December 13, 2010 | 12:54 pm

Gretchen saves Christmas

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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You know how I feel about the so-called War on Christmas. Good to see Jon Stewart shares the sentiment. It shows up at the 1:35 mark, after Stewart talks about Chanukah gambling games.

December 12, 2010 | 5:21 pm

What does Nixon really think of Jews?

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

President Richard Nixon had a serious Jewish problem. He also had a problem of using audio tapes to incriminate himself. So, really, there should be no surprises here, via The New York Times:

Richard M. Nixon made disparaging remarks about Jews, blacks, Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans in a series of extended conversations with top aides and his personal secretary, recorded in the Oval Office 16 months before he resigned as president.

The remarks were contained in 265 hours of recordings, captured by the secret taping system Nixon had installed in the White House and released this week by the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

While previous recordings have detailed Nixon’s animosity toward Jews, including those who served in his administration like Henry A. Kissinger, his national security adviser, these tapes suggest an added layer of complexity to Nixon’s feeling. He and his aides seem to make a distinction between Israeli Jews, whom Nixon admired, and American Jews.

In a conversation Feb. 13, 1973, with Charles W. Colson, a senior adviser who had just told Nixon that he had always had “a little prejudice,” Nixon said he was not prejudiced but continued: “I’ve just recognized that, you know, all people have certain traits.”

The racial stereotypes that follow are pretty comical, especially coming from a late 20th century American president. Why—seriously why—a person of Nixon’s stature would feel the need to spout such racism is beyond me. I certainly cannot imagine a politician today, knowing how easy it is for things said privately to become public, making the same remarks. Bragging about an affair or cursing another politician, sure. But not this.

So what did Nixon say about the J-O-Os?

“The Jews are just a very aggressive and abrasive and obnoxious personality.”

“What it is, is it’s the insecurity. It’s the latent insecurity. Most Jewish people are insecure. And that’s why they have to prove things

But, hey, some of Nixon’s most influential advisors were Jewish.

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December 12, 2010 | 3:46 pm

Jews and ‘real’ Jews

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

I’m no Roger Cohen fan—who can forget how credulous he was about the wonderful lives of Jews in Iran?—but he has a point here with this column, “The ‘Real Jew’ Debate”:

The view that American Jews supportive of Israel but critical of its policies are not “real Jews” is, however, widespread. Israel-right-or-wrong continues to be the core approach of major U.S. Jewish organizations, from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

To oppose the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank (“Zionists are not settlers”), or question growing anti-Arab bigotry as personified by Israel’s rightist foreign minister and illustrated by the “loyalty oath” debate, or ask whether the “de-legitimization” of Israel might not have something to do with its own actions is to incur these organizations’ steady ire.

Debate remains stifled, despite Peter Beinart’s important piece this year in the New York Review of Books describing growing alienation among young American Jews asked to “check their liberalism at Zionism’s door.” Oh, sure, you can find all sorts of opinions about Israel all over the place; America remains an open society. But Aipac has systematically shunned a debate with J Street, the upstart Jewish organization that supports Israel, opposes the settlements and attempts to reclaim the progressive ideals of Zionism by saying that the systematic oppression of the Palestinians undermines Israel.

To be sure, Cohen quotes only two people in this column: a twentysomething American Jew who says he was jumped and spat on for opposing the settlements while in Jerusalem, and the head of the liberal lobby J-Street. But that doesn’t mean Cohen isn’t right about the existence of the “real Jew” debate.

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December 12, 2010 | 1:56 pm

AG Holder defends Muslim terror stings

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

speaking in a part of California that I’ve never heard of before (I’m guessing NorCal), Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday that FBI-sting operations at mosques, like the foiled Portland plot, are an “essential law enforcement tool in uncovering and preventing terror attacks.”

Muslim leaders appreciated the outreach but weren’t buying Holder’s claims of necessity. Via the AP:

“We have very serious concerns about FBI surveillance tactics that are used. We believe that law enforcement has an important job to protect us as a country but they should do so mindful of the rules of justice and fairness that are at the core of our criminal justice system,” said Muslim Advocates executive director Farhana Khera, who invited Holder to speak to the group.

Politico has a lot more of the contents of Holder’s speech. Personally, I think he has a point.

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December 12, 2010 | 1:04 pm

Steve Johnson gets theodicy

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

It’s Sunday in December, which means there is a lot of meaningful NFL on and, not surprisingly, I’m in the fantasy playoffs. (Playoffs?!) I really should be studying for finals and finishing a seminar paper, and I will later, but, well, you have to prioritize.

I mentioned it last week, but Steve Johnson of the Buffalo Bills had a really tough butterfingers moment two weeks ago that resulted in his blaming God on Twitter. I found the finger-pointing even more obnoxious than an insincere end zone prayer, but Jeffrey Weiss though people like me were missing something.

Weiss, formerly the Dallas Morning News’ religion reporter, writes at Politics Daily:

While it ain’t easy to push the idea of theodicy into a 140-character limit, that’s what Johnson managed to do.

Theodicy is all about how an all-good, all-knowing, all-powerful deity can allow what appears to be undeserved pain. Johnson is well-known as a devout Christian of the sort who believes that God is directly in charge of everything. So it’s totally consistent for him to toss a question to the Almighty after such a painful moment.

In spirit and tone, you can find similar examples from Christian and Jewish religious writing and in fiction, from St. Theresa of Avila to Sholom Alechem’s Tevye. But the most famous cry of its kind is surely in the Bible’s Book of Job.

(skip)

After his first tweet to God this week, Johnson responded directly to the public attacks. In more tweets:

“I learned A lot Within 24hrs. Saw Both Sides.(Ups&Dwns) I AM HAPPY & THANKFUL 4 YESTERDAY! w/out Sunday iWldnt have grew closer w/The Lord!!”

“And No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously??!? CMon! I Simply Cried Out And Asked Why? Jus Like yal did wen sumthin went wrong n ur life!”

And truly, who among us has not wondered why—“wen sumthin went wrong n ur life?”

Well done, Weiss.

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December 9, 2010 | 6:51 pm

A winter weirdland

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Lusby sent me this video with the warning: “I believe this is the first sign of the Apocalypse.” Indeed.

I thought the video must have been a hoax, but then I watched it and realized there was nothing fake about Ozzy Osbourne and Jessica Simpson doing a “Winter Wonderland” duet. In it, Ozzy bites the style of Harry Dunne rather than a bat’s head. And Jessica Simpson looks better than she has in years. A little research explained why: This failed lab experiment was from 2003.

I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer for the Rapture.

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December 9, 2010 | 10:16 am

Borowitz Report: In name of bi-partisanship, Obama admits being Muslim

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

It’s not quite Not the Los Angeles Times, but the Borowitz Report is no satirical news shlemiel. Here’s an example that I can’t stop laughing over:

In his latest effort to find common ground with Republicans in Congress, President Barack Obama said today that he was willing to agree that he is a Muslim.

Differences over his religious orientation have been a sore point between the President and his Republican foes for the past two years, but in agreeing that he is a Muslim Mr. Obama is sending a clear signal that he is trying to find consensus.

“The American people do not want to see us fighting in Washington,” Mr. Obama told reporters at the White House.  “They want to see us working together to improve their lives, and Allah willing, we will.”

Finally, the admission we’ve been waiting for. Obama went on to reiterate that his “place of birth has been, and will always be, negotiable.”

Funny stuff.

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December 8, 2010 | 3:14 pm

Andrew Sullivan’s harsh love for Israel

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

I missed it yesterday but just received a lengthy post from M.J. Rosenberg highlighting blogger Andrew Sullivan’s call for ending aid to Israel. Here is what Sullivan wrote in response to the United States saying it would no longer insist that Israel halt construction of settlements in the West Bank:

It appears the Obama administration has thrown in the towel in trying to get Netanyahu to agree to a new moratorium on settlements in the West Bank. That presumably means none of the promised goodies either. Now what? Clinton is due to speak at Brookings on Friday, when the next step may be announced.

I favor an end to aid for Israel because a) Israel doesn’t need it and b) we need the money and c) it doesn’t seem sensible to me to keep rewarding an ally that refuses to offer minimal cooperation. I also favor the US laying out its own preferred solution, perhaps as a way to recognize a Palestinian state in the UN, whatever Netanyahu wants. He has had his chance to frame a deal. Now it’s time for the US to assert its own interests and goals.

Sullivan has long been a supporter of Israel, which is why I’m calling this tough love. Your thoughts?

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December 8, 2010 | 1:50 pm

A kosher pig?

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Toward the end of summer, my friend Laurel Snyder, the editor of “Half/Life” and a handful of children’s books, published a new picture book, “Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher.” It was my kind of book. And not simply because of the pictures.

“Half/LIfe” was a book about Jewish identity for the children of intermarriage. “Baxter” is about being a true outsider and learning to be Jewish.

Here’s how Heeb describes the kosher-to-be pig in its Chanukah gift guide:

One day, your kid may pass by a Subway and catch the seductive scent of frying treif and he may really, really be tempted. But then he’ll remember that when he was a child, his mother read to him a book about a Jewish pig that wanted to keep Shabbos. And he’ll remember how cute that pig was and how that adorable pig just wanted to be Jewish and bake Challahs and go to shul and be adorable all the time…and then your kid will remember that he keeps kosher.

The basic premise of “Baxter” is that the pig meets an observant Jew, who tells him all about celebrating Shabbat. Baxter likes the idea, and later asks someone how he can participate. “You can’t!” Of course he can’t. He’s not kosher.

The Revealer explains how defining the scope of “kosher” serves as the foundation for the book:

At the heart of this story is how the term “kosher” has entered common parlance to mean “alright” or “okay,” to mean something that fits or feels right. The subtext of this usage is that, for Jews, the most important characteristic of Jewish identity is keeping kosher. And while this may be true on some level in terms of daily observance, it’s really just cultural laziness that reduces a people to the single most obvious aspect of what makes them unique. ...

Snyder’s successful conflation of kosher law with commandments regarding the stranger is nothing short of a small miracle.

Those are some pretty kind words. You can read other praise-filled reviews at “Baxter’s” Facebook page.

At the risk of being self-indulgent, I in many ways identify with Baxter. (No, I’m not a pig.) I understand his interest in being Jewish, even when others tell him he can’t be. The difference between us, besides the curly little tail, is that Baxter is drawn to Judaism whereas I am attracted to Yiddishkeit (though I’m no stranger to Shabbat).

I’d also probably face a lot less resistance than Baxter if I just quit the whole Christian thing. No one is going to confuse me with not being kosher.

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December 8, 2010 | 1:39 pm

Elizabeth Edwards’ faith in ... what?

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

When I heard on NPR yesterday morning that Elizabeth Edwards was in grave condition—this was before we knew she had already passed—her life was described as one characterized by, among other things, faith in the power of resilience and hope.

That sounds like faith in the human spirit, or some other new agey thing, which struck me as a bit odd. I know Edwards wrote a book called “Resilience,” but NPR made no mention of religion, and my understanding was that Elizabeth Edwards (and her estranged husband, John) were Methodists, though Elizabeth’s brand was on the very liberal theological side.

Turns out I wasn’t the only one left wondering. Bobby Ross, my colleague at GetReligion, from which I’m on a monthlong sabbatical, picked up on the same religion ghost. Bobby writes:

If you’re looking for reflections on God and religion in mainstream news coverage of Elizabeth Edwards’ death, the hunt may take a while.

Mentions here and there of faith, grace and religion punctuate major obituaries reviewed by your GetReligionistas. But in general, the reports stop short of meaty details on what Edwards believed and even if she had a particular religious affiliation.

Religion ghosts, anyone?

He has a lot of examples of the lack of religion in Edwards’ obituaries here.

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December 8, 2010 | 11:46 am

Hamas and Hezbollah get mixed ratings in Muslim world

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that Muslims around the world see Islamic terrorist organizations differently. There is mixed support—even majority support in some countries—for Hamas and Hezbollah, but al Qaeda remains more broadly unpopular.

More than nine-in-ten (94%) Muslims in Lebanon express negative opinions of al Qaeda, as do majorities of Muslims in Turkey (74%), Egypt (72%), Jordan (62%) and Indonesia (56%). Only in Nigeria do Muslims express positive views of al Qaeda; 49% have a favorable view and just 34% have an unfavorable view of bin Laden’s organization.

The survey also finds that Muslim publics overwhelmingly welcome Islamic influence over their countries’ politics. In Egypt, Pakistan and Jordan, majorities of Muslims who say Islam is playing a large role in politics see this as a good thing, while majorities of those who say Islam is playing only a small role say this is bad for their country. Views of Islamic influence over politics are also positive in Nigeria, Indonesia, and Lebanon.

Turkish Muslims express more mixed views of the role Islam is playing in their country’s political life. Of the 69% who say the religion plays a large role, 45% see it as good and 38% see it as bad for their country. Among the minority of Muslims who say Islam plays a small role in politics, 26% consider this to be good for Turkey and 33% say it is bad.

You can read the full report here.

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December 6, 2010 | 4:21 pm

Jesus is coming back next May

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

And here I thought the end of the world was coming in 2012.

Save the date—Jesus is scheduled to make his second coming appearance on May 21, 2011.

That’s according to Harold Camping, founder of Family Radio, Inc. Billboards have been put up around Nashville, Tennessee and other cities like Detroit, Little Rock, Omaha, and Kansas City announcing the second coming. The cheesy billboards remind me of signs teasing a television series or the opening of a Broadway show. Jesus is about to make his big entrance only his final number will feature the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Tom Evans, spokesman for Family Radio said their math for setting the return date came from a verse in Luke 17: “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man.”

That is from Religion Dispatches, and you can see the “math” here.

For past rapture ready posts, click here and here and here and especially here.

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