Religion Resource Center The Radical Academy Main Menu Online Newsletter Academy Updates The M.J. Adler Archive The Dolhenty Archive Adventures in Philosophy Classic Philosophers Philosophical Critiques Philosophy Glossary Philosophy Quotations Philosophy Mini-Courses Thomas Aquinas Introductory Essays Philosophy Resources Politics Resources Religion Resources Education Resources Science Resources The Media Center Better Living Resource Center Business & Finance Resources Search Central Academy Bookstore Academy NewsStand Academy Emporium About the Academy Academy FAQs Ask the Academy Guestbook Academy Forum Calendar of Events Subscribe to Ezine Give Us Feedback Tell A Friend About Us Votecaster Cartoons & Comics Academy Chatroom
Essays, Opinion, & Commentary Select a Feature... Religion Main Page General Resources Religious Texts Online Western Religions Eastern Religions Articles & Essays Search the Bible Videos & DVDs Religion Resource Center Main Page
Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care		September 15, 2006   An Open Letter to Heads of Jewish Organizations, Rabbis, and Other Jewish Leaders by Rabbi Daniel Lapin Dear Fellow Jewish Leaders, Jewish organizations have always aggressively protested bigotry and hate. We believe it our duty to protest all injustices not merely those perpetrated against us. We view our communal conscience as sculpted by principle rather than merely by self-interest. Well here is our opportunity to prove it. Remember, when we talk it makes the news. As almost everyone now knows, on ABC Television's show, The View, this past Tuesday morning, Rosie O'Donnell, said some pretty stupid and hateful things about Christians who take the Bible seriously. I am no more exasperated by Rosie O'Donnell than I am by the noisy poodle that lives up my block. Both are harmless and insignificant and both earn their keep by yapping to get attention. Shocking people with rude insults is Rosie's shtick but it shouldn't be the shtick of ABC Television. Now, imagine just for a moment, that Cracklin' Rosie had actually said, "Hassidic Jews in Brooklyn are just as threatening to America as Islamo-Nazis." I don't doubt for a moment that we would quickly have mobilized to demand an apology from ABC executives and maybe even some retribution against the poodle. And we would have been right to do so. Had she said, "Homosexual activists are just as threatening to America as radical Islam" or had she told her TV audience, "Black males are just as threatening to America as radical Islam" it is extremely likely, considering our record, that we would have sprung to the defense of the insulted groups. And we would have been right to do so. Well, Rosie O'Donnell, under the auspices of ABC Television did not insult Hassidic Jews, homosexual activists, or black males. She insulted what I call the last unprotected minority in America, Christians who take seriously the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And it would be right of us to protest this too. If we indeed do stand against bigotry of any kind, then as a community, we are obliged to stand against this flagrant bigotry. Ancient Jewish wisdom insists that gratitude is so embedded in Judaism that if someone fails to demonstrate appreciation for a good turn, that individual is unlikely to be among the descendants of Abraham. You hardly need me to tell you how much appreciation we owe to our Christian fellow citizens. From their long-ago support of Russian Jewish emigration to the fight against domestic anti-Semitism, to support of Israel, seldom have we turned to American Evangelicals in vain. This makes our obligation to protest last Tuesday's outrageous slander on ABC's The View even more compelling. Few groups in American public life are more effective than us in calling attention to our concerns. For that reason I urge you to use your effectiveness in supporting those who have so long and so faithfully supported us. Please join me in issuing press releases denouncing the hateful anti-Christian defamation and asking the supporters of all our organizations to make their displeasure and disappointment known to ABC Television. Respectfully, Rabbi Daniel Lapin President, Toward Tradition Lapin Archive   Radio talk show host, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, is president of Toward Tradition, a bridge-building organization providing a voice for all Americans who defend the Judeo-Christian values vital for our nation's survival. Visit their website at http://www.towardtradition.org. © 2005 by Rabbi Daniel Lapin and reproduced here with permission. Books by Rabbi Daniel Lapin Because The Radical Academy publishes essays and articles on its website does not imply acceptance or approval of the comments or opinions expressed by the author of the material. Nor is the Academy responsible for any misrepresentation of the facts included. It is your job to be a critical reader. Enrich your life with a book about religion... Enrich your life with a religion magazine... Religion Resource Center Main Page
-- Top of Page -- [Homepage] [Newsletter] [Search] [Support the Academy] [Link to Us] [Contact the Academy] [Citing Articles from Our Website] [Privacy Policy & Disclaimer] Copyright 1998-99, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05, & 2006 by The Radical Academy. All Rights Reserved.