Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.
There is a story about a member of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), well known for his irascible temper and sharp tongue, who became so incensed one day that he leaped from his chair and shouted, “Half of the Parliament are jackasses!”
There immediately arose angry shouts, catcalls and demands that he apologize forthwith or be ejected from the chamber.
“All right, I take it back, “he grumbled. “Half of this Parliament are not jackasses!”
I was reminded of this story because it speaks to an issue recently described in all the news media about a comment made by the Attorney General of The United States. He was discussing race relations in this country and alluded to the fact that we are not honest in our discussions. In fact he went so far as to state that we are a nation of cowards because we skirt the issue and never face it head-on.
The truth of the matter is that his assessment is correct and not for the reasons that we may believe.
During the presidential debates, primaries and subsequent election this fact was brought to the forefront. The “race issue” was in the background and at times even came forward as we proceeded to find a suitable candidate and eventually a suitable selection to occupy the highest office in the land.
Race relations in this country have gone through a metamorphosis more than once. The moral aspect of our national character was achieved with the advent of the civil rights movement of the early 1950’s and eventually was established as a national priority because of personalities like the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Revs. Abernathy and Jackson, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, President Lyndon Johnson, and the congress. It eventually took on a spiritual significance because everyone associated this moment in time with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. A spiritual song was written depicting that episode in human history and became the national anthem of the civil rights movement.
There were so many people responsible for the enlightenment that was achieved; students, business people, all people of good will were drawn to its banner. People died, were subjected to inhumane treatment and degradation. But when the dust settled there was a commitment supported by the people and their government to ensure that the progress achieved would remain part of our national conscience.
However, now we find that when we really attempt dialogue our intent and sincerity are brought into question. Discussions cannot take place without recriminations. If we really wanted to confront the question of equality we would put aside accusations and not cower at the thought of honest discourse.
Presently we are witnessing white firefighters accusing others of reverse discrimination. We are engaged in determining who will sit on the Supreme Court of the United States to fill the vacancy created with the retirement of Justice Souter. The nominee chosen by the president, who happens to be Latino, appears to be willing to define competency by gender and race.
And if such pronouncements were made by others, not of color there would be screams of racism and bigotry. Is this honest dialogue, honest debate? Is this how we face the issue? We need to be able to speak with clarity and to question that which we find objectionable without fear of recriminations. Maybe we are a nation of cowards because we cower at the thought of accusations which inhibits candor.
Perhaps the Attorney General of the United States should welcome an honest exchange. I challenge the notion that we are a “nation of cowards.” There is intimidation and we are made to feel as though we are bigots because we would really like to clear the air and have honesty as part of our dealings with one another.
Can we ever sit down and really talk? Can we ever face each other and be honest without the fear of being called racist? The ultimate path to complete equality is truthfulness. So yes, like the member of parliament so aptly described, half of us are not sincere but the other half would like to be. No insults, no catcalling, no apologies.
In Midrash Rabbah we learn that God cares for what you do more than for what your ancestors did. The past brought us to this time and place but the present will determine our future. We should not ask that past sins be forgiven but rather that we act with better insight, together with a simplistic understanding of faith, then perhaps we will be able to carry out our mandate as God’s children: To live in peace and harmony as one connected to the other which will bring us the connection to God we so sorely need. This does not breed cowardice, but rather a true meaning of human dignity.
Martin Luther King, Jr. did not get to the promised land but he had a vision and that vision is now a reality. Moses too gazed over the valley to view the ultimate reward but was denied the opportunity to participate in the triumph over adversity. It is time to go forward and continue to search for the meaning of acceptance and forgiveness and entitlement because we, their progeny, did cross over the river into a free and just society, not of cowards but of free men, women and children.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Let's Not Prejudge-But! Chapter Three
Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.
Review: In my first article ( dated January 7, 2009) I indicated a concern regarding the outreach to the Muslim world: “I am concerned about recent statements coming from the president-elect (he was not sworn in yet) indicating a desire and more than that a commitment to establish close ties to the Muslim countries in general and individual Muslims in particular. The bells are ringing in my ears.” I indicated that while dialogue is essential for people to understand each other, I was concerned that this would lead to further hatred because truth would not be the message received.
In my second article (dated February 18, 2009 I indicated in more explicit terms the stark facts of the far left wing making every attempt to pacify the extremists in order to feel more secure: “…There is a feeling in the left wing liberal community that we owe an apology to the Muslim world for all the so-called missteps made by America.” Where are the apologies from the Muslim world for the attacks on our country? Where is the appreciation for our country coming to the aid of their fellow Muslim countries such as Kuwait who was cowardly attacked by a fellow Muslim country and practically destroyed its infra-structure?
Recent events seem to bear out my concern: The despicable, indiscriminate shooting at the United States Holocaust Museum, the murder of an American soldier buy a Muslim convert, the attempt to bomb synagogues in New York. These are just a few examples of the hate that seems to be permeating our society in more overt ways.
And we have witnessed the President of the United States visiting Muslim countries espousing the same rhetoric of apology and distortion of truth. No where in his speech did we hear about the over 2000 years of striving for the return to the land belonging to our ancestors. No where is his speech did we hear about the 60 years of attempts to destroy the State of Israel and even today the charters of these terrorist organizations clearly state that the ultimate goal is the annihilation of the Jewish people.
I listened and could not understand the message because it was sprinkled with innuendos and untruths as to the historic aspect of Israel’s right to exist. The State of Israel was not only born out of the ashes of the Holocaust. The State of Israel was always a part of the history of our people and acknowledged by the world going back to World War One. Does no one remember the Balfour Declaration? Declaring that the birth of Israel was directly related to the Holocaust is a perversion of true historical fact. Israel existed before the United States, before there was such a thing called Palestine, before most of the countries now settled in the Middle East. That is not fiction – that is truth.
Now we hear conversations from all corners of the Arab world justifying its comparison to the plight of the Palestinians and equating the suffering of the Jewish People to the misery experienced by Arabs and Muslims used as pawns in the never ending policy of destroying Israel and the Jewish People. That is not fiction – that is truth.
On and on our president explained his rational for this historic trip. But a visit to Israel was not part of the agenda because it is abundantly clear that his interests do not include bringing peace to the table in a fair and equitable manner. His speech did not include the murder of women and children or the Muslim world applauding their own innocent children being sent as human bombs to kill other innocent children. His speech did not include the facts that previous Israeli administrations offered total peace with land exchange that was rebuffed on more than one occasion.
No where in his speech did he mention that Israel is the only true democratic country in the entire region and the words of encouragement he gave the women of these Muslim countries in no way resembled the truth of their subjugation. No where in his speech, when attempting to show that Islam is a tolerant and peace loving religion, did he mention that our troops stationed in the region to protect and defend their sovereignty, are not allowed to display the symbols of their faith nor practice it in any place but in the confines of their bases of operation. Even our Chaplains are not permitted to display the symbols that are part of their uniforms for fear of antagonizing the Muslim population. He acknowledged that 1200 Mosques can be found in America but show me one Synagogue or Church in Saudi Arabia.
No where in his remarks did he review the history of Jerusalem and its significance to Israel and the Jewish People. Jerusalem was founded by King David as the capital of a united Israel in the year 990BCE, sixteen hundred years before the advent of Islam. The Temple, which was erected by Solomon stood on Mt. Moriah and was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586BCE. Twelve hundred years before the birth of Islam.
The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70CE, seven hundred years before Islam became a religion. Jerusalem has always been central to Jewish thought and life. To suggest otherwise is to legitimize the myth that the Jewish People have no claim to the land or its capital.
No where in his pronouncements did he bring up the systematic attempt to destroy the State of Israel economically with boycotts and embargos which include threats to companies and countries who are involved in free trade with Israel.
In my follow-up article I wrote: “If I were to write a letter to the President of the United States it would flatly state that the lessons of history are still fresh in our minds. Appeasement is an invitation for disaster. The open hand is an invitation not a declaration. Clenched fists need to be neutralized so that they do not strike a blow that begets another blow. Learn to accept separation as a way of life not a testament to failure.”
I continued: “If I were to write a letter to the President of the United States I would encourage dialogue but with the understanding that talk alone is not the panacea to the completion of a dream. Every country on the face of the Earth has aspirations and not all of them fit neatly into our understanding of life and liberty. You were not elected because you are different but because you shared a vision and that vision gave us hope.”
No time in the history of our relationship with Israel has our country shown such contempt and disregard for the ties that bind us together. These ties were supposed to be eternal because we believed in the same principles of eliminating human suffering through strength of purpose. Our American heritage is connected to the conviction that we are under the guidance of a Creator and would be a beacon for the world. This is what made us the inspiration for all to emulate.
Sacrificing our ideals for the expediency of connectiveness with those who hate us and wish to destroy us will only make their efforts stronger because of our perceived weakness. We have seen this happen time and again. “If we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.” Have we not witnessed this before, in our time? The 20th century contained some of the most darkest moments in our history. Are we to experience the same in the 21st century?
The recent events that have brought the horrors of hate to the forefront are symptomatic of the illness of prejudice that is rampant in our society and around the world. We can’t eradicate distrust by encouraging the repetition of falsehoods or the distortion of history. We can’t bring about peace and harmony by denigrating one people to appease another.
Where is the openness, the honesty, the change in our fight for equality that was promised to us by our president? All I see is arrogance and deceit. All I see is a different kind of disaffection shrouded in the words of a salesman trying to offer us a different kind of utopia that contradicts all that was pledged.
George Washington proclaimed that this land gives no comfort to bigotry. All of our founding fathers had a clear understanding of the value of life, liberty and the conviction to change the course of history, not with lies but with honesty and integrity and a faith in the human spirit as given to us by God.
I don’t know about you but I feel betrayed and confused all at the same time. I feel betrayed because I had visions of a new chapter in the history of humanity designed to bring us together as never before and not separated with such a vengeance. I am confused because I never thought that I would live to see the beginnings of a new wave of hatred and suspicion.
I believe, as Herman Wouk so eloquently wrote: “As for me, I declare my faith that our history is not meaningless, and that nihilism is a hallucination of sick men. God lives and we are His people, chosen to live by His name, and His law until one day when the Lord will be one and His name one.”
Review: In my first article ( dated January 7, 2009) I indicated a concern regarding the outreach to the Muslim world: “I am concerned about recent statements coming from the president-elect (he was not sworn in yet) indicating a desire and more than that a commitment to establish close ties to the Muslim countries in general and individual Muslims in particular. The bells are ringing in my ears.” I indicated that while dialogue is essential for people to understand each other, I was concerned that this would lead to further hatred because truth would not be the message received.
In my second article (dated February 18, 2009 I indicated in more explicit terms the stark facts of the far left wing making every attempt to pacify the extremists in order to feel more secure: “…There is a feeling in the left wing liberal community that we owe an apology to the Muslim world for all the so-called missteps made by America.” Where are the apologies from the Muslim world for the attacks on our country? Where is the appreciation for our country coming to the aid of their fellow Muslim countries such as Kuwait who was cowardly attacked by a fellow Muslim country and practically destroyed its infra-structure?
Recent events seem to bear out my concern: The despicable, indiscriminate shooting at the United States Holocaust Museum, the murder of an American soldier buy a Muslim convert, the attempt to bomb synagogues in New York. These are just a few examples of the hate that seems to be permeating our society in more overt ways.
And we have witnessed the President of the United States visiting Muslim countries espousing the same rhetoric of apology and distortion of truth. No where in his speech did we hear about the over 2000 years of striving for the return to the land belonging to our ancestors. No where is his speech did we hear about the 60 years of attempts to destroy the State of Israel and even today the charters of these terrorist organizations clearly state that the ultimate goal is the annihilation of the Jewish people.
I listened and could not understand the message because it was sprinkled with innuendos and untruths as to the historic aspect of Israel’s right to exist. The State of Israel was not only born out of the ashes of the Holocaust. The State of Israel was always a part of the history of our people and acknowledged by the world going back to World War One. Does no one remember the Balfour Declaration? Declaring that the birth of Israel was directly related to the Holocaust is a perversion of true historical fact. Israel existed before the United States, before there was such a thing called Palestine, before most of the countries now settled in the Middle East. That is not fiction – that is truth.
Now we hear conversations from all corners of the Arab world justifying its comparison to the plight of the Palestinians and equating the suffering of the Jewish People to the misery experienced by Arabs and Muslims used as pawns in the never ending policy of destroying Israel and the Jewish People. That is not fiction – that is truth.
On and on our president explained his rational for this historic trip. But a visit to Israel was not part of the agenda because it is abundantly clear that his interests do not include bringing peace to the table in a fair and equitable manner. His speech did not include the murder of women and children or the Muslim world applauding their own innocent children being sent as human bombs to kill other innocent children. His speech did not include the facts that previous Israeli administrations offered total peace with land exchange that was rebuffed on more than one occasion.
No where in his speech did he mention that Israel is the only true democratic country in the entire region and the words of encouragement he gave the women of these Muslim countries in no way resembled the truth of their subjugation. No where in his speech, when attempting to show that Islam is a tolerant and peace loving religion, did he mention that our troops stationed in the region to protect and defend their sovereignty, are not allowed to display the symbols of their faith nor practice it in any place but in the confines of their bases of operation. Even our Chaplains are not permitted to display the symbols that are part of their uniforms for fear of antagonizing the Muslim population. He acknowledged that 1200 Mosques can be found in America but show me one Synagogue or Church in Saudi Arabia.
No where in his remarks did he review the history of Jerusalem and its significance to Israel and the Jewish People. Jerusalem was founded by King David as the capital of a united Israel in the year 990BCE, sixteen hundred years before the advent of Islam. The Temple, which was erected by Solomon stood on Mt. Moriah and was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586BCE. Twelve hundred years before the birth of Islam.
The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70CE, seven hundred years before Islam became a religion. Jerusalem has always been central to Jewish thought and life. To suggest otherwise is to legitimize the myth that the Jewish People have no claim to the land or its capital.
No where in his pronouncements did he bring up the systematic attempt to destroy the State of Israel economically with boycotts and embargos which include threats to companies and countries who are involved in free trade with Israel.
In my follow-up article I wrote: “If I were to write a letter to the President of the United States it would flatly state that the lessons of history are still fresh in our minds. Appeasement is an invitation for disaster. The open hand is an invitation not a declaration. Clenched fists need to be neutralized so that they do not strike a blow that begets another blow. Learn to accept separation as a way of life not a testament to failure.”
I continued: “If I were to write a letter to the President of the United States I would encourage dialogue but with the understanding that talk alone is not the panacea to the completion of a dream. Every country on the face of the Earth has aspirations and not all of them fit neatly into our understanding of life and liberty. You were not elected because you are different but because you shared a vision and that vision gave us hope.”
No time in the history of our relationship with Israel has our country shown such contempt and disregard for the ties that bind us together. These ties were supposed to be eternal because we believed in the same principles of eliminating human suffering through strength of purpose. Our American heritage is connected to the conviction that we are under the guidance of a Creator and would be a beacon for the world. This is what made us the inspiration for all to emulate.
Sacrificing our ideals for the expediency of connectiveness with those who hate us and wish to destroy us will only make their efforts stronger because of our perceived weakness. We have seen this happen time and again. “If we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.” Have we not witnessed this before, in our time? The 20th century contained some of the most darkest moments in our history. Are we to experience the same in the 21st century?
The recent events that have brought the horrors of hate to the forefront are symptomatic of the illness of prejudice that is rampant in our society and around the world. We can’t eradicate distrust by encouraging the repetition of falsehoods or the distortion of history. We can’t bring about peace and harmony by denigrating one people to appease another.
Where is the openness, the honesty, the change in our fight for equality that was promised to us by our president? All I see is arrogance and deceit. All I see is a different kind of disaffection shrouded in the words of a salesman trying to offer us a different kind of utopia that contradicts all that was pledged.
George Washington proclaimed that this land gives no comfort to bigotry. All of our founding fathers had a clear understanding of the value of life, liberty and the conviction to change the course of history, not with lies but with honesty and integrity and a faith in the human spirit as given to us by God.
I don’t know about you but I feel betrayed and confused all at the same time. I feel betrayed because I had visions of a new chapter in the history of humanity designed to bring us together as never before and not separated with such a vengeance. I am confused because I never thought that I would live to see the beginnings of a new wave of hatred and suspicion.
I believe, as Herman Wouk so eloquently wrote: “As for me, I declare my faith that our history is not meaningless, and that nihilism is a hallucination of sick men. God lives and we are His people, chosen to live by His name, and His law until one day when the Lord will be one and His name one.”
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