I have long had another theory. As everyone knows (unfortunately), the charge often made against Jews is the exact opposite of representing absolute morality; rather, Jews are "subverters" of the "pristine morality" of whatever people they live among. Abortion, pornography, homosexuality, and Communism are all blamed on the Talmud. Never mind that liberal Jews aren't in the slightest Talmudists, the Lenny Bruces of the world always have their behavior attributed to a "Talmudic" attempt to destroy the sweet, adorable, cutesy-poo, and absolutely Disneyesque world of the non-Jewish "host" population. Why is this?
The anti-Jewish mentality is at essence a rejection of universal truths and morals in favor of particular "truths" and "morals." The "gxd" they worship (however disguised) is always a local "gxd," an idol, a tribal deity. The One True G-d of the Universe threatens this subjective, local worldview; therefore the True G-d and His representatives are dangerous agents of subversion.
Think about it--the attacks on "Jewish bolshevism" by ultra-right wing henotheistic nationalists in the past always stressed its universalism (a trait it no longer possesses since falling in love with "indigenous peoples" and "wars of national liberation"). The thing they most objected to about Communism was not so much its cruelties or atrocities but its claim of being universally valid and having a right to supplant local errors. This universalism is actually probably the only thing any form of Marxism ever had in common with Judaism. Most anti-Semitic attacks are not made in the name of defending universal truths or morality, but rather the truths or morality of the particular nation. Thus the "blood and soil" mentality.
The ironic but inevitable corollary of this henotheistic nationalism and charge of subversion is a bitter hatred of the most traditional Jews (manifested in this article and others posted on FR through the years) and its own roots in its Holy Land--a holy connection non-Jewish nations envy and resent. Thus the same people who accuse Jews of being the agents of modernity turn right around and spew left wing modernist ridicule on the pre-modern attitude of authentic traditional Jews.
But Amalek is a special case. Amalek is willing and happy to give up many wrong actions, but only if the result is that he has more power over Jews. Though Ishmael revels in murder, ultimately he respects his father Abraham. However, Esau/Edom never will reconcile with his brother Jacob, and Amalek is the result. He will give up his credibility, his comfortable life, his civilization, his sons and daughters, if only he can teach those Jews a lesson!
Jotto, I don't know if you're going to respect this opinion of mine, but I continue to maintain that most American-style philo-Semitic Fundamentalist Protestants are true friends of the Jewish People. I maintain this because I was once one of these people, and I know how they think--both the good points and the bad. Yes, they are ignorant of many things, but the intention to do the will of the One True G-d is there. It is a mistake to write them all off as 'Edom and it is equally a mistake to allow them to continue in their beliefs without any correction whatsoever (which merely confirms their false beliefs).
Please note that the majority of chr*stians in Jerusalem and Israel are not American-style Fundamentalist Protestants but members of the ancient liturgical churches which have never been the friends of the Jewish People.
If you insist on simply writing the good people off, don't complain when they go through life with these same false beliefs.
PS: I visited Israel for a week over eleven years ago. Not much, I know, but I was a fat redneck in a straw cowboy hat and nobody spit at me. In fact, I was regularly solicited for tzedaqah and even blessed once.
I think I agree with you right down the line and I am optimistic. (The Jewish story of the introduction to the Messianic Age is filled with goodness, unlike the Apocalypse in Christianity). But at heart I have a mystical outlook; these behaviors have spiritual roots. As the Sages teach, everyone has some sparks of Amalek in them, but ALL can transcend the negativity.
The Talmud records “Some of the descendants of Haman [who in turn was a descendant of Amalek, converted to Judaism and] studied the Torah in public,” and even names R. Shmuel bar Shilas. No one is without hope.