into the war by a Jewish cabal. The anti-war movement in the late 1930s was so strong that many historians believe the United States would never have joined the war if not for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
And what do you know; a prominent Republican is again talking about a cabal. Pat Buchanan, a former presidential candidate, writes that "a cabal of polemicists and public officials" are "colluding with Israel" to "ensnare our country in a series of wars that are not in America's interests." From the far left, pro-Palestinian writer and Columbia Literature Prof. Edward Said writes, "An immensely wealthy and powerful republic has been hijacked by a small cabal of individuals."
These comments are not accidental. The nativist right wing and the “anti-war” extreme left are on the same side of this issue. They are deliberately using code words, such as “cabal,” that are meant to call up images of wealthy men in yarmulkes and prayer shawls sitting around dividing up the world between them.
This trick has been played on the public for centuries. The disaffected are often quick to look for scapegoats for war and economic malaise. Rulers are happy to give them scapegoats, and for centuries the scapegoats have always been the Jewish people. I’m fearful it may be happening again.
Skeptical? Let’s look at the evidence.
*Most Europeans and many extremists in the United States continue to blame the Jewish state exclusively for the current violence in the Holy Land. Wild stories about Israeli massacres of Palestinians – completely without factual basis – are still bandied about as if they were truth. Critics of Israel love to complain about checkpoints and other Israeli self-defense measures but are completely silent about Palestinian homicide bombers.
*A large percentage – perhaps a majority – of Muslims continues to believe that Sept. 11 was carried out by Jews trying to make Muslims look bad. This conspiracy theory is readily accepted by extremists throughout the world, despite that fact that al Qaeda terrorists have repeatedly and proudly taken credit for the terrorist attack.
*Some ”anti-war” protesters in the United States have recently begun shunning Jewish sympathizers of their cause in an attempt to disassociate themselves from Jews. The “anti-war” movement is increasingly becoming an anti-Israel movement, with anti-Zionist placards as prominent as nonsensical “No Blood for Oil” claims.
*Last year, Jewish peace demonstrators at San Francisco State University were surrounded by Arab and other anti-Jewish demonstrators who said Hitler should have finished the job and killed all Jews.
*The new Palestinian candidate for Prime Minister is a prominent anti-Semite who has published claims that the Holocaust never took place.
These and many other events are part of an alarming pattern. Islamists and extremists worldwide are increasingly buying into a fantasy ideology that is quick to reject reality and instead look for easy answers based on supposedly easy solutions. In this world view, Jews are causing most of the world’s problems. The easy solution, of course, would be to get rid of the Jews, which would be relatively simple because most of them are in Israel and the United States.
U.S. intelligence officials are convinced that Iraq and Iran are intent on getting nuclear weapons so they can strike first at Israel. The thinking, expressed publicly by Iranian mullahs, is that the Muslim world is a clear winner in any nuclear exchange. There are 1 billion Muslims and only about 6 million Jews in Israel. If Iran or Iraq could strike first and wipe out the Jews, they could lose tens of millions of Muslims and still be on the “winning” end of the battle.
I believe Latter-day Saints have a special responsibility to recognize these alarming trends and do our best to combat them. The primary reason, of course, is that Jesus commanded us to love one another, and anti-Semitism is hate speech. But beyond that, the Book of Mormon reminds us that the Jewish people are God’s chosen.
“Oh ye Gentiles, have ye remember the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.” (2 Nephi 29:5)
I believe the gathering of Israel and the founding of the modern Jewish state started because of Joseph Smith, who was given the keys for this purpose. Remember D&C 109:61-62, which says: “But thou knowest that thou has great love for the children of Jacob, who have been scattered upon the mountains for a long time, in a cloudy and dark day. We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem from this hour, may begin to be redeemed.”
It is interesting to note that the political machinations in the Ottoman Empire and Britain which eventually ended with the foundation of the Jewish state in 1948 began in the late 1830s and 1840s, soon after Joseph Smith gave the prayer that is D&C 109. Coincidence?
Must we be reminded that the Book of Mormon was specifically written to help Jews accept their Messiah? We should not forget that our entire eschatology is based on the joining of two promised lands – Israel and America.
Anti-Semitism has alarming parallels to anti-Mormonism. The same arguments that have been used against the Jews throughout the modern era were employed against the Latter-day Saints in the 19th century. We were not Christians; we were clubby and didn’t mix with others; we had strange customs; we used different scriptures than the rest of society; we were led by a “cabal” of plotting leaders, and on and on. These rumors helped justify the actions of the mobs that forced the Saints from Ohio, then Missouri and then Illinois.
Latter-day Saints are enjoying a moment of relative peace and prosperity today, as are many of the world’s Jews. Will it last?
I wonder when I walk through the religion sections of large book store chains and see that the only books available on our church are prominent anti-Mormon tomes. I wonder when I receive e-mails saying that Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping was the result of the Church’s “un-Christian” beliefs. I wonder when I talk to investigators who tell me they have been repeatedly warned not to join the Church because it is a “cult.”
Any Latter-day Saints unsympathetic to Jews should re-read the book of Esther chapter 3 and look at the machinations of Haman, the king’s advisor. Haman whispers cruel things about the Jews -- that they are disloyal to the king and have their own separatist laws -- and tries to have them destroyed in Persia. Purim – which took place on March 18 – celebrates the victory of the Jews over Haman.
The anti-Semitic whispers taking place today have the same character as those of Haman 2500 years ago. Some things never change, and anti-Semitism is one of them.
No. That was Tex Goldstein and "The Texas Jew Boys".
yes, honey, you is!!!!
As a far as Jesse I do pray for him I don't have to like his behavior!
Interesting. An article from the Meridian, a Mormon publication, that says that Mormons aren't Christians.
It takes an astounding incomprehension of the English language to read the paragraph quoted the way you read it. Or are you simply being dishonest? I'm having trouble reading your post in any way which reflects well on you.
And don't try the "I was joking" dodge... That's pure nonsense.
LDS theology?
I've no use for LDS theology, which I consider bizarre. I've even less use for smarmy, dishonest misinterpretation of other peoples' writing. I think wrig knows perfectly well what that paragraph means; to distort its meaning as grossly as (s)he did is despicable.
including all the powers, rights, authorities, and responsibilities accorded therein.
And may God have mercy upon your soul.
Hamburger, anyone?
As part of the conditions of the agreement, the letters on the dreydl, currently in Hebrew, will be replaced by Latin, thus becoming unintelligible to a wider audience. Also, instead of translating "A great miracle happened there," the message on the dreydl will be the more generic "Miraculous stuff happens." In exchange, it is believed that Jews will be allowed to use Santa Claus and his vast merchandising resources for buying and delivering their gifts. In fact, one of the sticking points holding up the agreement for at least three hundred years was the question of whether Jewish children could leave milk and cookies for Santa even after having eaten meat for dinner.
A breakthrough came last year, when Oreos were finally declared to be Kosher. All sides appeared happy about this, although massive down-sizing is expected, with lords-a-leaping, maids-a-milking and elves being the hardest hit.
He then closed the press conference by leading all present in a rousing rendition of "Oy, Come All Ye Faithful."
That's basic English Composition 101. If you can't understand it, that's not my problem. Nor is it the author's. It does, however, offer some guidance as to the credibility of anything else you have to say.
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