Black nativity angers Italy's "White Xmas" party

Reuters ^ | Dec.14, 2009

[Free ThinkerNY]

ROME (Reuters) - A nativity scene featuring a dark-skinned Jesus, Mary and Joseph that has gone on display in a Verona courthouse has created heated debate in a city with strong links to Italy's anti-immigration Northern League party.

The nativity's appearance coincides with the League's controversial operation "White Christmas," a two-month sweep ending on Christmas Day to ferret out foreigners without proper permits in Coccaglio, a small League-led town east of Milan.

The Christmas scene -- featuring a dark-skinned baby Jesus dressed in a red shirt and lying in a manger -- was the idea of Mario Giulio Schinaia, the chief Public Prosecutor in Verona.

"History teaches us that baby Jesus and his parents were very probably dark-skinned," Schinaia told Reuters. "This nativity belongs to a universal Christmas tradition that brings together the whole of Christianity in celebration."

The nativity has caused heated reactions in the rich northern town, where resentment toward foreigners has spread as the number of immigrants, particularly from north Africa and eastern Europe, continues to rise.

[mnehring]

The nativity has caused heated reactions in the rich northern town, where resentment toward foreigners has spread as the number of immigrants, particularly from north Africa and eastern Europe, continues to rise.

So they (for the lack of a better term) whitewash the fact Jesus was from the Middle East?

[equalitybeforethelaw]

Methinks they have the obama nativity confused with the jewish one. Its a common mistake lately.

[rarestia]

Actually, this is a very popular theory concerning Christ. Unless Mary and Joseph were from European ancestors, the likelihood of Christ being white is very low.

As a student of history, I don’t know that Christ’s race was ever brought up in the Bible or elsewhere. I welcome any data to the contrary.

[rjsimmon]

"History teaches us that baby Jesus and his parents were very probably dark-skinned," Schinaia told Reuters.

Yeshua ben David was neither white nor black. He was as olive skinned as any of his kin from the tribe of Judah.

[Paratrooper]

Verona is a beautiful city, However, I was robbed when I was at the airport leaving. My son dropped me at the entrance to the airport at 0600 and I was pulling a check-in bag and a carry-on. I had a pouch I carry when I travel sitting on top of my carry on. It was dark and I thought it strange that a group of 15-20 people were standing at the entrance of a small airport at 6 AM. Well as soon as I went in the entrance I looked down and noticed that my pouch was gone, I immediately went back out the door and the 15-20 people were scattered into the parking lot, not a soul at the entrance. It was then I noticed that some of the people were Muslim(some women in traditional dress). Lucky, I had my passport in my pocket, lost my BB and Cell Phone and Mark Levin’s book Liberty and Tyranny.

[SoftwareEngineer]

Wow! We have done it..

I actually for once agree with the PC crowd.

Jesus was NOT white. He was brown (probably) or olive skin or tanned whatever we want to call it

However he was not white or blonde or blue eyed nor did he shop at Nordstrom’s or Macy’s

Jesus is and FOREVER will be for all people of all color. He is not an exclusive preserve of the West.

He is of all people for all people.. and forever will be..

[70th Division]

Yes, the good book said he was bronze in color.

[AppyPappy]

Oh boy, are they in for a surprise. Here’s a hint guys. He was born in the Middle East.

[mnehring]

I believe, just from reading of the history of the Jews, especially from the time right before Christ, that he possibly was very dark skinned. During the revolt of the Maccabees, many Jewish families moved to from Ethiopia (they had established a second temple there). The possibility intermarriage between the Ethiopians, of whom the Jewish people were always close, and Jesus’ ancestors doesn’t seem a far fetch. The Bible just gives part of the lineage, but doesn’t say who the wives of many of the ancestors were.

[NurdlyPeon]

What exactly does “dark skinned” mean? I doubt that Jesus looked like a Scandinavian, but I also doubt that he looked like someone from deepest darkest Africa either. What does your average Israeli look like today? Do we have any reason to believe that they have undergone any radical evolutionary change in skin color over the last 2000 years? We don’t have to get all PC about this one way or the other, just show him as he probably was.

[edcoil]

Actually lots of colors are born in the middle east. Just the tribal ones tend to be darker.

[mnehring]

I actually for once agree with the PC crowd.

This isn't really a PC issue. PC is usually ignoring the facts to focus on what is nice or polite to not offend the wrong person. Making a statement (or in this case a Nativity) that attempts to be historically more accurate isn't PC. If anything, the people attempting to whitewash Jesus are themselves, creating their own PC storyline.

[TigersEye]

The Christmas scene -- featuring a dark-skinned baby Jesus dressed in a red shirt with a hammer and sickle and lying in a manger --

It's little baby 0bambi!

[BlueStateBlues]

Since Jesus was half Jewish and half God, does this mean. . .gulp. . .maybe instead of George Burns starring in “Oh God” they should have cast Richard Pryor instead.

Big Daddy, who cribs in heaven, “Rap Master G” be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy “word” be done, on Earth as it be when jivin’.

[SnakeDoctor]

He was from the Middle East -- no way he was white.

I think there is actually a significant problem with the generic European/ American visual depiction of Christ -- almost to the point that it can distort interpretation of Christ's personality.

Christ is almost uniformly pictured as a thin, meek, soft-spoken, pale, flowing-haired, gown-wearing hippy. If images are to be believed, He was perpetually solemn, silent, contemplative, gentile, and always cuddling with lambs and children.

This is a man that convinced people, by sound and sight alone, that He is the Son of God. He was a carpenter (in a time before power tools), and must've had a booming voice to command such respect. He was gentile when called for -- but this was not a meek person, and not the type of guy you'd have to check for an Adam's apple to verify His gender. He didn't look like one of the BeeGees.

Christ was a man. He was a carpenter ... so probably a man of substantial size and physical strength. His hands were likely rough. His voice must've been commanding, otherwise no one would've taken Him seriously. He was of middle-eastern heritage ... so likely not pale-skinned, and likely not with brown, flowing hair. He likely had facial hair -- but not the BeeGee looking getup that's often shown.

If I had to pick a modern person that I though looked like Christ likely looked -- I think Gerard Butler (of 300 fame) has the look down pretty well ...

SnakeDoc

[rintense]

Hey, I did not give you permission to post photos of my husband!

[kailbo]

Yes, the good book said he was bronze in color

Where does it say that?

[hecht]

Yeshua ben Yosef.
Also as a descendant of David, he might have been a redhead