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.

[GraniteStateConservative]

So, Gibson should have cast a bunch of Japanese actors? We're talking about the movie here.

[7thson]

There was a made for television movie concerning Jesus that was on the air about five or six years ago. It was a two nighter job. In the tv movie, Satan comes to Jesus to tempt him in the desert. I thought it was a rather unique interpretation - while Jesus is in the clothes of his time, Satan appears in modern dress. All in black, kinda beefy but not too overweight, hair slicked back, Germanic features. The actor who played Satan portrayed him as one almost bored with what he is doing, that the temptation of Christ is no big deal. The reason I brought this up, is that Satan again appears in the Garden just before Jesus is turned over to the Romans. Also, there was a claymation-animated story of Jesus that hit the air around the same time. This also has Satan in the Garden with Jesus.

My question, if this is not in Scriptures than where did everyone get this idea that Satan appeared with Jesus in the Garden?

[7thson]

You are correct. Jesus predicted that his presence would not bring people together but divide people, families, and nations. That it has done.

[dennisw]

You and I get but who else does?

[dennisw]

These are the same folk who freak out about evangelizing and missions to Jews here and elsewhere.

Jews don't proselytize Christians and in turn wish Christians not proselytize them. Christians far outnumber Jews so you think you are right to proselytize. If tables were turned and Jews were 90% of the population you would squawk as Jews tried to poach from a 5% Christian minority.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Jews don't proselytize Christians and in turn wish Christians not proselytize them. Christians far outnumber Jews so you think you are right to proselytize. If tables were turned and Jews were 90% of the population you would squawk as Jews tried to poach from a 5% Christian minority.

Yeah, like I said: These are the same folk who freak out about evangelizing and missions to Jews here and elsewhere.

[ultima ratio]

Make your own movie. Trash your own religion. Your anti-Christian bigotry is self-evident.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I wonder if Chuck knows about the Warsaw Ghetto episode and Hitler's 1938 disarmament laws for the "Juden". How can Jews be for handgun control? I just can't wrap my brain around it.

[GraniteStateConservative]

What do they say about those who ignore history? Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer should be the strongest supporters of gun ownership if they had any brains in their heads.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I suspect Kraut is merely unnecessarily fearful (about a backlash against Jews as a result of people viewing this film) rather than a bigot. .....And his fear is clouding his capacity to reason.

Like the jewish part of the "God Squad"-- Marc Gellman-- who said that Christians have to realize that parts of their story are dangerous? They need to stop looking for boogieman under their beds and worry about real threats to their universal desire for liberty from socialists in DC.

[ultima ratio]

How does Christian-Jewish conflict "lay the groundwork" for the Holocaust? This is the sheerest bigotry. It is a lie. There is absolutely no linkage. There were religious frictions which are common to all people everywhere. The Jews are no less hostile to Arabs than Christians were to Jews. But they do not commit genocide. The Holocaust was sui generis--and it is a libel against Christianity to say otherwise.

[GraniteStateConservative]

You can love them and tell them they are idiots at the same time. I love my sister-in-law as much as if we shared blood. She's family. She's also an over-the-top liberal, and, consequently, an idiot.

[Unicorn]

Sounds like Krauthammer has been in the scotch.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ultimately, a civilized society must disarm its citizenry

I'm sure that's a quote from The Despot's Handbook. Pathetic.

[Mamzelle]

bookmark--

1) Cannot avoid this stunning disconnect, or the very curious fact of how even conservative Jews are reacting here to what is a very personal religious statement, based on an individual interpretation of Gospel scripture.

2) I cannot avoid the conclusion that the likes of Charen, Kraut--and Foxman and Heir (Weisenthal) are arrogant--they are assuming an authority here to tell people how they can worship in public in America. This is truly breathtaking.

2a) Christians are supposed to be reduced to trembling intimidation by the implied threat of being called "antisemite." Hah, and once you've blown that ammo, what's left?

3) These neocon Jews are all warhawks--and I'll bet few to none of these urbanites actually know soldiers. Soldiering is something for those icky rural Southern Baptists (who aren't allowed to write for the National Review.) More arrogance. Die for Israel, but don't talk about why Israel is important for Christians. Don't risk offending me, bubulah, but tote that gun.

What an eye-opener.

[veronica]

Ah yes. The attacks on any Jew who does not like this movie continues.

I saw Father Andrew Greeley on TV last night. He did not like the film at all. But you people do not attack him relentlessly, do you?

These neocon Jews are all warhawks--and I'll bet few to none of these urbanites actually know soldiers. Soldiering is something for those icky rural Southern Baptists (who aren't allowed to write for the National Review.) More arrogance. Die for Israel, but don't talk about why Israel is important for Christians. Don't risk offending me, bubulah, but tote that gun.

How dare you smear good people in this manner. Just because they disagree with you.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Germans summarily executed my uncle in 1941 because he was a Serb (along with 6000 other men women and children on the same day).

I do not hate today's Germans for what those Germans did 63 years ago.

I guess the difference is that Germans generally agree what they did was a mistake in hindsight. Only if Jews generally view that what the high priests did wasn't, can they be offended by this movie and by the Gospels.

[Outraged]

The Christians in Germany, Catholic and Protestant did not do a damn thing to try and stop Hitler.

Nor did the Jews...But guess who came running in to the rescue?...Need a hint?...Young predominantly Christian men who laid down their lives and freed the world of Fascist socialism and tyranny.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Your own intolerance is showing. You seem to be studying in the Buchanan-Sobran school of history and rhetoric.

You left out George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, etc. in your school of history membership list...

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connections as possible. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world." -- a right-wing crazy, 1796.

[Mamzelle]

I guess I'll dare what I please to dare--it's a whole lot more fun than sidling around dropping little hints.

Greeley is an ultrarich liberal Hollywood artsy fartsy whose Catholicism is a very different thing from Gibson's. I wouldn't be surprised to hear him posture with the leftwingers. I am surprised to see so many conservative Jews join up with Greeley against what is turning out to be a successful expression of one man's reading of the Gospels.