Posted on 11/16/2001 1:15:48 PM PST by truther
That's because some people conflate Jewishness with Liberalism. Of course this is not true, as attested by the significant Jewish and philo-Semitic presence on this forum. But the problem with Levy et al. is that they themselves are often the ones doing the conflating, thus causing endless confusion in the population at large, as well as providing grist for the mills of neo-Nazi anti-Semitism.
"Christian" Leftists do the same thing. In its most extreme form, I'm thinking specifically of the so-called Liberation Theology types in South America.
But your solution is the correct one. Simply having these people change religious affiliations would be like changing the dust-cover on a book; the contents remain the same. They need a complete spiritual overhaul, to exorcise the (Satanic) influence of Liberalism and replace it with Orthodoxy.
Or is it just that they hate Christians more than they fear Moslems?
I think you hit so many points right. I, too, am quite amazed at the clear double standard. I am afraid, however, that you inadvertantly transposed the verbs in the last sentence; that is, I think that many Jews fear Christians more than they hate Moslems?
I do not think it is rational at all; rather, it is baggage that most Jews, including those in America, acquired from many centuries of repression and persecution in Europe. In comparison, the treatment of Jews in the Arab world was rather benevolent --- until recently, that is: the creation of Israel has been viewed from the outset as intrusion of the infidel into the mighty Califate. As a consequence, 500,000 members of Jewish communities, some of which existed for the thousands of years, have been uprooted and expelled from the Arab lands and absorbed by Israel. [A notable and srtiking exception is Turkey --- a non-Arabic but Muslim country that has no history whatsoever of persection of Jews. Ever since the Sultan invited the Jews expelled from Spain by Isabella the Catholic in 1492, Jews apppear to have lived there entirely unmolested]. But this is a rather recent history; for most Jews it has become a part of cerebrally acquired knowledge, not the folklore. In contrast, the persecutions in Europe have been ongoing for centuries: they are a part of the psyche and folklore. It well may be that the apprehension of Christians is instinctive and at odds with reality.
This is rather sad. For most of the American history the country was profoundly and overtly Cristian but, as is well known, there were no massacres and such [Of course, one could point out discriminatory acts and laws such as barring of Jews from settlement in early Massachusetts, etc. --- but the point is that, in contrast to Europe, Jews seldom had to fear for their lives. After the Word War II, anti-Semitism has become rather unpopular altogether.] At the same time, the overall culture in the country was more moral in the sense that is common to both Christians and Jews It is my personal opinion, therefore, that a greater presence of Christianity in the public life should be welcomed by the Jewish community. Yet Jewish leadership is somewhat entrapped in the stereoptypes acquired in the "old country."
There is a second, smaller reason, for the phenomenon you reference: messianism and rooting for the underdog is deeply rooted in the Jewish psyche (funny, this appears to be so even with those who claim to be completely secular). Thus, many of them sympathize with the "stranger in their midst" --- in this case, Muslims. Raised during peaceful times and taking for granted the long-lived invincibility of the U.S., they often go to far in implementing this part of the liberal agendum. Needless to say, like so many other well-intentioned deeds of the modern-day liberals, this is silly and suicidal --- as you rihtfully pointed out.
FYI & your imput!
Outrageous is right! Thanks for the flag.
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