Reply #374: Is Ahmedinaetc a Jew Hater? [View All]

[Otho]

Not according to him. He says, like a majority of people in his country, that creating a Jewish homeland in Palestine was unfair to the Palestinians. Of course Ahmedinajad is a "hard-liner", elected at a time when Iranians felt threatened by the world's only hyperpower (us). We also elected a hard-liner (who also seems to be a "nutcase") because we were scared of guys wearing sheets living in caves. Of course both Bush and Ahmedinajab aren't really crazy, and they're not stupid. They do seem to be woefully undereducated for their positions as historical figures. In things like history for instance. They do know how to appeal to their political base (which is essentially the same). The problem is, that their distortions can be heard in each other's countries!

The real Jew-haters are mostly a familiar bunch who form within elements of the political Right. The Right has a long and documented history of racial and ethnic exclusion, in all times and all places. But even Christian Right Jew-haters have come to LOVE Israel (or rather, their idea of it). They and their neocon friends accuse critics of Israeli policies of anti-semitism. Likewise, a Jewish critic is instantly labeled a "self-hating Jew." (Incredibly, gentiles have suddenly mastered this touchy subject after centuries of indifference.)

Of course there are Leftists who are prejudiced against Jews as well. Anti-semitism has had a very very long and important place in European culture, as old as Christendom itself. Let's not forget Mel Gibson's gentle reminder! The worst anti-semites are and always will be Christian.

Jews are not ancient blood-feud enemies of Muslims, as good Christian Americans like to believe. That would be other Muslims (tribe v. tribe or Shia v. Sunni). The Jews have had 3 "Golden Ages" where they enjoyed freedom and prosperity outside of Biblical Israel: Ancient Greece, Moorish Spain under the Islamic Empire, and modern America. Every great Arab city had a vibrant and rich Jewish community into the 20th Century.

For a less hysterical Jewish/Israeli perspective than we are used to in the American media, check out Tikkun.org

Peace.

PS And if Ahmedinajab worries you that much, remember that Israel has two hundred nuclear weapons, on top of everything else, for self-defense. Iran is not a country of raving lunatics, regardless of what the TV tells you.