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.

[Mamzelle]

They can try, but it won't work. Look at all Hillary can say and do and still get to be Senator from NY. To quote someone from another forum (the one you linked to), the dems could nominate Mengele and keep the votes of the liberal Jews. Besides, now the dems have Gibson as their bete noir, and "Even Safire and Kraut" say Gibson's an antisemite.

(;+}>

[SJackson]

Why don't you leave these matters to the professionals in the GOP. They get paid for their work in politics, they don't just blow smoke at posting forums. To quote President Bush, it's better left up the uniters, not the dividers.

Because Bush, Cheney Rumsfeld et al are a bunch of dumb *ss Christians being manipulated by the neocon Jews. We didn't have threads like these to expose the truth.

Of course GWB will ignore Freepers, and likely get reelected. And freepers will have four more years to *itch about neocons.

Here's hoping he doesn't put a Jew in the cabinet.

[rbmillerjr]

"Why do you suppose we waited as long as we did to enter the European war? Why did Roosevelt send a shipload of Jews back to the gas chambers before we entered the war?"

Oh Mercy, why don't you tie it all together for me.

[SJackson]

They can try, but it won't work. Look at all Hillary can say and do and still get to be Senator from NY.

Hillary got a lower percentage of the Jewish vote than here statewide total. I don't see it as a religious issue, but if it is, Christians elected her.

[veronica]

They can try, but it won't work.

Nattering nabob of negativity....;)

[Mamzelle]

re: Hillary got a lower percentage of the Jewish vote than her statewide total.)))

Really? What about NYC? I wouldn't have thought she could have been elected without the city. Frankly, I suspected that she stole it.

[XJarhead]

I am Jewish, and yet I am still alive after "The Passion" has been out for a week. Seems like my "leaders" have lied to me.

I hadn't thought of that. What is going to be the response when the predicted wave of anti-semitism never happens?

Times have changed a LOT. In this country, stereotyping of any kind has taken a pretty huge beating. If you're ignorant enough to blame today's Jews for what certain jewish religious leaders did 2000 years ago, I don't think a movie is going to make a lick of difference. Heck, there are people who don't even know that Jesus was of jewish ethnicity, and at least the movie will educate those folks.

I honestly think that if there is any antisemitism that comes out of this, it will be as a result of a backlash rather than due to the movie itself. That's really, really unfortunate, because antisemitism, for whatever reason, is a terrible thing.

[ambrose]

Sir, the "vitriol" is coming from a columnist who accuses Gibson of hideousness, with a title about "blood libel." People are talking back to this bigoted columnist and apparently you'd prefer they weren't

Actually, it seemed that some were directing their comments at the Juden in general, not just Kraut.

Perhaps I should go into an anti-Catholic diatribe every time Ted Kennedy opens his trap?

[mercy]

Welcome to the ____hole. I think there are about six of us on all of FR. I commend you on that swandive. Stupendous. I would like only to add the word 'misinterpreted' as a qualifier to your 'christian'.

Those here who hold that Hitler alone is responsible for the holocaust are very wrong. He may have been the orchestrator but he had plenty of musicians to play with and a largely uncritical audience.

[Mamzelle]

re: Here's hoping he doesn't put a Jew in the cabinet.)))

If he makes enough noise, I promise to let him out.

what a posture of martyrdom! sheesh!

[af_vet_1981]

Shall we go to King Jehu and his story.

I see it more as Eliyahu's and Elisha's story but nonetheless:

• And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
• And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
• And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
• And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
• Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

• Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
• And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
• And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
• And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
• And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

The lesson is, whatever our adversaries (and they are many) throw at us, G-d is sufficient. He will provide. And in keeping with Purim that is almost upon us :

• Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
• For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

[mercy]

Maybe not a link with enlightened true christianity. That would be you and a few hundred others down thru history.

But European/Catholic Christianity has been killing Jews for centuries.

[Servant of the 9]

Every faith (and I'm including atheism and agnosticism as "faiths") believes it is the one that has it right. If they didn't think they had it right, why would they belong to that faith?

True, but only Judaism, Christianity and Islam have ever believed in killing or forcibly converting the non-believer.
Every other religion I know of has been satisfied with looking down on non-believers.

So9

[af_vet_1981]

The description is accurate.

I see do not keep the commandment and no civil discourse is possible with you. Let this be the end of our conversation.

[Just mythoughts]

Well lets not stop there IIKings 9 tells the story I pointed to.

Got to be careful who you allow up in your chariot.

[veronica]

Because Bush, Cheney Rumsfeld et al are a bunch of dumb *ss Christians being manipulated by the neocon Jews.

So they say. At LF.

[Sabertooth]

I see do not keep the commandment and no civil discourse is possible with you. Let this be the end of our conversation.

I have no problem with that, assuming your bigoted, anti-Christian posts are also at an end.

If you continue to insinuate anti-Semitism where it does not exist, you will have chosen to continue the conversation.

[DentsRun]

"In this movie the only good Jews are Christians already."

I didn't get that impression when I saw the movie last night. The only Jews who were clearly Christian were the disciples and the two Marys. But there were plenty of others (such as Simon who helped carry the cross and some of the high priests who were appalled at the kangeroo court, or people in the crowd who called the proceedings a "travesty") who came across to me as ordinary Jews who just didn't like what was going on.

I will say this though. People on this board have often said the Roman soldiers were portrayed just as bad as the high priests so what's the problem? To me the Roman soldiers came across as merely brutal and stupid. But the high priests were manipulative, deceitful and shameless in their hypocrisy (as when they tell Pilate "We have no king but Caesar.") Pilate was portayed as an honest (but weak) man trying to keep peace in the country (and thereby save his job). The high priests on the other hand were cynically throwing one charge after another at Jesus in hopes of finding one that would stick. I don't know if the high priests deserved to be portrayed as worse than the Romans but in this film they clearly were.

[rbmillerjr]

"European/Catholic Christianity has been killing Jews for centuries."

Christianity has not killed a single Jew but for Jesus Christ himself. It was a voluntary sacrifice.

Now yes, some Europeans have killed Jews and some Catholics have killed jews. Also, some Europeans have killed Europeans and some Jews have killed Christians.

[juzcuz]

"But European/Catholic Christianity has been killing Jews for centuries."

-----
Euro-Catholic Christianity killed CHRISTIANS for centuries.
Don't forget the inquisition against Protestants or anyone who challenged the Religious Powers that be.

The Problem is the LUST for POWER and dominance no matter the cloak of religion. Jesus came to draw all men unto Himself and thereby challenged all worldly systems. He was sent to enlighten us and free US in HIM.