Calif. Rabbi Says 'Passion' Already Fueling Hatred

Reuters ^ | Tue, Aug 12, 2003

[presidio9]

Mel Gibson (news)'s new film "The Passion" has already unleashed a wave of anti-Semitism in the United States despite the fact that it won't be released for months, a Jewish leader said on Tuesday.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, told Reuters the Jewish human rights organization had received dozens of hate calls and letters prompted by a handful of private screenings and advance publicity about the movie.

"The Passion," is Gibson's depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and events leading up to it. It has raised concern that it might portray Jews as collectively guilty for Christ's death. The film is not scheduled for general release until early next year.

Representatives of the Anti-Defamation League saw the movie in a private screening and the League said on Monday that if it was released in its present form it could "fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."

"The Passion" was shot in Italy and contains dialogue only in Latin and Aramaic. Gibson, a traditionalist Roman Catholic who directed and co-wrote the film, has denied intending to fuel anti-Semitism.

"Mel's interest is just the opposite, as he has stated previously, that this film is about love, hope, faith and forgiveness," Gibson's publicist, Alan Nierob, told the entertainment trade paper Hollywood Reporter this week.

But Hier said the bigotry had already started, and that the Simon Wiesenthal Center had received hate mail from people who had seen or heard about the movie, and who accused Jews of killing God's son, praised Adolf Hitler and made veiled threats against the center and Jews collectively.

"Are there any manifestations of hate so far? The answer is an unequivocal yes," Hier said. "We have had hate mail in the past ... But never in spurts like this."

Hier cited one writer who praised Hitler as "much kinder to the Jews than I would have been," and signed his letter "a very concerned American, name withheld for fear of retaliation by you Jewish scumbags."

[AppyPappy]

Yeah, right.

[Smogger]

But Hier said the bigotry had already started, and that the Simon Wiesenthal Center had received hate mail from people who had seen or heard about the movie, and who accused Jews of killing God's son, praised Adolf Hitler and made veiled threats against the center and Jews collectively.

Liars. Hardly anyone has seen that movie. This is really starting to piss me off, but I am trying to remain Christian about it ;-)

[MEG33]

Idiots exist.

[My2Cents]

Well, Jesus himself told his disciples, "If the world hates you, it's because they hated me first."

[DB]

Duh...

Go around screaming your a victim of something that is clearly not the case (Mel's movie) and yes, you make people angry at you...

[bedolido]

yeah... I stopped buying bagels to boycott the jewish community (but still won't give up my Kishka and Knish)... I also considered boycotting gold, frankensence and murrrrrr, but I can't aford anything gold and have no idea what frankensence and murrrrrr is or are. Maybe I'll just boycott boycotting stuff for awhile.

[HiTech RedNeck]

There's always a few nuts in the bowl.

[Alberta's Child]

This is getting so absurd that it has become comical. As if anyone would be motivated to even spend 37 cents on the stamp to send hate mail to the Simon Wiesenthal Center just because of what they've seen or heard of "The Passion."

[Agnes Heep]

My sentiments exactly. If only a tiny fraction of a fraction of a percent try to get a rise out of the rest of us by behaving in an untoward fashion we'll be up to our eyeballs in them. It signifies very little.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

This is a backdoor attempt to silence free speech.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, told Reuters the Jewish human rights organization had received dozens of hate calls... "

This rabbi may have a point. I hate him already and i haven't seen the movie. Anybody have his number???

[Petronski]

It is certainly spurring hatred of leftist political groups who want to disrupt or destroy this beautiful film and its message.

Just as the Pharisees (not ALL Jews) schemed to have Christ crucified, so to does ADL struggle to destroy this film and its message.

But their motive is not religious, either. It is anti-religious. The film is an effective telling of an inspirational religious chronology, and must therefore be snuffed out.

[wideawake]

"Are there any manifestations of hate so far? The answer is an unequivocal yes," Hier said. "We have had hate mail in the past ... But never in spurts like this."

Maybe you've never had publicity like this before, Marvin.

I've seen your name in a hundred articles lately as you prostitute yourself for the press - does it really surprise you that the crazies have come out of the woodwork against you when you have that kind of media exposure?

Your fifteen minutes will be up next Easter when The Passion has been out for six weeks and no pogroms have materialized.

Try reading The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Marvin.

[My2Cents]

Absolutely correct. Your comment makes me wonder if the Simon Wiesenthal Center is sending itself hate mail in order to draw publicity to itself that it's a leading anti-defamation organization.

[presidio9]

also considered boycotting gold, frankensence and murrrrrr, but I can't aford anything gold and have no idea what frankensence and murrrrrr is or are.

Reminds me of the opening scene from Life of Brian:

Mandy Cohen (Brian's mother): Er, well, um, if you're dropping by again, do pop in. Heh. And thanks a lot for the gold and frankincense, er, but don't worry too much about the myrrh next time....

[HiTech RedNeck]

Not to accuse the good folk of the ADL of it, no no no certainly not, but there have been cases on college campuses where someone forged threatening letters to herself in order to get political sympathy.

I wonder how vigorously the ADL is asking that this "hate mail" be investigated. If it is "hate mail" at all and not your garden variety angry criticism.

[Winfield]

Does this mean that we can no longer show movies and documentaries about the holocaust.......because people might start spewing hatred for the Germans?? Puleez! If people are so stupid as to blame "all Jews" for the crucifixion, then just maybe this movie will help educate them. From what I understand, the movie strictly follows scripture.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Even with overwhelming support from Christians in their war with the Palestinians and with unprecedented outreach by Christians to Jews, elements in their community continue to HATE Christians.

Some things will not change. Good thing the ADL doesn't have any tanks...

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

it could "fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."

I suppose that under chaos theory practically anything can cause practically anything else that happens long afterward.

If it comes to that, gratuitously criticizing Christians who aren't even trying to offend anyone could do the same thing.