Anti-Semitism?

NRO ^ | December 21, 2004 | William F Buckley, Jr

[swilhelm73]

An honored friend, charging that there has been anti-Semitism on the air, sends along the offending transcript, and I read through MSNBC's Scarborough Country (for Dec. 8) and found some noisy people discussing Hollywood. The question before the house: Will The Passion of the Christ win the relevant Oscar, or will it be Fahrenheit 9/11? The seven guests of Pat Buchanan, who was the mc that evening, included a rabbi (Shmuley Boteach) and the president of the Catholic League (Bill Donohue).

The Catholic League ("The Nation's Largest Catholic Civil Rights Organization") fashions itself after the Anti-Defamation League of the Jewish establishment, and although tiny by comparison with the ADL, engages in some of the same excesses. The ADL will find you a hidden anti-Semitic motive in a public recitation of “God Bless America,” and the Catholic League (what it is, essentially, is one man, its president William Donohue) will find anti-Catholicism/anti-Christianity in every third movie produced in Hollywood.

On the MSNBC show, the charge was immediately lodged that a failure by Hollywood to vote Passion ahead of Fahrenheit would constitute, pure and simple, an anti-Christian body blow. I detach from the quarrel to say that I agree that preeminence could not be given to Fahrenheit because it is a superior dramatic production — it could only mean antagonism to Passion. But to vote for a third contestant would be explainable in non-discriminatory language. Many share the opinion that Passion was unnecessarily, and inartistically, bloody.

But to return to the language of the exchange on the television program. Rabbi Boteach led off provocatively: "I hope that Michael Moore actually wins so we can finally confirm what Hollywood is. Hollywood has become an America-hating bastion that always portrays people in uniform in some sinister role."

But for Donohue, charging Hollywood with being anti-American was by no means specific enough: "Who really cares what Hollywood thinks?" The answer to that question is, roughly — everybody. It is because people care that this question was being raised on TV. “Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It’s not a secret, okay? And I’m not afraid to say it. [Donohue is not afraid to say anything.] That's why they hate this movie. It's about Jesus Christ, and it's about truth." What Hollywood likes is "anal sex. They like to see the public square without nativity scenes. I like families. I like children. They like abortions."

Donohue's swings were so wide, inevitably he touched on genuine points of controversy, the current one of which focuses on the Christianization of Christmas.

Donohue speaks of things which are "not a secret." And here is a flash point. The opposition to nativity scenes at Christmastime, or to the singing of songs that focus on the manger and the stilled star that hung over it, embraces a wide group of people. Among them are secularists who have drunk deep of ACLU doctrines over the years and have convinced themselves that any theological exercise in public circumstances is both a deprivation of their rights to seamless agnosticism, and a personal affront to believers in competing doctrines. In such language you can't say a Christian prayer without offending the Jew or the Muslim.

Those can be thought of as bureaucrats of Weights and Measures. But in this band are also genuine anti-Christians. People who wince when Christianity is deferred to, people who hate Catholicism as the axis of Christianity and who will seek any opportunity to hinder or belittle it, whether it is removing common prayer from the schools or the invocation of Christ during a Christmas — holiday (not holy day).

It is imprudent and historically ignorant for these to seek to hinder the community that wishes to express sentiments, at Christmastime, that relate to the establishment of the day.

But to suggest that Hollywood is the incubator of the anti-Christian, secularist movement is ignorant and provocative. Rabbi Boteach neatly undercut Donohue by saying simply, "I'm amazed that we've made this a discussion about secular Jews. I have got to tell you that Bill Donohue, who I otherwise love and so respect, ought to be ashamed of himself, the way he's spoken about secular Jews hating Christians. This is a bunch of crap, okay? . . . Hollywood has become a cesspit because it's secular, period." The rabbi is saying it hurts the Jewish faith equally to fight the secularist fight. And that is how to find the right perspectives in the current quarrel.

[af_vet_1981]

Do you always answer questions with questions, or just when you're struggling.

Would that be your final question ?

The Struggle Continues

[af_vet_1981]

Then again, I suppose older men write the same thing about themselves as you did when they are on the Internet ...

That would be funny if you were a 55 yo pot bellied balding ...

[karenbarinka]

Luv to fight, babe, but I've got a date -- for a CHRISTMAS party!

Meanwhile, over in Malibu, Mel counts his millions.....

[papertyger]

The Struggle Continues

You should be so lucky.

So tell me, why do people hate Israel?

[af_vet_1981]

They hate Israel because G-d is embedded in Israel and they hated G-d before they even heard of Israel.

[niki]

There would be no Christianity if not for Judaism.

There would be no Christianity if not for Jesus the Christ, Son of God!

[papertyger]

They hate Israel because G-d is embedded in Israel and they hated G-d before they even heard of Israel.

So what does that say for nations, peoples, and tongues that love Israel?

Furthermore, please define what you mean by "G-d is embedded" as you sound perilously close to heresy.

[papertyger]

You take it upon yourself to correct a man that has said nothing untoward, using a principle that is easily refuted from the Scriptures... and I look silly?

Don't mistake embarrassment on your part for error on mine.

[weenie]

If I misunderstood (which is always more than possible)...I sure am sorry...stay in touch...

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[dervish]

Shmuly = Samuel
Shlomo = Solomon

I saw the segment and Boteach acknowledged and embraced the support of Evangelical Christians. He also said quite pointedly and was echoed by a female film actress/producer that “Copolla, Scorcese, and Lucas” are not Jewish.

Here is a link to the transcript:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6685898/


Not to offend here but there are big differences in the attitudes of Christian Evangelicals and some Catholics towards Jews. For several reasons. Mr Donohue is part of a sect of traditionalists, as is Mr Gibson, that rejects Vatican II included in which is the “Nostra Aetate” which stated that the Jews of other times should not be blamed for the death of Christ in his own time. This collective guilt had historically been used as a justification for anti-semitism among Catholics.

Further as a general matter Catholic teaching traditionally de-emphasizes the Old Covenant/Testament and has historically at times been rejectionist of it. This relates to the centrality of interpreters of the text to Catholic doctrine. If you take away the OC the value and contribution of the Jewish people go with it.

Just as it is indisputable that there are many secular Jews in Hollywood, it is equally indisputable that the Jews have historically been victims especially of Catholic anti-Semitism, and particularly in the aftermath of Passion Plays and the sentiments they aroused. This is so much so that the Vatican has issued specific guidelines as to the content and presentation of Passion Plays.

As to the general issue Mr Buckley addresses –

is the problem religious differences or the differences between people of faith, any faith, and those who are “secular fundamentalists?”

I agree with his analysis. With religion itself under attack, believers have more in common with each other and preserving values than with non-believers. Charles Krauthammer made the same point in another article posted here this week. Per this article by the neo-liberal Mr Beinart, voters of all faiths in the current election view themselves as part of religious America:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A705-2004Oct26.html

[af_vet_1981]

Just as it is indisputable that there are many secular Jews in Hollywood

The Jewish population in California as a whole is approximately 2.9 percent but they may make up Jews make up about 6 percent of the City of Los Angeles’ population. The population density will vary by neighborhood. Fairfax used to be the most Orthodox and Jewish neighborhood.

[Clemenza]

I believe Palm Beach County Florida has the largest Jewish population per capita in the nation, something like 38% according to the last census.

[rmlew]

The secularist Jews fear Christians and actual Judaism.

[NYC GOP Chick]

The only criticism you can make of it is that maybe Donohue shouldn't have concentrated only on secular Jews. As Buckley says, there are other secularists as well who regularly attack Catholicism and Christianity generally.

That's exactly my beef with this guy.

[papertyger]

I understand anti-semitism very well. I know where it originates and I know where it ends.

Do you profess a better understanding of anti-semitism than Rabbi Daniel Lapin?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Only girlie-men and anti-Christians found Passion too bloody.

Well, I'm a fairly tough woman and am not at all anti-Christian (I've defended Christians and Christianity from leftists on other parts of the 'net), but I cringed quite a bit during that movie.

[dervish]

Maybe I was unclear. I meant in the Hollywood film industry.

[af_vet_1981]

Maybe I was unclear. I meant in the Hollywood film industry.

Do you know how many people work in the Hollywood film industry ?

... according to the Screen Actors Guild, blacks, who comprise 12 percent of the population, are cast in 14.8 percent of all roles on television and in movies. ABC says that 33.6 percent of new network hires went to minorities. Forty-one percent of Fox's prime-time series actors are minorities. CBS says that 29 percent of its actors are black.