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Britian's "Jewish Question"
The New Statesman ^ | 12/17/01 | Andrew Stephen

Posted on 12/20/2001 5:25:35 AM PST by pabianice

In the enforced but highly contrived multi-culturalism of our era, there was a first in the White House on 10 December: President Bush lit a Hanukkah candle to mark the second day of the minor, non-biblical Jewish festival that now competes with Christmas in all politically correct circles. Though Jews comprise no more than 2 per cent of the US population - there are probably more Muslims, though the statistics are unreliable - Hanukkah is now seen as an event that the US president must officially recognise and celebrate.

His spokesman, Ari Fleischer, is Jewish and a couple of weeks ago put his spin on how the White House expected Yasser Arafat to behave in the light of the attacks on Jerusalem and Palestine; the most hawkish member of the Bush ad-ministration, the deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, is also Jewish and vociferously argues for war on Iraq.

But I have never seen these facts mentioned in the media here, as it would be considered unacceptable to do so. But how long will it be, I wonder, before any of the several million US Muslims are similarly assimilated into such trusted positions in US society?

This year, in keeping with the times, there will be no Christmas tours of the White House. There is an 18ft Christmas tree in the Blue Room and several other, smaller ones in the main hall and East Room. A chef has made a huge, gingerbread re-creation of what the White House looked like in 1800, and there is also a 47-figure manger made of wood and terracotta. But the real mood is set by a large blue sign saying "The White House Tours Are Suspended Until Further Notice". My mind goes back, again, to those balmy, timeless days of last summer when Laura Bush told me how much she enjoyed decorating the White House. The later, compelling memory I will take from the White House of 2001 is seeing Tony Blair with George Bush there on 20 September, just before the latter addressed Congress to announce that we all face a choice: we are either with the Bush administration or with the terrorists. I will never forget how nervy and agitated Bush looked, as I stood a few feet from him - and how, half an hour later, he was transformed into a confident orator addressing the world via television. I often wonder what happened, or what the US president took, to effect so dramatic a transformation in so short a time.


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I never realized that Chanukah "competes" with Christmas. Actually, since the Miracle of the Lights predates the birth of Christ by two centuries, might it be more correct to say that Christmas competes with Chanukah?

The hateful left is alive and well and well-funded in Merry Olde England.

1 posted on 12/20/2001 5:25:35 AM PST by pabianice
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To: pabianice
non-biblical Jewish festival

There's latent antiCatholicism along with the less latent antiSemitism in this article.

2 posted on 12/20/2001 5:32:12 AM PST by wideawake
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To: pabianice
It is very likely that Jesus celebrated Chanukka as a child. It seems to me a celebration of universal freedom of religion. Should be celebrated by all Christians as well as Jews. The left wing in Britain is so full of rage and hatred toward America.
3 posted on 12/20/2001 5:36:42 AM PST by imperator2
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To: pabianice
I often wonder what happened, or what the US president took, to effect so dramatic a transformation in so short a time.

Just the sort of snide innuendo you'd expect from the New Staggers.

4 posted on 12/20/2001 5:39:51 AM PST by Arkle
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To: pabianice
His spokesman, Ari Fleischer, is Jewish and a couple of weeks ago put his spin on how the White House expected Yasser Arafat to behave in the light of the attacks on Jerusalem and Palestine;

Hmm, I'd love to know just what he's talking about; Ari usually states the President's position, since that's his JOB...

the most hawkish member of the Bush ad-ministration, the deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, is also Jewish and vociferously argues for war on Iraq. But I have never seen these facts mentioned in the media here

What an idiot. I can see it now: "BREAKING--FLEISCHER AND WOLFOWITZ ARE JEWS!!!" Duh. Why would such a fact NEED to be mentioned by the media?

But how long will it be, I wonder, before any of the several million US Muslims are similarly assimilated into such trusted positions in US society?

This author seems to be advocating a second tier of citizenship for, uh, certain groups of people. They will enjoy SOME benefits of our society but should never be "trusted" to hold a high elected or appointed office.

5 posted on 12/20/2001 5:44:46 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: pabianice
I will never forget how nervy and agitated Bush looked, as I stood a few feet from him - and how, half an hour later, he was transformed into a confident orator addressing the world via television. I often wonder what happened, or what the US president took, to effect so dramatic a transformation in so short a time.

It's called drawing on inner strength to do what you have to do. The terrorists made the same basic mistake when they saw the U.S. as too soft to do anything but give in after 9/11. Resolve banishes a lot of nerves.

6 posted on 12/20/2001 5:45:57 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian
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To: pabianice
how long will it be, I wonder, before any of the several million US Muslims are similarly assimilated into such trusted positions in US society?

Much faster than in Blair's kingdom.

Watch Bush win the Muslim vote ... and the Jewish vote.

It's great to see the socialists revealed as the true bigots.

7 posted on 12/20/2001 5:46:25 AM PST by Praxeologue
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: pabianice
I will never forget how nervy and agitated Bush looked, as I stood a few feet from him -

I'm trying to decide if he meant to use the word "nervous", or if he thinks Bush was indeed "nervy" to declare that people needed to pick a side in this thing. Probably the latter. (I mean, really, the NERVE of Bush, to have Jews in such trusted positions of authority; makes it real hard for some people to be "with" the U.S. on this issue...)

9 posted on 12/20/2001 5:52:45 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: Kennard
andrew stephan? he takes first prize as idiot of the year.
10 posted on 12/20/2001 5:54:00 AM PST by contessa machiaveli
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To: contessa machiaveli
On the front page of the New Statesman site, there's a poll: Should Christmas be abolished? Nearly 40% of the miserable Bs think it should!
11 posted on 12/20/2001 6:01:13 AM PST by Arkle
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To: pabianice
Fountain Square, the local Agora, has always been the site of Christmas festivities and displays for a century plus. In my lifetime there was never anything to overtly " Christian", just decorated trees , elves ,etc. ( sorta germanic pagan perhaps). Then about fifteen years ago someone successfully sued to have a Menorah placed there. This was naturally accepted by 99.9% of the community as no big deal. But .01% represented by the KKK, grasped upon the new "Rules" to affirm "their rights" and sued to place a Christian Cross. It all went to crap from then on. POLICE DETAILS to protect the THE CROSS, in Cincinnati, Ohio. A century of civil harmony, the 97% of the community modestly observeing its holiday while attempting to be respectful of others sensibilities, gone forever.
12 posted on 12/20/2001 6:08:08 AM PST by nkycincinnatikid
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To: hellinahandcart
What an idiot. I can see it now: "BREAKING--FLEISCHER AND WOLFOWITZ ARE JEWS!!!" Duh. Why would such a fact NEED to be mentioned by the media?

This is a bigoted piece of crap from a bigoted piece of crap author. The peabrain conveniently omits the fact that W celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the feast that celebrates the end of Ramadan with--SHOCK!--Muslims. It's insulting to both Christians and Jews--including the crap about Hannukah being a "non-Biblical" holiday, as if it was HIS role to define which holidays a religion should or shouldn't celebrate.

As far as describing Fleischer and Wolfowitz as Jews, who gives a damn about what religion they are except this idiot. Perhaps he'd like to have one's religion tattooed on one's forehead or arm so he could tell us apart, perhaps preface each name with, "Jew Fleischer" or "Roman Catholic" somebody or "Baptist" or "Lutheran" or "Mormon" somebody else.

13 posted on 12/20/2001 6:17:09 AM PST by Catspaw
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To: Catspaw
i DEMAND to know the religion of every single person in Prez bush's cabinet, how often they attend church or temple, is there intermarriage. any atheists? any agnostics?let's have the 21st century version of the auto de fe'. does stephan realize this is the US, we don't care what anyones religion is. we respect everyone's beliefs.
14 posted on 12/20/2001 6:43:33 AM PST by contessa machiaveli
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To: pabianice
To: Andrew Stephen

Sieg, Heil! Don't you also write for Stormfront and Spotlight?

15 posted on 12/20/2001 6:51:45 AM PST by Always A Marine
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To: contessa machiaveli
does stephan realize this is the US, we don't care what anyones religion is. we respect everyone's beliefs

Last year when Gore picked Lieberman, some twink told me, "Well, you know both of your senators are Jewish." I said, "who gives a rat's patoot (only I didn't say "patoot)?" Had this not been over the phone but in person, I would had to have been physically restrained.

16 posted on 12/20/2001 7:15:25 AM PST by Catspaw
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To: lent; angelo; hsszionist; BenF; nachum; vrwc54; cachelot; Alouette; dennisw; celtjewlibertarian...
********ping*************
17 posted on 12/25/2001 10:29:31 AM PST by I_Love_My_Husband
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To: pabianice
So when do these leftists start constructing the ovens?
18 posted on 12/25/2001 10:35:39 AM PST by McGavin999
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To: Catspaw
And so are both of mine. That's not the problem. The fact that they're both liberal Democrats and (particularly in Barbara Boxer's case) idiots is.
19 posted on 12/25/2001 10:37:42 AM PST by RichInOC
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To: pabianice
Actually....might it be more correct to say .....?

Methinks only a Jew would think so.

20 posted on 12/25/2001 10:41:57 AM PST by Kierkegaard
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