Joe Sobran, R.I.P. [Joseph Sobran, 1946 - 2010]

[Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo]

Our former NR colleague, Joe Sobran, passed away today after a long battle with a variety of ailments. He was relatively young, just 64, and while physically beaten at the end, he also departed spiritually triumphant.
 
Surely, in short order, there will be ample reflection — much of it critical — on the hyper-talented, hyper-controversial writer. There will be a recounting of his history at NR, the break, the following years, and Joe’s soured relationship with WFB (happily, they rekindled their friendship before Bill passed away). Good, let’s discuss all that, and more. But later. Right now, let us, if only for a minute, pray for the repose of his soul, to hope: That he abides now with his old boss, and they together with our Creator. For the peace that proved so elusive in this lifetime, Joe, may you now have it.

[kearnyirish2]

“he also argued that the 9/11 attacks were a result of the U.S. government’s policies regarding the Middle East.”

I thought this was an obvious truth; without even touching on the Jewish issue, our history in other parts of the Middle East (Iran, Libya, Lebanon) certainly could have contributed to that.

[Tzfat]

Just read John 8 first...

I can assure you, I have spent hours studying John 8, as well as all the Scriptures. In Hebrew and Greek even. How about you?

[Tzfat]

I think he has who Christ spoke to incomplete...it was the Jewish leadership...the religious leaders...the same could be said of many religious leaders thru the centuries even til today. They demand their memberships to do what they themsleves do not....and yes there are men and now woman in the pulpits who could easily be said are :children of the deveil”...so what’s that guys beef really?

His beef? Repeating the same nonsense that made up the blood libels that preceded every pogrom. The fact is, the Greek of Acts 21:20 indicates that nearly half the population of Jerusalem in 59 CE were followers of Messiah. So the whole "the JOOOOZ rejected Christ" is demonstrably false - and is nigh to "the JOOOOZ are Christ Killers."

Sobran was decidedly anti-Israel. That does not itself make him anti-Semitic, but when one closely examined his arguments about Israel - coupled with his own ethnic origins, it became clear that there was something akin to Helen Thomas or George Mitchell bias on Sobran's part. Then of course, he had to open his mouth and the evidence was in: yup. Anti-Semitic.

[don-o]

May his memory be eternal.

[Tribune7]

R.I.P. Joe.

[Tribemike1]

The Bible makes no distinction on “leaders.” Look at the book of Joshua...when Aachan hid the spoils of the Canaanites in his tent....then the Hebrews were defeated at AI. The USA did the same in WW II...we did not declare war on the Japanese “leaders” who master-minded the attack on Pearl Harbor.

God said, “Israel has sinned....” not “Aachan has sinned...”

So too, when Christ arrived, John 8 tells us the chosen people were divided into two categories...those who accepted him and those who rejected him. The Jews (which is what the NT calls this group) made an argument from pedigree (Abraham is our father - implied, you are a half breed, who is your father?)...Christ told them only those who do the deeds of Abraham qualify.

40 years later the temple was destroyed and the Talmudic Rabinnical Judiasm that evolved over the centuries is not the same as the sacrificial-based worship model the Lord set up and then destroyed in the 1st Century and it is definitely hostile to Jesus Christ.

The two sides existed all the way to Calvary....one side was decidedly smaller in number and even lost one from its ranks for a short time (Peter)....the other side screamed “His blood be upon us and our children”...that is what the account says.

E. Michael Jones has written the definitive work on this history here: (5 star)

http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Revolutionary-Spirit-Impact-History/dp/0929891074

[Luke21]

May people spit at you in similar fashion as you pass.

[Joe Brower]

I was aware that he had been ill for a few years now. What a shame.

RIP, Mr. Sobran.

[Nonstatist]

May people spit at you in similar fashion as you pass.

You don't know me so should you judge me, Hate Boy? OTOH,I acknowledge that Mr Sobran probably was a victim of mental illness in his later years, see post 24.

[freedomrings69]

No he was viciously anti Israel to a point of irrationality.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I debated him for the Catholic Forum in DC some 25 years ago. Topic: Prolife Seamless Garment. It turns out we were more in agreement than we had thought, he was a fair and even generous opponent, and in general it's one of the most pleasant and rewarding debates I've ever been in.

I hadn't kept up to see how he was doing. My impression was that he was very bright but sometimes went sproing-ing off on odd tangents, somewhat like E. Michael Jones.

So I have a fond place for in in my heart, and hope he may find a merciful judgment and a rescuing hand: which is what, I think, he would want for his opponents, and what One wants for all.

[rmlew]

Maybe the priorities are different between Jews in the U.S. and those elsewhere. In the U.S., a typical Jewish person may view a relatively cohesive white majority (i.e., traditional America) as their biggest concern, and vote accordingly leftward to reduce that perceived threat. But in Israel, they see neighboring Muslims as the main threat and vote to the right. Here, universalism, there ethnocentrism.
A reasonable thought but voting for Obama over McCain disproves this. McCain was no less for immigration, whereas Obama is an enemy. Jews (like the Irish in the Northeast) are motivated by Greivance Politics, not rational ethnosolidarity.

[rmlew]

You praise Jones, a bigot who holds that Jews are a plague on the West because of thier Judaism and Jewishness and who hates Israel, but not on racial basis. What exactly is your tribe, Mike?

[Thorin]

A great writer and a brave man. May Joe rest in peace.

[Tribemike1]

I disagree with your inaccurate caricature and ad hominem attack on E. Michael Jones...what is your schtick rnlew?

[rmlew]

I disagree with your inaccurate caricature and ad hominem attack on E. Michael Jones...what is your schtick rnlew?
I'm a Jew, who doesn't like antisemites. Now show us how I characterized Jones.

[kalee]

May he rest in peace.

[ruination]

A reasonable thought but voting for Obama over McCain disproves this. McCain was no less for immigration, whereas Obama is an enemy.

On immigration, yeah, but Obama had the entire package. He is Mr. Universalism. The ultimate in the new, multiracial, multicultural America in which support for open borders is a given.

On the other hand, McCain was a white military guy with this strange side obsession on Hispanic immigration. If he'd supported the 1990 Civil Rights Act, MLK day and participated in a sit-in or two, maybe he'd have gotten more Jewish support.

[Ditto]

On the other hand, McCain was a white military guy with this strange side obsession on Hispanic immigration.

Hi$ ob$e$$ion is entirely about the big agricultural doner$ for hi$ campaign$. He i$ in their pocket$ and ha$ been for decade$.

[Tribemike1]

You are apparently an Abe-Foxman type that hurls “anti-semite” at anyone who may disagree with anything you have to say on the subject.

Tell me, are the muslims anti-semitic semites? Is Noam Chomsky an anti-semitic semite? What would you call the 85% block of American Jews who vote against Israel’s much stronger position offered by the Republicans in favor of Obama who represents a much more hostile position against Israel?