The Pope Insults Islam: Blame it on the Jews

Awhile back I wrote a couple of articles on the Pope's speech that seemed to be insulting to Islam, quoting a Byzantine Emperor's statement that Islam was wrong to use violence in the name of religion. This generated some discussion regarding what the Pope's intent was and whether Muslims should be angry or not. All agreed that the violence that the Pope's statement inspired among some Muslims was uncalled for and, quite honestly, a bit crazy. But I maintain that the Pope should have made it much clearer that he did not agree with the Byzantine Emperor's statement after he had quoted that Emperor.

However, we are finally coming to what we all knew would happen: Muslim newspapers around the world are blaming Jews for the Pope's statement. Yes... even though many Jews around the world condemned the Pope's statement as being anti-Islam and inflamatory, Muslims are blaming it on Jews. Even though my source for the controversy was a conservative Israeli news source that was critical of the Pope, clearly it is all the fault of the Jews.

From the Anti-Defamation League

Arab/Muslim Media Allege Jewish Conspiracy Behind Pope' Comments
New York, NY, September 19, 2006 (new cartoon added 9/22/06) -- Cartoons and editorials published in newspapers in the Arab/Muslim world falsely portray Jews as the manipulators behind Pope Benedict XVI and his speech at a German university on the theological need for faith and reason, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)...

ADL also found a growing trend in editorials and opinion-pieces in the Arab/Muslim media that claim the Pope's statements should not surprise anyone, since they are the long-lasting natural discourse of international Zionism against Islam. Some maintain that after September 11 a new Rome was erected, one that aims at converting Christianity and God to Judaism under the watchful eyes of the evil American-Israeli alliance that was established by the international Zionism, which eventually seeks to enflame a full confrontation between Islam and Christianity...

Ah...I see. New Rome...converting God to Judaism...right.

Look, I was as critical of the Pope's statement as anyone, some think too critical. But when Muslim leaders and newspapers around the world have knee-jerk reactions to everything that include violence and blaming Jews (who, last I looked, have little influence over the Pope) it is hard for me to be sympathetic. There are a slew of cartoons the ADL reprint from Muslim papers (click on the ADL link above to see them) that are FAR more insulting to Judaism and Christianity than those Danish cartoons ever were towards Islam, yet Muslims rioted over the Danish cartoons but think it is okay to publish anti-Jewish and anti-Christian cartoons.

I would like to see Muslim moderates condemn those cartoons the way Jewish leaders around the world condemned the Pope's comments and (wrongly I think) the Danish cartoons.

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Submitted by mole333 on 29 September 2006 - 7:09am.
anti-semitism | Catholicism | Islam | Judaism | Pope

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Words to live by

One thing that I've found unsettling, though, in listening to coverage about the protests thusfar, is this "good immigrant/bad immigrant" rhetoric that's present in what some people are saying, protesters and organizers alike. This morning, while listening to NPR, I heard one woman speak about how Latino immigrants aren't doing anything to harm this country, that they "love America" and just want to become good, hard-working Americans. Then I heard one organizer, speaking at one of the rallies, say something like this: "Nineteen people hijacked planes and participated in the 9/11 attacks, and not one of them were named Gonzales, Rodriguez, or Santiago. But you can bet that many of the people dying serving their country in Iraq are named Gonzales, Rodriguez, and Santiago" so on and so forth.

I understand that much of this is in response to the whole immigration debate getting wrapped up in worries about "national security" - how the specter of terrorism seems to make allowances for all manner of discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and how countless immigrants are nonsensically made to suffer because of it. However, it definitely seems like a very bad, very problematic move to buy into this sort of dichotomy that pits "good" immigrants or "good" brown folks (here, Latinos) against "bad" ones (apparently people of Arab or Middle Eastern descent - because, you know, the actions of individuals become the responsibility, the fault, the burden of their entire race and religion.) Latinos, like all other immigrants to the United States, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and are entitled to certain rights and protections because they are human beings, not because they're good, flag-waving*, American-loving immigrants. No one is illegal, no matter whether your name is Juan or Mohammed, Gonzales or Atta.

— AngryBrownButch | no one is illegal