Re: [nukkad] Jews!

[Net Geek <>]

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 We ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household belongings, 
which when worn with use we throw away. -Plutarch, biographer (c. 46-120)
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Dear Nukkies
             Why the Jews are (more precisely ‘were’) a cursed race? Why they
are/were hated and tortured by non-Jews across the globe?  Whenever this becomes the
topic of discussion, there arise two main rival camps. The first one which
empathises with their plight and portray them as victims of misguided ideology,
religious hatred, intolerance and envy. The opposing group are all eager to paint
them as greedy, selfish stonehearted and too much money minded. To strengthen their
message the latter even go to the extent of propagating theories that Jews are all
out to rule the world with their enormous accumulations of money. What is the truth?

This subject being object of my interest I have spent quite some time going through
various literatures, journals, books and even novels, in order to formulate a
sensible and logical reason for this phenomenon. My search still continues and I’m
still unable to pinpoint one single cause amidst claims and counter claims from the
opposing sides. I’m also not in a position categorically ratify which of the above
two camps are close to the truth. The following are some of the reasons, which I
believe gave rise to anti-Jewish feelings. 

>>Jews were the first oriental minority to have conquered Europe not with a sword
but with a strong group discipline, with collective will and talent.  In short
collective Asiatical  efforts proved to be much more efficient, than European  (here
I mean Europe of the past) individualism. As a result a single minority group ended
up owning a majority of both landed wealth and money.   The natives instead of
confronting to the new realities by having a healthy working relationship with the
new owners fell prey to petty jealousness and envy. Former Soviet republics and
later Germany and other Nazi occupied areas are perfect specimens falling into this
category.  Narrow-minded ultra nationalists and despotic rulers/monarchs with a
failed administration needed scapegoats to hide their failings. Jews fitted the bill
perfectly. Even though Jews were insensitive to local hardships, nothing justifies
the ill treatment meted upon them.  Thus basically Jewish hatred is nothing but
hatred towards a successful minority group by an under performing and lethargic
majority. One need not go far for similar examples. What else explains the attempts
of some venerable comrades on this very list, to malign Gujarati and Marwari
community for all the financial woes facing India? A careful examination of this
with the case of Jews drives home the message clearly.

>>Then there is the other category that found fault in Jews based solely on their
faith and tormented and butchered them only to uphold their own religious beliefs.
The Christian crusaders of the past and some of the Islamites fall into this
category.  Rather than reconciling to the fact that Jewish beliefs and practices are
different, they went all out to discredit them in one way or the other. For this
purpose they used their ultimate silver bullet to perfection namely Christ and
Allah.  Anything different from the misconceived interpretations of some notorious
padres and mullahs were put under the sword.  Jews naturally fell easy targets due
to the lack of an effective army and without a homeland of their own.  In short
nothing but intolerance. However Jews are not alone here, only that they have
suffered the most as a result of religious intolerance and they successfully
portrayed it to the world at lage as Holocaust, which earned them sympathy.

Before winding up, I have a question for the so-called Jewish haters and baiters,
“Have you ever met a Jew?  Did a Jew harm your interests or welfare in anyway?” If
both the questions yield an emphatic “No”, then be honest and ask yourself “What is
the rationale behind hating someone/community with whom you have hardly come into
any contact?”

As for me, faiths do differ even though all portray the same message in essence.  NO
two religions can be the same. Sticks to your faith however do not belittle someone
else’s beliefs as long as they don’t harm you in any way. Live and let live. Also if
someone achieves exceptionally, admire him and try to emulate the good qualities in
him rather than hating and envying.

=====
Bye,



Netgeek aka Cherian
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