Salon: "Mel Gibson: Arab world Messiah" (baarf alert)

Salon ^ | April 5, 04 | Michelle Goldberg

[churchillbuff]

Mel Gibson: Arab world messiah "The Passion" sells out theaters, spreads through $1 bootlegs, and fuels more claims of Jewish villainy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - By Michelle Goldberg

April 6, 2004 | AMMAN, Jordan -- Mel Gibson's "The Passion" has been playing on four screens at the Mecca Mall here for nearly three weeks, but the front desk employee at my hotel still suggested that I get to the theater an hour early to buy tickets for a Sunday evening show. She had seen it the night before in a sold-out theater and pronounced it "really amazing."

"Muslims are going to see it much more than Christians," she said, "because they want to see the truth of how Jesus was tortured by the Jews."

Throughout the Middle East, Muslims and Christians alike are flocking to "The Passion," making the movie a phenomenon to rival "Titanic." Many are driven by simple curiosity, their interests piqued by the controversy surrounding the film. As in America, some people are leaving theaters disgusted by Gibson's Grand Guignol sadism.

Many more, though, are leaving theaters believing that Jewish villainy is confirmed by the gospels. - - - - - - - - - - - -

[churchillbuff]

Michelle doesn't like Christianity, and she hates Mel for putting Gospel stories on film without mockery such as in "Last Temptation."

But remember, it's not just "liberals" like Salon writers who put out this bigotry. Krauthammer, Safire, ,Sullivan and other fair-weather "conservatives" showed their true stripes when they blasted "The Passion" -- and, by implication, the Gospels.

The idea that Moslems derive their antisemitism from the Gospels has so many holes: 1) They don't even allow New Testaments to be brought into their countries; 2) They don't believe Jesus is God - or that he was crucified or resurrected. What they HAVE been told -- by bigots like Michelle, and Krauthammer and Safire -- is that Mel's movie is antisemitic, so they've allowed it to be shown. The fact it ISN'T antisemitic doesn't matter to these Islamists, because they know they can annoy the movie annoys anti-christian neo-conservatives, which is, for these Muslims, probably almost as fun as watching something that really IS antisemitic.

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[hole_n_one]

Salon ain't on FR's excerpt list.

That's not to suggest that anybody should ever post anything from that cesspool of a site.

[per loin]

I suspect that many Islamics going to see the movie are going to begin to have second thoughts about living for hate. The message of the Christ is a powerful one.

[John Jorsett]

Well, the Arab world also loves Blackhawk Down. Bin Laden reportedly handed it out as training material to his fellow terrorists. Is anybody giving director Ridley Scott a hard time? I don't think so ...

[GeronL]

Islam denies Christ is messiah or that he was crucified.

[GeronL]

Krauthammer isn't he jewish?, Safire,a RINO jew? ,Sullivan gay

These people have no reason to support the film or the bible do they?

[evolved_rage]

Many more, though, are leaving theaters believing that Jewish villainy is confirmed by the gospels.

Hitler is rolling in his grave, cursing his fate, at not having been born a Muslim.

Muslim dilemma: reading Mein Kampf before or after raping a goat.

[GeronL]

Salon is still in business??

[canalabamian]

"Salon ain't on FR's excerpt list."

Index finger pushing glasses back up to the bridge of the nose. ;)

[WOSG]

That is my take.

This is a WONDERFUL way to show Muslims that the Quran aint the only 'holy story' out there. And that their story conflicts with the accounts of the witnesses to Christ.

There is another story that is far far better.

[GeronL]

but will they listen?

[GeronL]

but will they listen?

[Dajjal]

Passion bump

[weegee]

Obligatory Salon stock deathwatch:

15 cents. Jann Wener's January buy in has shown itself to be a hollow financial boost. It helps the day to day operating expenses of this antiBush campaign site but the website will never be a force in the marketplace.

[weegie]

You point 1) is untrue. Some dont, Most do

[Cronos]

They don't even allow New Testaments to be brought into their countries;

Saudi A and Kuwait don't allow the Gospel to be brought into the country and they don't allow crucifixes to be worn or churchs to be built. Iran and Syria and Egypt DO allow the Gospel to be brought in, surprisingly, in Iran there are a few (< 1%) Christians dating from apostolic times (mostly Nestorians but some Eastern Syriac churchs) and in syria 10% of the population is Christian. In Lebanon, 30% (earlier 50%) are Christian, in Egypt, 6%, Turkey, our "ally" has 0.2% Christians (down from 20% in 1918, but then millions were killed or exiled in the Armenian genocide.)

[churchillbuff]

Obligatory Salon stock deathwatch:

Thanks. You put things ini perspective. I was getting hot under the collar about an article on a loser website. A waster of my time, energy and emotion.

[churchillbuff]

You point 1) is untrue. Some dont, Most do

I had Saudi Arabia in mind. I have a friend whose luggage was checked for bibles among other things.