Chuck -
I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clearer – JJ’s statement (Jews should be grateful to Christians for physically protecting them) was an exact inversion of reality and I reacted instead of explaining. Millions of Jews (including huge swaths of my family) were physically destroyed within living memory by Christian Europe. Christian values allowed millions to be swayed into the pagan death worship called Nazism.
On the other side, America acted as a tremendous force for good (as it has done throughout history). Many Americans were motivated by their Christianity. I’d even go so far as to say that this type of behavior is the ultimate expression of Christianity – not the side Jews have experienced through most of the past two millenia.
That said, it’s simply ahistorical to view Christianity as sheltering Jews. It’s as if I expected blacks to be grateful to America for freeing the slaves. Yes, we paid a terrible price in blood to end slavery, but it was an American problem to start with.
There’s no en garde here. I’m not looking to debate you on this (or any) subject. You’re simply not my enemy.
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Gratitude is something freely given, not extracted.
If it hasn’t been clear from my previous writings, I’m deeply grateful to this country. My father came here as a ten year old refugee and surely would have been murdered if his parents were unable to escape Berlin.
Part of the reason why this country is such a beacon of liberty is because of the men whose valor and sacrifice enable the American way of life. I’m deeply appreciative of these people, including your dad and JJ’s grandparents. I’m also glad for whatever role Christianity had in their lives.
I’m equally grateful to the Jews I know who have displayed amazing courage in service to this country. I’m particularly thinking of my buddy I saw in synagogue this morning (Distinguished Flying Cross over Iraq) and a mild-mannered family friend (Silver Star Marine in Korea). Judaism has been important to both of them and has shaped them into the terrific people they are.
G-d has inspired many people from various backgrounds to come together to build this country and make it an enormous source of good in the world. Some of these people have been Jews. Some of these people professed no belief at all. And many were deeply Christian.
E Pluribus Unum.
