An Epidemic of Anti-Semitism

National Review's Richard Brookhiser appeared on C-Span's Washington Journal yesterday to promote his latest book, Give Me Liberty. It is his view that, contrary to my own negative views about nationalism and American exceptionalism, it's actually a good thing. As he explains,

I AM JUST TRYING TO DIRECT OUR ATTENTION AWAY, FOR A MOMENT, FROM THE POLITICAL MANIA THAT HAS SURROUNDED US FOR 363 DAYS THIS YEAR SO FAR AND COUNTING. WE HAVE TWO MORE TO GO. WEDNESDAY WE START ALL OVER AGAIN. I WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THAT AND HAVE US LOOK AT  400 YEARS WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE IDEA OF LIBERTY. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF AMERICA, OUR NATIONALISM. IT IS THE EXCEPTIONAL AMERICAN IDEAL. IT IS SOMETHING AMERICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WRITING ABOUT, FIGHTING FOR 4 CENTURIES. 

If this is so, we should all be disgusted by an epidemic of anti-Semitism sweeping this nation.

According to Brookhiser, our obsession with liberty is manifested by 13 documents, starting with the Jamestown papers in 1619. He continues through Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down this Wall Speech" in 1987. He stops there. Like any good historian, he avoids the temptation to cover more recent events.

One of the 13 papers he mentions is the Flushing Remonstrance, a 1657 petition signed by about 30 Flushing residents in opposition to as ban on Quaker worship. It concludes,

The law of love, peace and liberty in the states extending to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, as they are considered sonnes of Adam, which is the glory of the outward state of Holland, soe love, peace and liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus, condemns hatred, war and bondage. And because our Saviour sayeth it is impossible but that offences will come, but woe unto him by whom they cometh, our desire is not to offend one of his little ones, in whatsoever form, name or title hee appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker, but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to doe unto all men as we desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true law both of Church and State; for our Saviour sayeth this is the law and the prophets.

This theme of tolerance exists in other documents as well, including William Penn's Charter of Privileges to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania.

So it's clear this religious intolerance is distinctly unAmerican. This is not a Jewish problem, but a stain on American exceptionalism.

Though I am not particularly religious, I intend to visit a few more synagogues in upcoming weeks. Also, like the residents of Flushing, we need to stand up to those who engage in anti-Semitism, no matter how subtle they are.

Bethlehem NAACP Remembers MLK on 50th Anniversary of His Death

Terry and Ryan Gooding, ages 8 and 6

On Tuesday evening, Allentown's NAACP featured a forum that was supposed to be about the impact of hip hop music. Though I'm one of the few old farts who actually listens to and appreciates this music, I skipped the event because this nonprofit, which is supposed to refrain from partisan politics, featured a Congressional candidate as well as a person who thinks she should be Allentown's Mayor. But last night, the Bethlehem NAACP stayed true to its mission with a march to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was cut down just 50 years ago at age 39. The march of about 50 people started at Payrow Plaza, located on Bethlehem's north side, at 5 pm. It ended at Martin Luther King Park, located on the south side, shortly before 6 pm. And at that hour, the hour that King was assassinated, the bells at Holy Ghost Church tolled. They also rang out at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity.

Despite strong winds and plunging temperatures, the pilgrimage marched. At one time, not so long ago, police officers might have clubbed participants  But Bethlehem Police, including its mounted unit, protected marchers from their biggest enemy at rush hour - traffic. NAACP President Esther Lee, with her ubiquitous church hat, joined the march en route, cane and all.

The crowd arrived at Martin Luther King Park a little early. It warmed itself, not with hip hop, but gospel music belted out by Winston Alozie, program director of the Bethlehem Boys and Girls Club.With no accompaniment except for his audience, Winston delivered a stirring rendition of "Let it Shine."



Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez, joined by City Council members Olga Negron and Michael Colón, said Dr. King was more than an advocate for people of color, but a "champion of the overlooked and downtrodden."

State Rep. Steve Samuelson carried a book that contained all of King's most memorable speeches. He said that, a few days after the assassination, King's widow Coretta led a march in Memphis in which people carried signs saying, "Honor King, End Racism." But 50 years later, that dream has yet to be realized. But the dream still lives, as Stevie Wonder notes in a video he just released, including comments from numerous luminaries.



"Dr. King did not die just for black folks," added Lee. She and other speakers spoke about King's fights against residential segregation (more politely called gentrification), poverty, poor wages, police brutality and Vietnam. Some speakers claim that, in the 50 years since King's death, things have grown worse. But for them, standing in a pocket park on a cold and windy day, the dream still lives.

I sometimes have my doubts. I often think of the opening line of poem by e.e. cummings. "pity this busy monster, manunkind, ... not." But then I see two sisters like Terry and Ryan Gooding, ages 8 and 6. How could anyone hate them? The dream does still live.

Blogger's Note: To see photos and videos from yesterday's march, visit my Facebook page.