|
Squirming Under Truth
Lewis
Goldberg
07/28/2003
An
article in the Washington
Post the other day by Lloyd Grove entitled Mel Gibson's
Washington Power Play reminded me of how hard it is for people to
accept the most fundamental truths, when the truth casts aspersion on some
ethnic or religious group to which they belong.
As
you probably know by now, Mel Gibson has produced a Passion Play movie
called - creatively enough - The Passion. Its recent screening in
Washington prompted a few comments from Important People, which in turn
prompted the writing of the Post article. Not wanting to be left out
of a good snit when there's one to be had, the Anti-defamation League's
website states;
[The]
ADL has serious concerns regarding Mr. Gibson's The Passion and
asks: Will the final version of The Passion continue to portray
Jews as blood-thirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of Jesus? Will it
correct the unambiguous depiction of Jews as the ones responsible for the
suffering and crucifixion of Jesus?
The
answer to the first question is that whenever the Disney version of the
Bible comes out, Jews will no longer be portrayed as blood-thirsty,
sadistic and money-hungry enemies of Jesus - rather they will sing about
the hardship of being Jews, crack smart jokes to make Jesus look like a
dunce, and make subtle flatulence jokes [isn't that the formula for a
successful Disney movie of late?] I suppose the second question is a bit
stickier, since they were. Who else can we hold accountable - Cleopatra?
[Wait...wrong book.]
From
Mr. Abraham Foxman, ADL President: "I find this sad....Here's a man
who appeals to the mass audience, but he feels he has to surround himself
with a cordon sanitaire of people who back him theologically and maybe
ideologically and will stand up and be supportive when the time comes. My
request still stands: I would like to see the movie, and if it turns out I
was wrong, I'll be the first to say so." Oh sure, I always invite
hostile opportunists to my parties so they can write nasty things about me
the next day. The article claims that Mr. Foxman has not been
"permitted to see the movie," though I imagine when it hits the
multiplex he'll be allowed to endure the price of the ticket unassisted
like the rest of us.
Enough
about the Jews - the French seem to be able to badmouth Jews at will, so
soon we'll have children's books that use the phrase Jew Bastard.
Another toughie is this whole concept of peace in the middle east. Jews
aside, the middle east is peopled with heathen. [Remember that word,
which we hardly ever use anymore?] A heathen is, by definition, one who is
without God. Can those who are without God ever have peace? Have they ever?
President
Bush's recent words ring hollow in the face of real life:
A
free Iraq will not be a training ground for terrorists, or a funnel of
money to terrorists, or provide weapons to terrorists who would willing
use them to strike our country or our allies. A free Iraq will not
destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example to the
entire region and lead other nations to choose freedom. And as the
pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment and terror in the Middle
East, the American people will be more secure.
We
must ask ourselves, has any nation truly pursued freedom apart from an
understanding of God? Again, the obvious answer is the one no one dare
utter, lest Mr. Foxman pout that he was not invited somewhere. We all have
a 'Mr. Foxman' in our lives...employers, parents, spouses, friends,
co-workers, reporters - anyone who exercises power over our opinions.
Pontius Pilate had the citizenry of Jerusalem. Any just who were they?
[Hint: they were not Khmer Rouge.]
And
so in defining those who are "with" God, we look to scripture:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me." [John 14:6] Which brings
us back to the Jews, who do not approach the Father though Jesus.
Are they heathen too?
Mr.
Foxman...call your office.
Your comments and questions are encouraged. [editor@patriotist.com]
Patriotist
LG_the_011303.html
|
