by With the recent explosions of vitriol from Mel Gibson against the Jews in general and with the new insurgency against Israel proper by Hezbollah in particular, one begins to wonder about the how and the why of blaming the world’s troubles on the Jews. I decided to do some quick Google searches on historically paired stereotypical keywords to see what kind of hate against the Jews was being officially published on the internet and the results were hateful but not surprising.
I will not link to those hate sites but I will quote them so their charges can be discussed here. If you want more information you can click on the Google search link I provide for your deeper discovery. The Jews seemed to be blamed for controlling three parts of World Culture: Banking, Entertainment/Media and Politics.
Here are the results of my searches and it is startling to see how one site — “Jew Watch Dot Com” — so often appears in the first search return position of hate. Jews & Banking “Heretical Dot Com” attempts to provide this historical cudgel against the Jews:
Firstly Jews, who had taken to wandering around Europe in the Middle Ages, began to specialize in money-lending and other practices which were forbidden to Christians. Exploited Christians, both peasants and aristocracy, found themselves being bled dry by usurers, which is why there were sporadic uprisings, imprisonments and expulsions of Jews throughout Europe. It is one reason why King Edward I expelled these perfidious people from England in 1290. Oliver Cromwell allowed them back when the moral authority of the Church was undermined and the King was beheaded in 1649.
From “The Economic Plans of International Jews”:
It is not, therefore, the success of the individual Jewish banking house that concerns us. Flabby-minded non-Jews who have been blinded by pro-Jewish propaganda find difficulty in seeing that point. They say that the individual Jewish business man has as much right to his business success as has anyone else. Which is a perfect Jewish platitude! Certainly he has. Who ever stated that he had not? But when you are dealing with a world chain of financial consulates, all of them linking up in a world system, none of them to be regarded as American banks, or British banks, or French banks, or Italian banks, or German banks, but all of them members of the Jewish World Banking System, you are obviously not dealing with individuals who are trying to make a living.
From “Jew Watch:”
In the 1960s, Jews were again in the forefront in creating a new business form – the conglomerate, a multi-purpose holding company whose disparate profit centers were purportedly synergistic – greater than the sum of its component parts. It was not a Jewish invention – that honor probably belongs to Royal Little of Textron but Lehman Brothers, Lazard Freres, Loeb Rhoades, and Goldman Sachs were forceful in selling the new notion. Besides the self-interest of these investment banking houses (the major interest in conglomerates was only partially due to new products, market penetration, increased revenues, balance sheet growth, and rising price-earnings ratios), mergers and acquisitions generated volumes of new corporate issues that Wall Street underwrote, sold, and traded. And a number of Jewish businessmen were quick to see the potential of the new financial form.
Jews & Entertainment/Media Now the concerted effort to “blame the Jews” centers on their alleged control of entertainment and media outlets in order to serve a pro-Israeli worldview. It is curious and haunting how each of the following three examples all have the hot button keyword “National” in their titles : From “The National Alliance:”
As an example, consider the media treatment of Middle East news. Some editors or commentators are slavishly pro-Israel in their every utterance, while others seem nearly neutral. No one, however, dares suggest that the U.S. government is backing the wrong side in the Arab-Jewish conflict, or that 9-11 was a result of that support. Nor does anyone dare suggest that it served Jewish interests, rather than American interests, to send U.S. forces to cripple Iraq, Israel’s principal rival in the Middle East. Thus, a spectrum of permissible opinion, from pro-Israel to nearly neutral, is established.
From “The National Prayer Network:”
Jewish control of the media is a taboo topic. In Congress, among evangelicals and mainline conservative talk radio, it is never mentioned. It is discussed only in snatches on far Right alternative talk radio. This is astonishing, considering that almost every substantial library in America contains a number of books confirming such Jewish control. These include Neil Gabler’s An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood and Hoberman and Shandler’s Entertaining America: Jews, Movies, and Broadcasting. These encyclopedic histories of Jewish control of the American media outdo any efforts by so-called “anti-Semites” to document an astonishing, frightening fact: The majority of media news and information to the American public comes from Jews.
From “The National Vanguard:”
Jewish media control determines the foreign policy of the United States and permits Jewish interests rather than American interests to decide questions of war and peace. Without Jewish media control, there would have been no Persian Gulf war, for example. There would have been no NATO massacre of Serb civilians.There would have been no Iraq War, and thousands of lives would have been saved. There would have been little, if any, American support for the Zionist state of Israel, and the hatreds, feuds, and terror of the Middle East would never have been brought to our shores.
By permitting the Jews to control our news and entertainment media we are doing more than merely giving them a decisive influence on our political system and virtual control of our government; we also are giving them control of the minds and souls of our children, whose attitudes and ideas are shaped more by Jewish television and Jewish films than by parents, schools, or any other influence.
The Jew-controlled entertainment media have taken the lead in persuading a whole generation that homosexuality is a normal and acceptable way of life; that there is nothing at all wrong with White women dating or marrying Black men, or with White men marrying Asian women; that all races are inherently equal in ability and character–except that the character of the White race is suspect because of a history of oppressing other races; and that any effort by Whites at racial self-preservation is reprehensible.
Jews & Politics In addition to controlling commerce and media, the hardest hatred of the Jew is reserved for their alleged domination of world politics: From “The Jews in World Politics” — a Nazi propaganda pamphlet from 1942:
There are a series of familiar international Jewish organizations: the Alliance Israélite Universelle, the Independent Order of B’nai Briss [sic], the various Zionist agencies (e.g., the Jewish Agency), the international Jewish boycott organizations against Germany, the American Jewish Joint Consultative Council — to name only a few. All of these organizations promote Jewish world power policies in some way.How they relate to each other, which are the most significant, and whether there are secret connections and a central leadership, and where that leadership might be, are subordinate questions. Whether or not there is an organized Jewish government recognized by all the Jews is less important that the fact that there is a unified and conscious Jewish desire for world power. This is proved by a variety of political events that are taking place in plain sight today.
The “List of Jews in Politics” on Wikipedia is a strange thing. Is it a list of celebration or identification? I did another quick search on Wikipedia for “List of Methodists in Politics” and came up empty and my Wikipedia search for “List of Catholics in Politics” also provided no returns. From a September 2002 report on Fox News:
The anger is emanating from reports that several outside Jewish special interest groups took a particular interest in defeating Reps. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., and Earl Hilliard, D-Ala., by fueling the campaigns of their respective Democratic primary opponents with thousands of dollars and an interest in seeing the incumbents defeated for their long-standing support of Palestinians.Both incumbents lost in stunning defeats. McKinney blamed the Jewish lobby and the Democratic Party for her Aug. 20 primary loss by 16 percentage points to Judge Denise Majette, who is also black. The five-termer had sparked the ire of the Jewish community with her outreach to Arabs, particularly after the Sept. 11 attacks, and her support of Palestinians in light of terrorist bombings in Israel. She received ample financial support in her campaign from Arab groups.
What are we to make of this ongoing and perpetual demonization of the Jews? How does one fight thousands and thousands of pages of hate and anti-Semitic views found just on the web alone where – for many young minds and inexperienced researchers – the guiding notion is: “If it’s published on the internet, it must be a fact!”
Is there a historic need to blame someone else for problems in life? If so, why are the Jews such a convenient target? Is it easier to pick on a group than to share the blame across cultures? What will it take for the world to live in peace with Israel in particular and the Jew in general?
I’m a big believer that there is a spiritual realm that is constantly at battle.
It’s a battle of good vs. evil that is at pay in the world today.
Part of the battle from the beginning of time has been the war against God’s chosen people — the Jews. Throughout history, the Jews have always been attacked by countless foes who have been hell-bent on their destruction.
The battles have always been fought at a fevered pitch and have become more destructive as nations and groups gain access to powerful weapons. WWIII is a real possibility as Iran seeks nuclear weaponry and loose bombs from the former Soviet Union float around on the black market.
We must always be mindful that there is a spiritual dimension at work in all of these battles — whether they are rocket attacks, suicide bombers, or hateful words spewed from a poisonous tongue.
Fighting wins battles, but to win peace will require a change of humankind’s heart.
There’s hope for peace — whether it’s on the streets in the Middle East or in the stormy hearts of the unenlightened.
God promises to always protect Israel.
See Isaiah 49:13-17 (NLT):
That’s is an interesting analysis, Chris!
In the battle of Good and Evil — what’s in it for Evil?
In today’s Salon, Sidney Blumenthal has a very interesting piece on “The Neocon’s Next War:”
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2006/08/03/mideast/
Hi David,
Often, there’s nothing much in it for the evil side.
But, there are always plenty of people willing to take a risk by aligning themselves with evil. Whether it’s a kid slinging rock or cooking meth or joining a terrorist group, the usual outcome is never any good.
Evil is seductive and that’s where is has its power. It promises quick solutions to vexing needs and wants.
Evil tells people they can rule the world, have all of the women, be all powerful, or gain whatever else they are seeking to fill the holes in their hearts or lives.
Whether it’s shooting a gun or a drug, evil promises much, but always fails to deliver in the long run.
I’ll have to take a look at the Salon piece.
It sounds interesting.
Has Evil ever found lasting success?
How can Evildoers pull in others to follow them on whimsy and wishes and fantasy?
It seems like Goodness has a better track record.
Interesting that you wrote thsi blog today as today is the 9th of Av, one of two 25 hour fast days for the Jewish people. The other is Yom Kippur but I think more people are aware of the latter than they are of today.
So many calamities befell the Jewish people today.
On the other hand, more related to your entry (or your question of if Evil has ever found lasting success) – people are pulled in to follow Evil on the belief that this time, they really will be on top for the long haul. Yet no country that historically stood against Israel exists now in the way it did then.
That’s an interesting link, Gordon!
Do you think Evil is a conceit created by Good in order to keep the people on the side of Good?
Can Good exist in a vacuum?
Isn’t there a saying about mainstream American religion that “if you don’t believe in Hell then you don’t have to worry about Heaven?”
Certain children when they are young believe they become invisible when they cover their eyes. They cannot see themselves therefore nobody else can.
Evil exists in the world because as the expression goes, “Everything is under the control of heaven except for the fear of heaven.” People are free to do as they please.
There are many people who would believe that we go around on this earth only once and that is it – no afterlife. It is my understanding that they will be given exactly this – no heaven and no hell. For some this is an acceptable offer.
I’m not sure where I stand on the deal yet. 😛
Gordon —
So what is your answer to Buddhists who do not believe in heaven, yet they do believe in re-birth?
http://www.google.com/search?q=buddhists%20heaven
http://www.google.com/search?q=buddhists%20rebirth
Are they merely mistaken?
Misguided?
Evil?
A rabbi on the Ask Moses web site pointed out that Buddhists are just in a way jewish without all of the halacha (laws).
I think the best person to ask those questions to would be a competent orthodox rabbi. 🙂 Preferably in person. Communication face to face is the best in many ways.
Okay, Gordon, I’ll leave you alone.
For now.
From a Mel Gibson interview with “Readers Digest” when “The Passion of the Christ” was in theatres:
Ouch!
I guess I’m a “Flabby-minded non-Jew” because it would be fine with me even if all the banks were run by the Jewish community.
The issue with Good and Evil is interesting. I think that Evil often deludes people into believing that its actions are good. ie. your post from earlier this week about Fake Emily and the people who who were misled into supporting her.
Dear Flabby-minded non-Jew —
Welcome to the club! We’ve been waiting for you with our flabby bodies and feeble fingers.
I don’t think it is possible for Good to exist in the absence of Evil. I think Good is required by the laws of physics and mindfulness to create its antithesis or there’s no reason to turn to the Good.
Dave —
Do you share your Nazi wonderings with religious conservatives here in America?
Jerry Falwell
http://www.ishipress.com/antichrist.htm :
Pat Robertson
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10728347/ :
Or this from Robertson about Muslims
http://www.rense.com/general31/nazis.htm :
How do you feel about the Mormon Church baptizing Holocaust victims and Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun –
http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2005/cityweek_1_2005-10-20.cfm :
Perhaps all these people can just cut to the chase and start advertising on:
http://www.godhatesjews.com
What I’m saying is we have a lot of radical religious leaders right here in America with Jew-Hating/Anti-Israel, Nazi-like, tendencies. I was taking your faraway point and refocusing it here at home.
Hi David,
We have to be careful lumping all of the Christians in the same category as a few misguided people or worse — people who are anti-Christian self-identified “Christians” who don’t follow Christ’s teachings.
There are a lot of conservative Christian groups that are lobbying in support of Israel. Some are doing it because the Bible says that the Jews are God’s Chosen People. Others are doing it to bring about the End Times per their interpretations of the Book of Revelation.
I personally believe it is good to be on the side of God’s Chosen People, so that’s a major reason why I support Israel. I don’t necessarily think that Revelation is the blueprint for bringing about Christ’s return — Christ himself used parables, so the book might need to be viewed in that light.
Working Assets’ Working for Change reports about the growing Christian support for the Jewish people:
Writing about the same movement, the National Catholic Reporter writes:
People who identify themselves as Christians, but who fail to follow the Word by spreading hate or anti-semitism are anti-Christians. There are false prophets in all religions who do things to hurt people for their own gain. Just because someone’s on TV claiming to hear God and asking for donations doesn’t mean that he or she is really Christian.
I’m Catholic, and the Church takes a middle of the road view toward Israel.
From Catholic.com: “Thus the Catholic Church, not being constrained by the new theological systems of dispensationalism and covenant theology, is able to avoid the extremes of both while it acknowledges the truths both contain—as it has since before either was invented.”
This middle of the road view can be seen in Catholic debate about Israel’s actions — people might debate whether Israel is justified in the way it is prosecuting the war while generally supporting Israel’s right to defend itself from age-old enemies that seek its demise.
True Christians of any denomination will always support the Jews and Israel. Those who don’t aren’t really Christian.
Dave —
1. I think things said out loud while drunk were thought out beforehand while sober.
2. I think that’s the definition of a Terrorist: Using unwitting civilians to do your dirty work.
Chris —
The word “Christians” didn’t come out of my fingers today until now. There was a quote that included that word in the body of my article but that was only a cut-and-pate job.
I know there are good Christians who side with Israel — the issue I was raising today is those who choose to blame Israel and the Jews for the world’s problems.
I find the Evangelical Christian support of Israel disingenuous — and so do the Jews!
The Evangelicals support Israel only so they may stand false sentry during its destruction and bear witness to The Second Coming:
http://www.google.com/search?q=israel%20christian%20second%20coming
Hi David,
I wasn’t writing necessarily about anything that you wrote, but the argument needed to be made to innoculate this debate since Mel Gibson is known as a Christian, as well as all of the famous televangelists.
Some people may subconsciously link Mel Gibson’s words (or any of the other crazies who say they are Christians) with what they view as the feeling of Christians everywhere.
Speaking about the supporters with ulterior motives; anyone who who wants to bring about WWIII scares me also.
Dave —
Terrorists require the unwitting use of civilians on both sides of their effort to be successful.
I understand, Chris.
Wasn’t it Newt Gingrich who first played the WWIII card in this latest outbreak of violence?
Hi David,
You might be right about Newt. I think he was the first to call it WWIII.
People forget 1967 and 1973.
I think there are a lot of people who secretly (or not so secretly) get excited at the idea of another World War.
There’s a lot of money to be made on any side of the warring parties. Russia and China get to sell lots of weapons. Of course, we’ll be in the arms markets selling and selling and selling, as well. Most military people are anti-war because they have to do the hard work, but there are probably some field officers who know they’d get general’s stars if WWIII did break out.
The End Timers — there’s always a crew in every generation — also get excited at the idea. Of course, helping wars along (or failing to act to stop wars) isn’t Christ-like because it rejects the fundamental notion of treating our neighbors as we want to be treated, turning the other cheek and loving our enemies (as well as our neighbors and ourselves).
After Newt said this is WWIII he said he said it because he wants people to think in November about which party will be able to “go to war” best to fight WWIII in the Middle East.
Newt feels that question is a slam dunk for the Republicans. I’m not so sure. I think the answer to that question now is “anyone but the current power circle.”