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.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Who is it that is attacking Jews in Europe?

[Finalapproach29er]

I didn't say ALL Jews.

Read again carefully. I said its mostly liberal Jews and that's what I've witnessed.

I don't think all rank & file Jews are bigots. I'm sure some are tolerant. But its far fewer than I expected. Even Krauthammer, to my disappointment, is showing his true colors.

How dare any of these media cranks lecture me again on the subject of tolorance.

[wardaddy]

You are right. It's not pretty but largely true.

This little dust up was inevitable. The large secular leftist Jewish presence in the media and movieland are not used to being challenged.

[mercy]

Your bold type is what I believe in MY heart and it is what I have tried to tell my wife. Well, I was off the mark. I did not work very hard to see it from her perspective. Mel could have been more true to the Gospels by being more clear about exactly who killed Christ. It was a corrupt jewish leadership (and only part) and a rent a mob. He should have gone out of his way, in this horrible time we live in where anti-semitism is in danger of exploding, to make this clear. It's not clear. It's clear to you because your have read the Book. Get it?

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"There are a few FReepers here that are strongly advocating that Jewish suffering since AD33 is reason enough to eschew this film. "

I proudly stand among those ranks.

"For perspective, I would like to point out that Jewish tribulations, persecutions, blood feuds and whatnot did not being with Christ but are a part of Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish history from the getgo and have been foretold by the prophets."

Oh well that settles it. Christian persecution of the Jews is just us being the agents of God's plan. Please!!

[LdSentinal]

Antisemitism is now rampant in Europe and it is being largely covered up. The Jews have real reason to fear the effects of this movie.

Anti-semitism in Europe is now rampant? Anti-semitism in Europe has ALWAYS been rampant in Europe for centuries.

What came before? The Holocaust or The Passion? Europe does not need this movie to become even more anti-semetic. That's like saying Michael Jackson getting another nose job will mess up his face.

But it seems empathy or even any modicum of consideration for their feelings are too much to ask form arch-conservatives.

Question: who do you fear more? Arch-conservatives or Al-Queda?

[stands2reason]

Antisemitism is now rampant in Europe and it is being largely covered up.

By Muslims. Who don't believe "the Jews killed Christ" anyway.

[Ronzo]

Excellent synopsis...shame some can't see it.

Thanks wardaddy. It seems as if an unintended consequence of this film is Jews having to come to grips with their hostility towards Christianity. Certainly bad, evil things have been done to the Jews in the name of Church, but far more evil has been done to them in the name of politics, especially Fascism and Communism. And Christians have to take a distant back seat to Islam in terms of the most heated and ugly anti-semitism that has ever existed coming from another religious group.

It should also be pointed out that the best friends the Jews have ever had are Christians, especially American Christians. The record of American Christian support for Jews and Israel is unequaled in the history of planet earth. To think we are going to scrap all that and start killing Jews because we see the gospels in the form of a film is completely irrational and unsupportable.

[Sabertooth]

Antisemitism is now rampant in Europe and it is being largely covered up. The Jews have real reason to fear the effects of this movie. But it seems empathy or even any modicum of consideration for their feelings are too much to ask form arch-conservatives.

Modern anti-Semitism in Europe is primarily Muslim.

Is it your contention that a film in which a Crucified Christ defeats Satan in hell, is Resurrected, and walks from the tomb, is going to inspire Muslims to perpetrate violence against Jews?

[mercy]

Who's covering it up?

[wardaddy]

Have you considered converting?

I mean you are demonstrating an identification with your perception of Jewish pain which in my view goes beyond normal empathy. You seem paralyzed by it and ready to blanketly condemn 2 millenia of Christian history in the process.

[stands2reason]

Yeah since when do non-Chrisitans get to have an opinion about anything?

Not "anything", the Bible. Do try to keep up.

[stands2reason]

You seem to imply the opposite of "pro-Christian" is "non-Christian."

You couldn't be more wrong.

[Texasforever]

Spot on.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Mel could have been more true to the Gospels by being more clear about exactly who killed Christ. It was a corrupt jewish leadership (and only part) and a rent a mob. He should have gone out of his way, in this horrible time we live in where anti-semitism is in danger of exploding, to make this clear. It's not clear. It's clear to you because your have read the Book. Get it?

You see Jews and Romans in the movie. I see people. That is "exactly who killed Christ". People.

People.

For that matter, it is made crystal clear in the movie that Christ lays his own life down, and that he forgives those who condemn and torture him. He acknowledges that they are unaware of what they are doing.

How much more clear could he be about that?

It is well-known that Gibson nailed the spike with his own hand. To my knowledge, Mel Gibson is not a Jew. Get it?

The problem is not Mel. It's people who are so focused on themselves that they refuse to see what is really there.

[wardaddy]

That is not what I said. I stated that the Old Covenant is chock full of Jewish suffering and often it is the result of the Israelites not carrying out God's wishes.

I do however appluad your honesty.

Your problem with the film is based purely on your identification with Judaism and it's suffering. That's fine.

Good Luck.

Christians like me will identify positively with the film since to us it follows the Gospels quite closely and we are not in the mood to change that.

[Sabertooth]

I did not work very hard to see it from her perspective.

You're certainly overcompensating for it now.

Your wife's perspective is of one who is tryinbg overhard to take offense where none is intended.

Mel could have been more true to the Gospels by being more clear about exactly who killed Christ. It was a corrupt jewish leadership (and only part) and a rent a mob. He should have gone out of his way, in this horrible time we live in where anti-semitism is in danger of exploding, to make this clear.

Again: make your own movie.

Again: Gibson showed that not all Jews wanted Jesus dead.

Again: Gibson's own hands nailed Christ to the Cross.

Get it?

[mercy]

You are the third, I think, here to take this very limited view. Who is covering up the antisemitism. Surely you have read how the assults on old Jews are called muggings or robberies.

Even more to the point: Which is the great evil? Muslim scum in the streets of Europe or whole nations doing just about everything they can to destroy Israel?

Antisemitism is exploding and it is the inteligentsia of Europe who are the real enemy. The islamonazis in their streets are their fools.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

How about an answer?

[stands2reason]

Why be a Christian if you're ashamed of Christianity?