Rearing Its Ugly Head
What other than the perennial bane of Jews' existence? Anti-Semitism is resurgent. It is throwing up its pernicious presence here, there and everywhere. Even, in all places, Israel, where buildings are being defaced with Nazi emblems, and people are being assaulted. In places in Europe where it hasn't been a problem heretofore. A result, obviously, of the embrace of the European Union, its freedom of member re-locations, bringing from the East to the West vestiges of intolerance to fertile soil.In the country of refuge for Jews it is Israeli citizens who are engaging in these disgusting displays of intolerance, but they are not Jews, simply offshoots of immigrants permitted to enter the country under the pretext of Jewish genetic inheritance. Bringing with them, in their search for economic furtherance in any country other than that which promised them nothing, the endemic racism they had long been steeped in through their original societal mores.
In countries throughout the world an uptick of that ancient scourge has been noted and decried. It is nothing less than alarming for Jews to realize that nothing will ever entirely expunge the deadly disease of anti-Semitism from the public arena. Not the vigilance of concerned governments and its citizens, nor the circumspect behaviour of Jews in public, lest they arouse that close-to-the-surface propensity to reveal itself.
Expressions of solidarity with Jews abound, coming from political and religious sources, from groups eschewing religious belief, and as humanists decrying the persistent scourge of deniability of humanity emanating from poisoned minds. Yet when anti-Semitism rebounds it does so in the most scurrilous ways, upsetting society's equilibrium and threatening to stifle us in hatred of the other.
All the more confusing and intolerable when expressions of overt distrust, hatred and blame erupt from an official religious source, clearly espoused by an official of the Church, disseminated for all to hear, take stock of, and become a part of - expressions of utter hatred for the Jews in their midst. This odious practise and its predictable result is permitted to continue with no surcease in sight.
It makes sense that those groups who represent the interests of Jews betake themselves to the highest authority of the Roman Catholic Church to yet again bring the Pontiff of that Church's attention to this unbearable situation. And although Pope Benedict XVI reiterated his commitment to Catholic-Jewish relations as being close to his heart, the problem remains unresolved.
The Polish Catholic priest and radio broadcaster, Tadeusz Rydzyk, a cleric of great influence in his country is somehow permitted to continue exhaling his exhortations of hatred against the backdrop of religious and political legitimacy. Tact and diplomacy are urgent tools to be used with grace and patience by those who would have the powerful of the world lean toward their concerns and be responsive to them.
Thus it is that World Jewish Congress President R.S. Lauder expressed his sincere appreciation for the Pope's efforts in support of the Jewish people. And thus it is that Pope Benedict graciously responds that the issue of Catholic-Jewish relations remain close to his heart.
And that the good Pope indicated his awareness of the growing phenomenon of resurgent anti-Semitism. He hoped, he intoned, it could be defeated through greater education.
Commitment to exercising his pious options toward educating this particularly outstanding religious miscreant? Nothing was revealed of possible intent on the part of the Pope or the Vatican to rein in the hate-mongering of one of their own. Risking losing the patience of their divinely-inspired interlocutor a statement issued by the WJC claimed the delegates "called on the Pontiff to take action against those in the Church who wanted to do damage to the close and positive relationship between Christians and Jews".
Indeed the chief delegate of the WJC was clear that he expressed himself to the Pope by urging "Anti-Semitic statements by the Polish priest Tadeusz Rydzyk, owner of the ultra-conservative Catholic station Radio Maryja should not be tolerated any more". Well, that's pretty clear, putting all your persuasive cards on the table.
The question is: is the Pope ready to shuffle? Only a few months earlier Pope Benedict had a meeting with Rydzyk at his summer residence near Rome, Castel Gandolfo. A year ago Rydzyk had been reprimanded by the Pope who ordered Poland's bishops to monitor his radio station. Nothing helpful or positive or modestly hopeful, however, has resulted from that intervention.
Dare we hope for the future? Do we infer from the Pope's kindly words of encouragement that he has set before the offending priest a stern warning that it ill behooves his place in the Church to foment hatred against others? Does he commend to this spouter of hate the efficacy of education to assist him in understanding his churchly obligations to preach brotherly love, not miserable hate?
Much as the Pope averred to the hopeful delegation that an educational approach in the case of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might be useful? They also discussed ways in which Christians, Muslims and Jews could work to improve dialogue. Dialogue, it would seem, has the potential to defuse unfortunate situations. The motherhood words of building bridges of tolerance and understanding are sweetly uttered.
Moderation in thought and deed. Understanding, compassion, education will overcome all the world's ills.
We wait. Breath unbated.
Labels: Anti-Semitism
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, October 10, 2007
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