Krauthammer: "Gibson's Blood Libel"

Washington Post ^ | Mar. 5, 04 | Charles Krauthammer

[churchillbuff]

Gibson's Blood Libel

By Charles Krauthammer Friday, March 5, 2004; Page A23

Every people has its story. Every people has the right to its story. And every people has a responsibility for its story. ...[snip]

Christians have their story too: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Why is this story different from other stories? Because it is not a family affair of coreligionists. If it were, few people outside the circle of believers would be concerned about it. This particular story involves other people. With the notable exception of a few Romans, these people are Jews. And in the story, they come off rather badly.

Because of that peculiarity, the crucifixion is not just a story; it is a story with its own story -- a history of centuries of relentless, and at times savage, persecution of Jews in Christian lands. This history is what moved Vatican II, in a noble act of theological reflection, to decree in 1965 that the Passion of Christ should henceforth be understood with great care so as to unteach the lesson that had been taught for almost two millennia: that the Jews were Christ killers.

[mercy]

***Christ was not all about meekness at all.***

Oh yes he was and I can quote scripture all night long to prove it. You will not win a single convert with wrath and affrontery. I'm no whim. In fact I'm an irrascible sob but that's just me. The Power of the Gospel is Christ crucified and resurrected. Not pushy preaching. Not overly bloody movies.

[stands2reason]

So the blood of the Jews killed in the Holocaust be on Christians and their children?

[LdSentinal]

Did Schindler's List create massive hatred for the Germans? Did Pearl Harbor do the same for the Japanese?

Jews have more to fear from militant Muslims than they do from the patrons of this movie.

[Sabertooth]

Because Jews are frightened by this film because every earlier portrayal just like has wrought slaugher of Jews,

That's just a bold, anti-Christian lie.

There have been many films of Jesus' Crucifixion. Can you list the pogroms they've caused?

Jews are not denouncing Christians.

As a group, no. You are.

Are you aware that the movie has a line that says that Jews will forever have the blood of Jesus on them and that it has a character call for the eternal punishment of the Jews and that Gibson agreed not to have the line translated in its showings in the U.S.?

You still haven't sourced this lie, either.

[drlevy88]

Millions of Christians, and secularists, and others died in WW II - about 60 million total at least.

YES - the counts of concentration camp victims is not the whole story. Immense amounts of blood was spilled to stop the Nazi menace that gave rise to the camps.

[mercy]

I blame myself. The rest of you are just an illusion or a dream for all I know.

The fact that you are wholly unwilling to empathise with sensible and feeling jewish human beings is not christian.

[Al Simmons]

"The Power of the Gospel is Christ crucified and resurrected. Not pushy preaching. Not overly bloody movies."

I think you are missing the point. Gibson made this film, I believe, in order to shock Christians into reevaluating their beliefs and whether they are truly following Christ - by showing us the REALITY of what Christ WILLINGLY accepted for my sin, and yours, and the world's.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Jews share your love of country and are likewise fighting and dying in Iraq. They have fought in ever U.S. war going back to the Revolutionary War. This year, 2004, is the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in North America. How dare you suggest that the brave military is only Christian.

[hellinahandcart]

Are you aware that the movie has a line that says that Jews will forever have the blood of Jesus on them and that it has a character call for the eternal punishment of the Jews and that Gibson agreed not to have the line translated in its showings in the U.S.?

He said it again, and we both asked about it. Maybe he just wants to keep repeating it?

[mercy]

I'm sorry but you are being calous. If Krauthammer can't make you see it I guess nobody can.

[wardaddy]

I'm not trying to convert you.

You have your own free will.

I think you have chosen the wrong side in this debate but that's your choice.


I personally am ecstatic about those lined up on my side of this issue...it's wonderful langiappe since I liked the movie anyhow and to be honest, I'm enjoying seeing my foes in the culture war squeal a bit...it's about time in my view.

Not too meek of me I fear.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"Most people seem to be saying that they came out with a new understanding of what Jesus sacrificed for them. "

Well how strange because it is all right there in the bible. What a disadvantage we all were at until Mel Gibson made a gory, bloody movie that upset half the Jews in America. Why he's practically the fifth evangelist and not only that he is sub-saviour of the Christian conservative movement or something. Of course he could have made it a bit less gruesome and sensational but then maybe nobody would have gone to see it.

[ambrose]

I think that even a lot of people who came out of it claiming to have had a spiritual experience missed it.

The message I got was of love and sacrifice. I am amazed that some people take away anger and recriminations as the film's message.

[Texasforever]

This is the very first thread that has turned into a flame war on this subject that I have seen. Why now?

[mercy]

It would have been if the Japs had not brought us into the war. We should have gone after Hitler in '39. Fact is we didn't care what Hitler was doing to the Jews. Roosevelt sent a whole boatload of Jews back to die.

[stands2reason]

I think you'll really get your point across if you whine some more.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

The source of the information about the line which calls for punishing Jews down through history is two respected univesity professors of religion I heard in person earlier this week at a community lecture about the history and religions of the first century. This professors were the ones who expresssed their great concern about whether the line will appear in other countries when the film is shown there.

[wardaddy]

There have been others.

[mercy]

I hope you are right. I have serries doubts.

[stands2reason]

This is the very first thread that has turned into a flame war on this subject that I have seen.

Are you kidding me? You apparently can't see the scorch marks on Qwinn's derriere.