home
RSS
American Jews confront internal rancor over Israel
Some see signs of growing strife within American Jewry over the issue of Israel.

American Jews confront internal rancor over Israel

By Joe Sterling, CNN

Atlanta (CNN) - When the editor of a Jewish newspaper here wrote this month that the Jewish state might consider assassinating an American president, his column made national headlines and provoked a Secret Service inquiry.

The most striking criticism came from the Jewish community itself, which collectively held its nose and harshly denounced the column by Andrew Adler, who is also the owner of the weekly paper, the Atlanta Jewish Times. Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman called Adler's words "irresponsible and extremist."

Adler apologized and resigned as editor, but some see the episode as the latest example of an increase in divisive, over-the-top rhetoric within American Jewish communal life, revolving largely around the hot-button issue of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians.

The tensions have provoked Jewish groups across the country to launch programs aimed at lowering the political temperature in their own religious communities.

Israel is not "one of the great unifying factors" that it once was in the Jewish community, said Samuel Freedman, author of "Jew vs. Jew: the Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry.”

"Since the Lebanon invasion and the First Intifada, it has become a dividing line,” he said, referring to the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation in the late 1980s. “It's probably deeper now than I've ever seen it."

Tensions within American Judaism are rising as some Jews detect an "existential threat" to Israel, with Iran's nuclear aspirations and Islamist parties coming to power during the Arab uprisings, he says.

Freedman also sees broader trends at work, including the fading line between private and public talk dissolving in the era of blogging and tweeting. The Atlanta Jewish Times incident, he says, is a reminder that words that sound bold in private will "resonate really differently when they are out in public."

Ethan Felson, vice president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, says emotions have been much more "intense and destructive" lately as ideological camps within the American Jewish community harden their views over the contentious U.S. presidential campaign, tensions between Israel and Iran, and issues from health care to marriage.

"This is going to be a brutal year," he says. "We're looking at a scorched earth political environment."

Felson’s group spearheads a nationwide civility initiative and held a "civility institute" last year to help Jewish leaders with conflict resolution, listening and "communicating across polarized divides."

Leaders from 15 Jewish communities across the country participated.

The council recently issued a civility statement signed by a range of prominent Jewish entities, saying the effort has "deep roots in Torah," the Jewish sacred text, and "in our community's traditions."

But the statement also spoke to a troubled Jewish landscape. "The expression and exchange of views is often an uncivil, highly unpleasant experience,” it said. “Community events and public discussions are often interrupted by raised voices, personal insults, and outrageous charges."

Jane Schiff, a Jewish Council for Public Affairs board member who is also on the group’s civility task force, says she has seen the hostile atmosphere take its toll in her Atlanta community, with rabbis backing off from talking about Israel.

"They are afraid it will affect their employment. I'm seeing friends saying to each other, 'I'm not talking to you about that because I want to stay your friend,' " she said of controversial issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Judy Saks, the community relations director for the Jewish Federation of Nashville and editor of the federation-produced community newspaper, can attest to the vituperation.

In May, an online video surfaced about Muslims in Nashville that said they were fomenting pro-terrorist ideas. Called “Losing our Community,” the video was produced by a Boston-based group called Americans for Peace and Tolerance.

A video on the group’s website says one Nashville Muslim figure it regards as radical has been embraced by “self-described progressive Jewish religious leaders," including a rabbi, and is respected as an interfaith activist in the community.

Saks said that the original video blasted three Nashville rabbis but that two were removed after several weeks. Americans for Peace and Tolerance did not respond to a request for comment.

"It brought out such divisiveness in this community,” Saks said. “It pointed fingers at our rabbis for doing what rabbis do."

The organized Jewish community decided to draw up its own civility statement, which supports "robust and vigorous debate about critical issues – as long as it is civil and tolerant" and disagreement "without threats of reprisal."

"This willingness to listen to other points of view honors Nashville's spirit as an open, welcoming and friendly city, our nation's history and our Jewish heritage," it said. "We will not engage with those who threaten the safety and security of our community."

In California's San Francisco Bay Area, controversy erupted over a film about Rachel Corrie shown at a 2009 San Francisco Jewish film festival.

Corrie, an American member of the International Solidarity Movement who was killed in Gaza nine years ago by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer, symbolizes for many the battle on the left against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

Corrie's mother spoke at the event, angering some Jews, who said her appearance politicized what was supposed to be an artistic moment.

The reaction to the film reflected the political fissures in the Bay Area Jewish community. In response, two community leaders, Abby Michelson Porth and Rachel Eryn Kalish, co-founded Project Reconnections, which included an initiative called the Year of Civil Discourse.

The well-funded effort throughout 2011 worked to bring Jews of different political stripes together for dialogue and deliberation, study and workshops. It also focused on reconciliation in four synagogues beset by political enmity and engaged community leaders over issues such as the Middle East.

Porth, also associate director at the Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council, says the project helped infuse the community "with the skills and the opportunity to have a rich, meaningful and civil discourse."

She says it got people on opposite ends of the spectrum to stay at the table to understand the other person's point of view and to to deliberate thoughtfully over disagreements.

Kalish, the Year of Civil Discourse project facilitator, saw people’s "fight or flight" instincts shift as they learned to communicate thoughtfully and gain a deeper understanding of issues such as Jewish settlements and the status of Jerusalem.

A healthy conversation, Kalish said, helps people think and understand that "maybe there's a third way" to approach a stubborn issue.

She recalls an interaction in one synagogue between an older man who lived through Israel's War of Independence in 1948 and the Six Day War in 1967 and a young woman who sees Israel through the prism of its criticized actions in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

The two synagogue members came to understand each other and now work side by side as dialogue "facilitators" at their congregation. Kalish cites this as an example of "pretty dramatic change" in learning how to listen and speak honesty and respectfully.

Mitch Chanin, executive director of the Jewish Dialogue Group in Philadelphia, offers dialogue programs for Jews in synagogues, colleges and other organizations and trains people as dialogue facilitators. The group formed in 2001 and has done work across North America.

Chanin, who says his group refrains from promoting political opinion, says the dialogues have included talking through the tough issues around the Middle East conflict.

"People grapple with the questions of what risks are we willing to take and what actions are ethical. Who can we trust and not trust?" Chanin said. "The likely consequences of Israeli policies. What are the intentions of Palestinian actors?

“What can we do to be safe? When is it OK to kill? When is it necessary? When is it wrong? When are there alternatives?"

- CNN Belief Blog

Filed under: Israel • Judaism

soundoff (2,430 Responses)
  1. Iqbal Khan

    January 29, 2012 at 5:46 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  2. Iqbal Khan

    Watch both parts....

    January 29, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  3. FIRIAL

    Rachel Corrie, saw the occupation........she understood the iron fist policies Israel has against the Palestinian people.....these policies are on going.......maybe one day the Palestinian people will be free.......maybe one day the Israeli people will stand against there own goverment and help liberate the Palestinian people from the injustice the Israeli forces upon them.......May Rachel Corrie rest in peace......

    January 29, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • md2205

      How dare you say Israel treats the Arabs unjustly. The Arabs are the ones attacking Israel. They continue to wage war against Israel, a war of physical violence and a war of words, through the media, which goes along with all the propaganda the Arabs feed them. Regarding the refugees: What about the hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees that were kicked out of Arab countries in the last century alone, after the Arabs appropriated all their property and belongings? Those Jews never allowed themselves to become a refugee problem because they worked together to better their lot while rebuilding their land. Why haven't the Arab countries, drowning in their oil dollars, seen fit to assist their brothers from their plight? Why? Because it would be politically unwise. Refugee camps are exploited to make bad guys out of the Jews. Israel did not drive out the Arabs who lived there in 1948 when the Arabs started war against them. The Arab residents left themselves when the Arab countries told them to leave and promised they could return after they drove the Jews into the sea and then they could have all of the Jews' possessions. The Arabs turned their own people into refugees. The Arabs who remained in Israel became full Israeli citizens and are represented in a democratic parliament. These are the facts and those who say otherwise are spewing the same hatred every other anti-semite has spewed; and then they say they are only against Israel, and not all the Jews, as that is somehow an excuse for their false statements.

      January 29, 2012 at 5:35 pm | Report abuse |
    • md2205

      It is interesting that non-Jews wish to have Jerusalem called an international city, and not the capitol of Israel. For the first time in centuries, now that Israel has control over Jerusalem, all peoples may freely worship in the places holy to them (and that is not completely true as the Arabs do not let the Jews into all areas of the Cave of Machpela, where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are buried.) Where was your concern for the rights of people before the Jews regained control? Under Jordanian rule, no one pressed for international status. The Christians were content. They could worship where they wanted. So could the Moslems. Only the Jews weren't allowed to worship where they wanted. They weren't even allowed to touch the stones of the Western Wall, which still stands from the days of the ancient Jerusalem Temple. Where was your empathy for humanity then? Where was your humanitarian concern when under Jordanian rule, synagogues hundreds of years old, filled with Torah scrolls and relics, were destroyed, when the headstones of the Jewish graves were torn up from cemeteries to make military latrines? It is only now, when the Holy Land is under the flag displaying the Star of David, when all religions can pray in freedom, that countries demand international status for Jerusalem.

      January 29, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      Israel offered peace by unearthing and burning Palstainians olive trees and forbidding them from gathering of their olives..!
      Unearthed Olive trees could be of hundred years old and more were later sold and exported to France or Euro Zone...!
      There are so many crimes but the American media is deaf and blind not caring even if Americans were run by bulldozers over there as that American girl may God have mercy upon her soul who lost her life while defending some Palestainian familty...! Amen to (May Rachel Corrie rest in peace).

      Israelis forced Palestinians out of their homes out of their lands in favor of immigrating east European Jews....and that is still carried on from 1948 and up to date.. Israelis still burn mosques and shoot palestinian  kids at schools... What ever they did and still do will not be forgotten or go away by any peace talks...!      

      The Israelis are not there for any Holy Land prayers...they are there to dig under the Holy Lands looking for some myths of fairytales...although some say they are building a military base that no one will have the courage to bomb because being in a Holy area place... 

      January 29, 2012 at 5:51 pm | Report abuse |
    • md2205

      Where was your humanitarian concern when Jews were being kicked out of most of the European countries without even their possessions allowed to be taken along (meaning: appropriated by the non-Jews), and they had nowhere to go? Where was your humanitarian concern when Jews were being kicked out of Arab countries, or thrown into jail, and their possessions taken from them as well, and they had nowhere to go. Where was it when millions of Jews were starved, shot, burned alive, and sent to the ovens in Europe a mere 70 years ago, and they had nowhere to go? By the way, many banks in Europe froze the assets of the Jews, and those Jews who could have left with money to survive, couldn't take their money for its assistance. And now that Israel does exist, and Jews do have a place to go when it gets tough in the country in which they live, and what do you want? You want them to give land to the Arabs? Do you really think the Arabs will give peace for land? Or are you only saying it, just as they are only saying it? Israel is a tiny country in the middle of large Arabic countries, and Israel needs all the land it has just to protect itself. Let's not preach half-truths, non-truths, and out-and-out lies. Let's be real to ourselves and somewhat introspective about the matter as it stands today in Israel.

      January 29, 2012 at 5:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      Israelis east European one's are said to be the biggest racists and even treat Arab Jews as slaves or of lowest degree...!

      January 29, 2012 at 5:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • md2205

      to muneef: The children Israel shoots at are used as human shields and are in front of terrorists, by design of those terrorists so the terrorists can "show the world" that Israel shoots at children. They are manipulations designed for media exposure. The children Israel shoots at have shot first at Israeli people or soldiers, or are in front of those who did. I remember when the Jewish soldiers risked their lives as they got out of their tanks to move away Arab babies their own Arab fathers had put in front of the Israeli tanks during the war. No other army would ever have acted that way! Your people promote lies and nothing but lies.

      January 29, 2012 at 6:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      Palestinians give space for the European Jews as a humanitarian assistance for their case...but slowly the Zionist Jews started showing muscles and claiming to take the land by force from the British as being their Holy Promised Lands and when they managed to get the American President to sign acknowledging the birth of Israel at 4:00 am on 1948 while wearing his pajamas at the white house... Then only the Zionists started blackmailing the American & British Jews for financial backup while went on  driving  many  Jews from their Arabian Lands by Hook or Crook towards Israel  promising them the paradise of the Holy Promised Lands...! 

      January 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      md

      Only GOD knows who is lying or promoting lies...but to me I read my history since my childhood and know how the words and the story is still the same of this invaded Arabic Islamic land...

      January 29, 2012 at 6:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • md2205

      To muneef: I already told you, it was the Arab countries who wanted to kill all the Jews who advised the Arabs living in Israel to leave, and they told the Arabs they could return and take over the Jews' property and possessions after they won the war and drove the Jews into the sea. That was the expression they used. But that didn't happen, and the Arabs did not want to rectify the problem they now had, which was Arabs with no home. The Arabs allowed their own Arab brothers to live in squalor and didn't give them anything, relying on the other nations of the world to take care of the problem. The Arabs didn't offer to let them live in one of their many rich countries. Israel even built apartment houses for the refugees, which the Arabs didn't allow the refugees to move into, so as to further their agenda against Israel. Why didn't that get into the media? Any clue? Israel never was able to decisively control the terrorist problem (because they were too concerned about what the world would think that it paralyzed them from doing the right thing, that any other country would do if it would be under attack). America said they would root out the evil and go after Bin Laden, and Iraq, in order to root out terrorism – is not Israel allowed the same behavior? Or are Jews different, the only ones who are not allowed to have a secure country to call their own, to live in safely (as many European and Arab countries for over a thousand years had oppressed, stolen from, kicked out and murdered the Jews living within its borders).

      January 29, 2012 at 6:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      md.
      Why should Arab countries have to accept people that been deported or immigrated from their own houses and lands...! That's mean acceptance that the country is no longer theirs...rather they remain there and fight for regaining their own houses and lands...!? Any way this issue has made the lives of our grand fathers and our fathers after then and now our lives as well a lot of head and heartaches endlessly...as it seems it will carry on for generations due call it some conspiracy or misfortune but it is still living with us...
      By the way those you mentioned were and are chasing Oil and not terrorists...!

      January 29, 2012 at 6:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      md.
      No hard feelings and good night for now.

      January 29, 2012 at 6:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      If the entire Arab area would attack Israel all at once, it would end a load of problems for all of us.

      January 29, 2012 at 8:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • Keith

      Stormfront, Apparently you're not familiar with Psalm 83?

      January 29, 2012 at 10:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      Keith.
      You are being fooled by a man written book...as easy I can refer to a Quranic verse that says some thing else...GOD does not tolerate injustice and as long as there is injustice practiced by Israelis all the odds will be against them...so either all is corrected in proper manner or needn't there be life on earth...

      January 30, 2012 at 3:17 am | Report abuse |
  4. enough

    the majority jews in this country only care about isreal, that is where there oath lies, our govt has been hijacked by them, they are less then 1% of the worlds population and create 99% of the problems, disgusting parasites

    January 29, 2012 at 4:58 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • md2205

      To enough and to muneef:
      It is Arabs who treat their own women and children as slaves. Arab men beat and in every way traumatize their own wives and make them do all the hard work in the house, deprive them of live-saving medical treatment, and lock them into their own houses. They punch their own pregnant wives until they have to be hospitalized and force their wives tell the hospital personnel they fell. They treat their own children in this abusive way as well. They don't show these aspects of their lives to the media, however, and it is not well known. But the women who dare to escape tell tales of torture and severe abuse at the hands of their own husbands. How dare you say Jews do that to Arabs! Fix up your own house first.

      January 29, 2012 at 6:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • Muneef

      md

      The whole media is in your hands so you may say and claim what ever you want since your voice will be heard but not their voice whether truth or lies...!?

      January 29, 2012 at 6:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @enough: That's the truth right there. Glad I'm not the only one here intelligent enough to see it.

      January 29, 2012 at 8:29 pm | Report abuse |
  5. GodIsTheWay

    I think Mitt Romney is the prophesied Anti-Christ.

    January 29, 2012 at 4:19 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Chance

    Leave Israel to fight their own wars. Some things are better solved by not interfering with the natural order.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:58 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • just helping out

      Come to Israel and see the pyramids

      January 29, 2012 at 4:10 pm | Report abuse |
  7. migeli

    Looks like Newt and Mitt are running for president of Israel!Both of them are liars and should be drummed out of the race.The only Republican with a brain is Ron Paul but he's too anti-government.I have no problem with Social Security,medicare and the U.S. Postal Service.I love the government protecting me agains insurance companies banks,oil,coal and gascompanies.I love regulations.Tax the wealthy. They make plenty of money off all of us.They should be glad they live in the U.S.A. SICK OF REPUBLICAN LIES. OBAMA 4 MORE YEARS.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:56 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      I predict Obama will win the second term because Republican Candidates are a joke other than Ron Paul. Ron Paul never had a chance when Stormfront–who were stupid enough to endorse him PUBLICLY–a turn off to many people to vote for Ron Paul and poison his reputation. That group is a joke and stupid they were not able to predict what damage they'll do when they publicly endorse a politician. That's why this group will always be a joke to me.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:09 pm | Report abuse |
    • AngryJew

      What is this storm front?

      January 29, 2012 at 3:28 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      @AngryJew. It's a white nationalist website and group. Bunch of idiots who claim they are far more intelligent yet not smart enough to realize the damage they have done to Ron Paul and his presidential election by publicly endorsing him.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      Actually, AngryJew, John is wrong. We're not "stupid," most of us are degreed into the higher levels of sciences, engineering, biology, one guy even has 2 Masters degrees, one in sociology and one in cultural anthropology. That's just the majority. There are whackadoos like in any movement, but, for the most part, we're just people who want our race seperated from all others, so that we can survive and thrive.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • AngryJew

      Why would anyone attacking a minority for who they are be promoting their own racial/ethnic group? That is like attacking oneself.

      January 29, 2012 at 5:59 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Lisa 144

    Folks I have had my 2 cents worth on here. Peace be to each of you and your house. "Seek righteousness, seek peace, it may be you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger." I passed a church the other day with a sign out "Ready or Not Here I Come." Agape

    January 29, 2012 at 2:49 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      Churches have been saying that for millenniums and doesn't mean anything. Of course I can put up the exact same sign and that won't mean its true. The world is still relatively young and the people still hint the Apocalypse–hence the reason why it will never happen because people are still expecting it.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Lisa 144

    John- we have free will but God knows what we will do before WE know it! Therefore humans DO work out God's purposes! We are all players on the stage of this epic drama! Respectfully also!

    January 29, 2012 at 2:45 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      You will never know when the Prophecy will happen. Even the bible said they will come like the thief of the night. God isn't stupid and he is powerful. Unless you are saying this is false

      January 29, 2012 at 2:46 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Lisa 144

    John God has used many humans to work out his purposes! How ludicrous!

    January 29, 2012 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      You are proving my point that it wasn't humans who initiated but God.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Lisa 144

    DAMASCUS: Isaiah 17:1 and 2 Damascus has become a ruinous heap." Behold the burden of Damascus- Damascus has become a ruinous heap!" Damascus has been a continuous city, never having been destroyed since it became a city. This prophecy is in the fairytale. Verse 2 para-phrasing: It is there one evening and next morning it is no more. Check it out you intellectual fairytale doubters!

    January 29, 2012 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  12. Lisa 144

    Stormfront: You and Paul (Ron) are the perfect guys to fullfil BIBLE PROPHECY! How do you like that role? If he can get enough support without the Christian Zionists –Hagee, Hal Lindsey and the rest- Paul will probably be the next President! I bet he can judging from the writers on here! This is not bad news to me. Au contraire! It means we are as close to then end of the world as we know it as I think we are- if it happens that way. CNN why r u blocking this comment? I have not already said that!

    January 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      False. No offense, but no human can initiate the prophecy of the bible. Only God can. And also, no human can alter or change God's plan or apocalypse.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @Lisa144: I could care less about "bible prophecies." I'm more concerned about saving my own culture and heritage. I want to see white culture, which builds civilizations and is the greatest and most beautiful in the history of the world, to survive. Right now, the Israeli agenda is to wipe out the white race and replace it with a "mud" (completely mixed) race that doesn't have the capability of standing up to Zog control.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      "White Culture and White Race".
      LOL!

      January 29, 2012 at 2:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @John: You must be either a Jew or a N-e-g-r-o-i-d. Either way, you're a racist.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      I find that very ironic. You call me racist but your post is clearly racist. But of course you still believe the color of your skin gives you some sort of super powers.

      If you haven't noticed, or even lack the critical thinking skills, my previous post was to show how naive you guys really are.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @John: you're the biggest idiot in the world if you think we believe that being white gives us "super powers." that's what the Jews believe.. that being Jewish makes them all important. Fact of the matter is, whites are developers, whites are nation builders, whites built civilization as we know it, as YOU are able to enjoy it. Whites are who built this country that enables you to want to destroy the whites who made it.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      @Stormfront. Of course, you are instating that fact that the color of your skin gives you super powers. By claiming that whites are building, developers, and etc; you are reinforcing and confirming my argument that you believe the color of your skin is responsible for "building nations"–like a power.

      I may ask you, what impact you have created for the world? What research or inventions have you created that makes you reinforce that you are "greater" than others? And by the way I am also white, but I will never take credit for other persons work and invention they–themselves–have solely created.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      Also, I'm going to add this comment I stated higher up just so I know you can read this:
      "I predict Obama will win the second term because Republican Candidates are a joke other than Ron Paul. Ron Paul never had a chance when Stormfront–who were stupid enough to endorse him PUBLICLY–a turn off to many people to vote for Ron Paul and poison his reputation. That group is a joke and stupid they were not able to predict what damage they'll do when they publicly endorse a politician. That's why this group will always be a joke to me."

      January 29, 2012 at 3:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @John: You're still not actually understanding a word I'm saying. I'm not saying *I* personally built civilizations. I'm saying that white ingenuity, white work ethic, white intellectualism... these are the reasons we have civilization, indoor plumbing, electricity, cities... Take a look at present day Detroit, and look at it 50 years ago... then you try to tell me that whites don't make civilization.

      January 29, 2012 at 3:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      Detroit occurred because all the companies and employment opportunities left–and it solely due to better business opportunity else where [Like California, Texas, and New York]. Those that help create civilization, indoor plumbing, electricity, cities, and etc; should be accredited for their inventions and ideas–NOT the entire white population did. You got the high school drop out, druggie, criminal, and other negative impacted 'whites' who will steal credit. Only give credit to those who worked for it, not the entire population.

      January 29, 2012 at 4:02 pm | Report abuse |
    • populist1488 on Youtube

      The world needs to reject the negative connotations that have been applied to the word "racist", and realise that it is merely a preference for your own kind. How can there be anything wrong with that? It doesn't mean you have to hate other people; but merely love and prefer your own, and some how that is suppose to be bad? It's natural to be racist, and every animal has mechanisms to help them identify their own kind even if they are able to breed outside their group.

      January 29, 2012 at 11:44 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Lisa 144

    Stormfront: You and Paul (Ron) are the perfect guys to fullfil BIBLE PROPHECY! How do you like that role? If he can get enough support without the Christian Zionists –Hagee, Hal Lindsey and the rest- Paul will probably be the next President! I bet he can judging from the writers on here! This is not bad news to me. Au contraire! It means we are as close to then end of the world as we know it as I think we are- if it happens that way.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:32 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • dusty

      Stormfront is a paid shill meant to make Ron Paul supporters look like racists.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      @Dusty. And that is why Ron Paul won't win. If they didn't endorse him; then he probably would actually had a chance.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Lisa 144

    STORMFRONT:If Bible prophecy is true,(as I believe it is else Israel would not be a nation as it is now) and if we are as close to the end of the world as we know it, as I think we are; then you and those who think like you, stormfront, are probably going to prevail. I STRONGLY DISLIKE Newt for many reasons, the only thing I do like about him is his support of Israel. (As it was the only thing I ever liked about Bush,(I don't think Bush understood exactly why he should be pro-Israel but it seemed that someone had convinced him that he should and he believed them). I do not think any pro-Israel man will be the next president, IF WE ARE AS CLOSE TO THE END AS I think/hope we are. Because the Bible, s'cuse me, the fairytale, says ALL NATIONS will come against Israel. With a pro-Israeli president we wouldn't be doing that That seems to leave Obama or Paul, (Not sure of Santorum's position on that, haven't heard him holdforth on that subject yet.) I won't vote, as I don't know who is the 'best man' to bring about God's purposes. I couldn't vote against Israel, and I can't stand any of them anyway.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:17 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      Stormfront is a White Nationalist website. If you haven't noticed.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @Lisa144: Ron Paul and Isolationism, with strong borders and strong nationalist ideals, are the only way for the US to survive. We have to stop making everyone against us. By defending Israel's sabre rattling and problem starting, we're making enemies of EVERYONE ELSE, and ignoring the real problems: Israel's anti-white agenda against Europe and the US... The Zionist desire to eliminate the white race, the only race that can stand against the Jews and their global dominion nonsense.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • dusty

      But do you honestly believe that Jesus would approve Israel's policies?

      January 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Deryk Houston

    Israel "believes" that Iran is going to wipe then off the map.

    Iran "believes" that Israel is going to wipe them off the map. (Regime change)

    Israel feel that this is the last year that it can put a stop to Iran and an attack is now or never. (The child is running into the street)

    Iran feels powerless to stop the imminent attack and is living in fear because it can never prove it doesn't have something.

    When Iran want's to talk....Israel says that they are only stalling for time.

    How can non violent communication stop this disaster from happening? What does Rosenberg say?

    January 29, 2012 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse | Reply
  16. Stormfront

    Not only do the Jews control our military through political pressure from "campaign donations" (bribes), they almost completely control our financial system due to bank control, as well as control of the entire Federal Reserve. Since we illegally rely on the Fed, and the Jews control it, that means Israel has complete control over our financial realities.

    Israel also owns our media. CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, CNN.. all owned and operated by Zionist Jews. All generating enough divisive, negative news and multicultural, anti-white agendas to make it seem perfectly fine to destroy white culture, white nations, and white existance.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      Jesus Christ, can't believe people like yourself still exist. Do you think, with modern education and science, the color of your skin gives you super power?

      January 29, 2012 at 2:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • populist1488 on Youtube

      Forced integration is just as wrong as forced segregation. What we need is our Freedom of Association back. The puritans came to the American continent to exercise their Freedom of Association (the right to accept or shun others) so they could implement their freedom of religion in a like-minded community. It could be argued that Freedom of Speech is backed by the Right to Bare Arms. Similarly, Freedom of Religion was backed by Freedom of Association.

      January 29, 2012 at 11:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • populist1488 on Youtube

      The "Melting Pot" is demanded by Anti-Whites for ALL white countries, and ONLY white countries. It's the plan to create a "blended humanity" in ALL white countries and ONLY white countries. It's the planned elimination of a race – that's GENOCIDE under International Law.

      January 29, 2012 at 11:47 pm | Report abuse |
  17. Stormfront

    The Jews are using the US military to try to wipe out THEIR enemies. We are fighting for them, instead of them fighting the fights THEY are starting. We should NOT have any diplomatic, military, or financial relations with Israel. I like Ron Paul's stance on everything.. He refuses to cow down to the Zionist political machine here in the US, and wants to bring our troops home and secure our OWN borders, our OWN economy and safety. Forget about Israel. They are their own problem. Ship the rest of the Jews in the world there, and then forget about them. After taking their nukes away.

    January 29, 2012 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • John

      Like that will ever happen. Ron Paul isn't going to win–the recent state election has proven so. And I've seen your website, and posters there are a joke. Fallacious argument, psuedo-science, and very good at throwing statistics out of proportion. But that doesn't surprise me because you guys tend to be the least educated. Hence, the reason why no one can take you seriously.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:21 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      Dear John,

      You're a liar. You've never been to our site. Actually, you're too stupid to grasp the intellectual capabilities of the least of WN's. You obviously don't understand what white nationalism means. We have scientists. We have engineers. We have people in our way of thinking that are far more intelligent than you could ever pretend to be. For that matter, I'm far more intellegent, not to mention AWARE, than you could ever be. Now either wake up and smell reality or keep dreaming that the Jews are worth a d*mn.. your choice.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      @Stormfront. You guys have scientist and engineers? Okay. Sure and I'm the President of the World. Please, you guys still think the color of your skin actually means something! It's just a skin pigmentation that controls how much Ultra-violet radiation your body absorbs. Of course your "scientist" probably didn't know that. You can be anything on the internet.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      Anyone with a decent amount of Biological Human studies should realize and understand that the skin is just a skin. The color is nothing mere than just a pigment cells on your skin.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • AngryJew

      How do you feel about the American Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans? You seem to believe that "all" Jews are disloyal to the US.

      January 29, 2012 at 6:05 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @AngryJew: How do I feel about Africans, Asians and other Asians? Very simple... I want my race away from theirs. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't want anyone, including Jews, eliminated. Just seperated and forbidden by law to interact. I'd love to see the Blacks take the educations we've offered them here in the US, go back to Africa, and try to build up Sub-Sarahan Africa into a viable area in the world that can survive. I'd love to see Asians, all of them, go back to their homelands (since they're allowed to HAVE homelands), and rebuild their lives and cultures. You can't really call someone "Native American." They're actually part of the mongoloid classification, mainly from inner eastern Mongolia, and northern China. And no, I don't believe there's one single, solitary Jew who's actually loyal to the US.

      January 29, 2012 at 9:20 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stormfront

      @John: Again, you're an idiot and a liar. There's far more that goes into race than skin pigmentation. If you actually do some real research, not using libtard "resources," you'd actually discover these things yourself. Meanwhile, our science experts are actually posting in the science section, and talking about everything from evolution to particle acceleration. While I don't understand a third of what they're talking about, I look up what they're saying and they're always right.

      January 29, 2012 at 9:23 pm | Report abuse |
  18. Will

    Only a moron is incapable of distinguishing between an entire race and a specific nation's government (and the latter most definitely doesn't represent the former). Anyone who lightly tosses around accusations of "anti-semitism" needs slapped in the mouth.

    January 29, 2012 at 1:44 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • Deryk Houston

      No one should be slapped in the mouth.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  19. dusty

    Why do you some of you call someone "anti-Semitic" if they criticize Israel's brutal settlement policies and apartheid? As this article points out, many American Jews are also disgusted by the actions of the Israeli government. Do you consider them to be anti-Semitic as well?

    January 29, 2012 at 1:28 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • md2205

      Because Israel is not apartheid. Israel, like any other sovereign country, has the right to defend itself against those who want to attack its people and/or borders, and the Arabs do/have done both. Israel didn't take care of the terrorist problem swiftly and decisively when it first came up and now they are in this mess where the media has turned against them and they don't want to "annoy" world opinion by being strong against the Arabs now. Which is what they really have to do. Destroying Arab houses is not as effective as a technique as we see the Arabs still do acts of terror. And now it only allows others to protest that Israel doesn't treat those people the same. Of course not. Would you treat criminals in your town the same and let them strike at your neighbors with impunity and not arrest them? Or you are allowed but Israel is not?

      January 29, 2012 at 5:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • AngryJew

      Israel is stealing Palestinian land and constantly attacks women and children. Any problems that face Israel are in large part due to its own terrorism.

      January 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm | Report abuse |
  20. Scott

    rachel corrie was a retard who lost a fight with a bulldozer

    January 29, 2012 at 1:16 pm | Report abuse | Reply
    • Max

      You sound like an idiot maaather faaaker

      January 29, 2012 at 2:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • dusty

      This is an incredibly ignorant and insensitive comment that it doesn't even merit a response, but I cannot allow this statement to stand unchallenged. Corrie was an American citizen who was murdered because she made a courageous stand against Israel's illegal settlement policies in the Gaza Strip. Your comments betray your arrogance and ignorance.

      January 29, 2012 at 2:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • urafkntool

      Dear Snott:

      You're on of the most worthless piles of excrement in existance. Please die.

      Sincerely,
      Me

      January 29, 2012 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • urafkntool

      one* of.. *sigh*

      January 29, 2012 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike

      Good One!!

      January 29, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

Post a comment


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Advertisement
About this blog

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, with daily contributions from CNN's worldwide newsgathering team and frequent posts from religion scholar and author Stephen Prothero.