Posted on 02/10/2005 7:02:09 AM PST by malakhi
This week's nominations for the film industry's Oscars for the best movies of the year 2004 provided a sigh of relief to some, as it stoked the conspiracy theories harbored by others.
Nearly a year after Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" launched 1,000 commentaries, the 77th Academy Awards ceremony closes the parenthesis on this remarkable cultural phenomenon.
As much as critics blasted it -- while others condemned it for incitement of anti-Semitism -- "The Passion" turned into the surprise blockbuster of the year. As such, its popularity was widely considered a slap in the face to the liberal media/culture establishment.
So while some feared that an Oscar for Gibson or the film would revive the controversy, the unsurprising refusal of the same Hollywood elite that despised the film to honor it will cause the argument to be revisited anyway.
Let us waste no more ink debating the merits of this thoroughly bad film. But I am still interested in the way this story pushes buttons and illustrates the way some Jews look at the world.
Case in point is the way two people have hung on to the controversy and done their best to keep it alive.
They are the Anti-Defamation League's national director, Abe Foxman, and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a Seattle-based talk-radio host and the head of a small conservative group called Toward Tradition.
Foxman led the charge against the film and its seeming reaffirmation of the myth that placed the responsibility for the death of the Christian messiah on the Jews. He also took the lion's share of blame from those who believed that Gibson used critics to hype a small film into a mega-hit.
Foxman's still smarting from that charge.
He responded in a recent Jerusalem Post opinion piece that restated his reasons for protest and his fears that those who see it in the future will be exposed to "the film's vile notions of Jews."
Blame it on Barbra
On the other end of the spectrum is Lapin, a marginal figure among Jews but someone who enjoys some notoriety among evangelicals who flocked to see the movie. At the time that most other Jews were following Foxman's lead, Lapin was part of Gibson's cheering section.
But rather than merely gloat about Foxman's discomfort, Lapin is attempting to use the "Passion" anniversary to refloat one of his own ideas. He doesn't think the real cause for anti-Semitism lies in the age-old canards that Foxman and others have sought to debunk. For the South African-born rabbi, the cause of hatred for the Jews can be found in the behavior of actors Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand.
What has this famous Jewish duo done?
The answer is that they made a movie that the right-wing rabbi considered far worse than Gibson's.
For Lapin, the Streisand-Hoffman appearance in the regrettable "Meet the Fockers" wasn't merely an exercise in bad taste. For him, it was a defamation of American Jewry.
In the film -- the sequel to the extremely popular "Meet the Parents" -- Streisand and Hoffman portray the oversexed and eccentric Jewish parents of a character played by actor Ben Stiller, a dorky Jewish male nurse who's marrying a gentile goddess. The conceit of the piece lies in a visit by the girl's uptight parents to Miami, home of their Jewish hippy in-laws. Comic complications ensue, some of which deal with the stereotyped connections of the Jewish couple to Judaism.
But rather than dismiss this as cinematic nonsense, Lapin, in a piece widely distributed by his organization, considers it a prime example of how Jews are destroying American morals.
"You'd have to be a recent immigrant from Outer Mongolia not to know of the role that people with Jewish names play in the coarsening of our culture," fulminates Lapin. "Almost every American knows this. It is just that most gentiles are too polite to mention it."
Was Hitler right?
Acknowledging that any ordinary reader would be shocked at such a statement, Lapin remains undaunted, and goes even further with a quote from Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. Lapin observes that "that evil megalomaniac roused his nation" not through use of the deicide myth, but by noting the Jewish influence in German cultural life.
"It does not excuse Hitler or his Nazi thugs for us to acknowledge that this maniacal, master propagandist focused on a reality that resonated with the educated, and cultured Germans of his day," writes Lapin.
In other words, according to Lapin, avant-garde Jewish artists "linked Jews and deviant sexuality" in the German imagination, and so set the stage for the Shoah. He sees American Jews as similarly responsible for our country's "cultural decline" -- something that "angers more Americans than the crucifixion."
Lapin is right that some Jews on the left have been all too quick to wrongly stigmatize Christian conservatives as anti-Semites when, in fact, many are ardent supporters of Israel.
He's also right when he condemns the decline of public morality. But who but an anti-Semite or a Jew who hates liberals more than he despises Jew-haters would place the blame for this solely on the Jews?
Blaming liberals for anti-Semitism is as vile as blaming it on Jewish actors.
When Lapin claims that actors who spoof Jewish secularism are practicing anti-Semitism while at the same time rationalizing those who would single out "the Jews" as the destroyers of American decency, the rabbi has crossed the boundary from irresponsible commentary to fomenting hatred of his own people.
Out of all the loopy things that have been said and written about Gibson's film, Lapin's article qualifies as the low point of the discussion. In his zeal to condemn his foes, the talking rabbi has proven that self-hatred isn't a virus that can be solely linked to the Jewish left.
Say what you will about Foxman's dogged attempt to justify his role as Gibson's unwitting foil in last year's cultural follies. But Daniel Lapin represents an example of how "The Passion" helped motivate a cultural conservative to turn on his own people. Viewed in that context, it turns out to be a far scarier movie than anyone may have dreamed.
There's a ringing endorsement. : )
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Putz.
And for Mr. Tobin's edification Jesus is not the "Christian Messiah." He is The Messiah, and specifically the Messiah prophesied by the Jewish Prophets in the collection of texts Christians and modern scholars now call The Old Testament of The Bible.
From the article: "Let us waste no more ink debating the merits of this thoroughly bad film."
- It seems that even the writer of this story cannot escape his built in bias against a film that he has no way of appreciating on a spiritual level.
As for Hollywood's largely Jewish ruling elites, they had their revenge on Gibson and his movie by nominating it for an Academy Award alright - but in the "best make up" category. Make no mistake, that nomination was a not so subtle one finger salute to the movie's depiction of Christ's suffering.
If Gibson had any sense, he would withdraw the film from Oscar consideration rather than go up on that stage while the Hollywood movers and shakers in the audience laughed up their sleeves.
Can you conceive of the possibility of people simply not believing that Jesus is the messiah, without 'hating' him or Christians?
So save your phoney arguments that have all the merit of left wing nut jobs who hate and attack America or Conservatives or Christians or Jews and Israel. The big difference you attack your friends who will endure your hatred because of the love Christ and continue in their love of Jews and Israel because we are commanded to by God and because it is right...and not for the many baloney reasons we have heard like we want to convert all Jews to Christ or it is Christian plot to conquer Israel..etc...
Yeah, you sure sound filled with love to me. [rolls eyes]
And yes there are left wing ant-semitic Jews that hate Israel and all it stands for, and that is what Lapin was saying.
I see no evidence that Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand "hate Israel and all it stands for", nor do I see their not-very-funny movie worthy of the sort of rhetoric levelled against it by Rabbi Lapin.
I had started a post regarding this comment by the author but I decided not to post it because the distasteful nature of the comment did not deserve a comment on my part.
He's entitled to his opinion. Contrary to what some seem to desire, the film is not held in reverent awe by all Americans, or even all conservatives. It's a movie.
And for Mr. Tobin's edification Jesus is not the "Christian Messiah." He is The Messiah, and specifically the Messiah prophesied by the Jewish Prophets in the collection of texts Christians and modern scholars now call The Old Testament of The Bible.
For your edification, this is Christian belief; it is rather myopic of you to think that everyone in the world shares your opinion.
Now, it may shock you to hear me say this, but Jesus was not the messiah, he was not prophecied by the Jewish prophets, he was not the divine son of God, second person of the trinity, he was not born of a virgin, and he was not resurrected. He was a man, an itinerant preacher, who was killed by the Romans. It is a free country, and you can believe whatever you want. In the same way, I too can form and express my own beliefs.
Are you incapable of conceiving that someone just might not like the movie? And that this is not necessarily symptomatic of spiritual blindness? I know plenty of Christians who refused to see the film. Are they all "biased" and "unable to appreciate it on a spiritual level" too?
As am I, so this is a totally improper attempt to stifle criticism. That is a fascist tactic. Are you a Democrat?
For your edification, this is Christian belief; it is rather myopic of you to think that everyone in the world shares your opinion.
It is myopic of him to have made such a bigoted remark in the first place. That was my point. To say "whom Christians believe to be the Messiah" would be a perfectly legitimate way to phrase such a position. To phrase it as he does, and as you defend, is an aggressive and deliberately insulting act. Christians never predicted a Messiah. That comes totally from Jewish tradition. Ignoring that inconvenient FACT speaks to his (and your) agenda.
Now, it may shock you to hear me say this
Nope. Doesn't shock me at all. It was clear from the get go that this was your agenda and your reason for posting this screed. That's precisely why I posted what I did. Hatred and bigotry is so unbecoming. It serves no one but Satan.
Grow up.
Regardless of what prejudice you may carry around, I'm not a "Bible thumper." I was raised in the most Jewish community outside Israel and am now married to a Baha'i, so get over your bigoted preconceptions. Hate speech is hate speech.
Kish m'in toukhes
Nope, not hardly.
That is a fascist tactic.
Start with a false premise, and you reach a false conclusion.
Are you a Democrat?
Are you? Check my profile, sunshine. I've been here much longer than you, and I'd put my credentials up against anyone's.
To phrase it as he does, and as you defend, is an aggressive and deliberately insulting act.
My, you are thin-skinned. "Bigoted"? "Aggressive and deliberately insulting"? Do you always walk around with a chip on your shoulder, just looking to be offended?
Christians never predicted a Messiah. That comes totally from Jewish tradition.
Yes. And Jesus doesn't come anywhere near fitting the description of moshiach. Another 'Jewish tradition' for you.
Hatred and bigotry is so unbecoming. It serves no one but Satan. Grow up.
Look in the mirror, sunshine. Are you really so incapable of dealing with disagreement? That I don't share your beliefs hardly constitutes "hatred and bigotry". In the real world, not everyone agrees with you. Deal with it.
Regardless of what prejudice you may carry around, I'm not a "Bible thumper." I was raised in the most Jewish community outside Israel and am now married to a Baha'i, so get over your bigoted preconceptions. Hate speech is hate speech.
And projection is projection.
God forgives you. When you face His judgement, cling to that knowledge.
Sunshine.
I do not care about my "credentials" nor the "credentials" of others. A stupid argument without logic based on hate and fear is a stupid argument without logic based on hate and fear.
End of discussion.
- 30 -
Yes, I think you characterized your posts very well.
End of discussion.
Buh bye.
bump
I have many friends on FR who are Christians. None of them would agree with you. Yet you, who doesn't know anything about me, nevertheless feels free to pass judgment.
I simply do not believe in Judaism as being the way to worship God, and to just say that displays no hatred. But to attack a Jewish man and a movie he made about the God of the Jews is a attack on that God.
So your disbelief in Judaism is okay, but my disbelief in Christianity is an "attack on God"? Sure, you're unbiased.
You do not just reject Christ as Messiah but feel you must insult Him and all that represents Him.
How have I 'insulted' Jesus?
and express my dislike of your attack on God, His Son
Again, you equate disbelief with "attack".
So don't try and hide behind this "I simply do not believe Jesus is the Messiah". Be honest, you hate Him
Again, you equate disbelief with "hatred".
and have said as much many times.
That's a flat-out lie.
I have personally heard the hatred in Synagogue and out of Synagogue.
Considering you equate disbelief with "attack" and "hatred", I'm sure you see "hatred" everywhere you turn.
You forgot the first rule: if you didn't the movie was that great, you must be anti-Christian.
And Rule #2: All non-Christians, by definition, "attack", "insult" and "hate" Jesus. [rolls eyes]
You forgot the first rule: if you didn't the movie was that great, you must be anti-Christian.
And Rule #2: All non-Christians, by definition, "attack", "insult" and "hate" Jesus. [rolls eyes]
I said no such thing, now you sound like a liberal, if you can't defend your actions attack those who disagree with you.
Questioning Christian beliefs on the messiah is tantamount to degrading and/or insulting their faith. Questioning Jewish beliefs on the topic of the messiah is only, "trying to help us and keep us from burning in hell".
Sure you did.
"You do not just reject Christ as Messiah but feel you must insult Him"
"my dislike of your attack on God, His Son Jesus"
"Be honest, you hate Him"
Still waiting for you to tell me how I 'insulted' Jesus.
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