[HANASHIR:17162] The OTHER anti-Semites

[Eric Komar <eric...>]

OK, this posting is not music-related, but please bear with me (and Adrian,
excuse me. I don't ordinarily do this).

At this stage, instances of anti-Semitism from the Christians that many of
us worried about after "The Passion" are thankfully few and far between. In
fact, I was pleased to learn of rekindled Jewish-Christian dialogue and also
to read of a recent poll showing that for some the movie sparked more
understanding and good will towards Jews.

Today, I witnessed a truly disturbing event that should warrant much more
concern: the "anti-war" rally in New York City. To put it bluntly, this was
NOT a peace rally. This was a "down-with-America-and-Israel" rally. The
participants numbered in the tens of thousands, and hundreds carried signs
with "U.S. occupation of Iraq = Israeli occupation of Palestine" or the
portrayal of Jews as Nazis, swastikas and all. Among the chief organizers,
denouncing the alliance between "imperialist America" and "imperialist
Israel", was the notoriously Anti-Semitic Communist group International
A.N.S.W.E.R.

Interestingly, later major network news coverage showed little to no footage
of the anti-Semitic marchers. But they were there - in droves.

Look, some of us may be against the war, and some may even have marched in
their own local rallies. However, the one in NYC was not simply anti-war and
anti-Bush, but anti-American and anti-Israel, and we should be careful who
we may - quite literally - rub elbows with. I can only imagine what other
protests around the world were like, given that it's no secret that their
organizers are groups that are openly socialist, pro-Palestine, and
pro-terrorism. If anyone felt any uneasiness by "The Passion" or Mel Gibson
or his father, it should be dwarfed by the actions of hundreds of thousands
throughout the world this afternoon.
- Eric