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.

[Sabertooth]

The neoconservatives demand loyalty from the evangelicals, for Israel, but a lot of them in their heart repay that loyalty with contempt and hatred for the evangelicals' religion.

And what is the response of the Christian to be?

[Travis McGee]

Anyone (like Krauthammer) who opines that civilized societies should be disarmed, except for the police and military, is worse than a lowlife creep.

[wardaddy]

LOL

Barely.....everybody likes Krauthammer's wardog tenacity but sadly...he's quite flawed.

I remember when he was a pragmatic liberal at TNR back in the early 80s before he went Neon.

[drlevy88]

and the number of 6,000,000 is questionable at best.

ooh yer gonna get flamed

[Mr. Mojo]

None of my Jewish friends who have seen this film have had any complaints either. It seem most of the criticism from Jews is coming from high-profile media types or liberal rabbis.

[drlevy88]

races? who said anything about races?

[Sabertooth]

On the contrary, Krauthammer is one of the clearest thinking, most articulate conservative voices in the media. I can almost always count on his insight on difficult issues. For him to deliver this stinging indictment of the movie is enough to make me stop and think. Since I haven't seen it yet, I will suspend my judgement until after I do.

Krauthammer took a holiday from clear thinking with this rant.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Excepting the fixture of a space-time continuum.

[tinamina]

And I thought Charles was one of the good guys.

[drlevy88]

Instead of a curse, what if it was a blessing in disguise?

It's a biblical irony, since Jesus gave His blood so as to be a blessing to the Jews (and the Gentiles). The original mob did not have that in mind of course... they were uttering a taunt "go ahead, count us responsible for his killing, we don't care."

[wardaddy]

Funny...Krauthammer inspires a lot of " Say it Ain't so Joe" from folks....that's how I felt when someone pointed out the gun control rhetoric a couple of years ago.

[Mr. Mojo]

Occasionally I write letters to columnists offering my feedback to their work, and about half the time I get a reply. Kraut may be too much of a bigshot these days to converse with someone like me, but I'd like to write him and ask him if his views on gun control have changed since that WP article was written (in '96). It wouldn't surprise me in the least if it were an issue he wanted to say far away from, though. .....given his (fairly) recent "conservative credentials."

[Finalapproach29er]

A war has been waged against Christians in the USA for 45 years. The bigotry against Christians by liberal,ethnic Jews is a sight to behold. The hypocrisy of these Jews speaking about "tolerance" is most glaring.

Michael Medved is the only prominent Hebrew who isn't sqealing about "Passion". I credit him for his level-head.

[Salamander]

"Who is, and was, and is to come"
"The Alpha and the Omega; the First and the Last"

He's got that space-time continuum base covered.....:)

[Paleo Conservative]

I haven't seen it yet mainly to avoid being packed like a sardine in a theater. I may see it in the middle of next week when it's easier for the crowd to spread out in the theater.

Perhaps there are Jews who are hyper sensitive and see antisemtism where there isn't any. While there has been a history in Europe of pograms starting after passion plays, I have never heard of such a pogram occurring in the US. I still have not heard of any antisemitc violence caused by anyone who had just seen this movie. I'm sure if there had been, the media would have coverd it 24/7.

[drlevy88]

Anyone (like Krauthammer) who opines that civilized societies should be disarmed, except for the police and military, is worse than a lowlife creep.

And has a d*mned poor sense of history. Did guns ever rise up and provoke civil unrest? Last I looked, only people did. And the idyllic view of Britain and Canada? Hello, there is lotsa crime there too (violent and otherwise), even though it's not splashed all over American news headlines.

[thoughtomator]

It's already one of the most widely seen movies ever made, and there is not a single antisemitic incident attributable to it, even indirectly.

[Travis McGee]

And the bottom line, historically, is that all of the great genocides occurred only AFTER the necessary step of civilian disarmament.

[Lancey Howard]

The biggest box office smash of all time.
Sorry, Charlie.

[Mr. Mojo]

Michael Medved is the only prominent Hebrew who isn't sqealing about "Passion". I credit him for his level-head.

Rabbi Lapin has expressed similar views to Medved, as have a few other prominent Jews/rabbis. But alas, they're in the minority. However, I suspect that once the firestorm has calmed many who have been complaining will come to their senses and realize their fears have been unfounded.