billy graham ..calls Jews...'synagogue of Satan'

[scandal 951]

Would you say that intolerance, on the whole... is something that is actually on the decrease due to intolerant idiots dying faster than they can be replaced by more idiots?

I kind of view it that way, but sometimes, as in the cases that just out into the limelight, I second guess my optimism.

No, I don't think intolerance has decreased. I think that things go in waves.. bad economic times bring out more misery, more of people looking around for scapegoats, for someone to blame. So they blame Jews for the financial collapse - they note that Bernie Madoff is Jewish, that Lehman Brothers was founded by Jews, that AIG was led by Hank Greenberg, that the last two Fed chairmen Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke are Jewish. So of course - the whole mess is a "Jewish problem". For the record, it's not just antisemitic intolerance. Bigoted hatred of Muslims in the wake of 9/11, or of Latinos due to perceptions that they are "responsible" for illegal immigration are just as odious as antisemitism. All of these things are happening NOW, not in some long far-away time in the 20's or 30's.

Have a look at the ADL website for more information on how real this is.

Here's a whole page devoted to the "Jews caused the financial crisis" - http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/financialcrisis.asp

Have a look here for a "who's who" glossary of the radical extremist hate groups in America http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/

[HAL 9000 96]

How is it dying out when you still get all this rumour and innuendo about the 'disproportionate' number of jews in business ownership?

Maybe the decreasing numbers of intolerant community members are louder than they were before.

[HAL 9000 96]

Would you say that intolerance, on the whole... is something that is actually on the decrease due to intolerant idiots dying faster than they can be replaced by more idiots?

I kind of view it that way, but sometimes, as in the cases that just out into the limelight, I second guess my optimism.

No, I don't think intolerance has decreased. I think that things go in waves.. bad economic times bring out more misery, more of people looking around for scapegoats, for someone to blame. So they blame Jews for the financial collapse - they note that Bernie Madoff is Jewish, that Lehman Brothers was founded by Jews, that AIG was led by Hank Greenberg, that the last two Fed chairmen Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke are Jewish. So of course - the whole mess is a "Jewish problem". For the record, it's not just antisemitic intolerance. Bigoted hatred of Muslims in the wake of 9/11, or of Latinos due to perceptions that they are "responsible" for illegal immigration are just as odious as antisemitism. All of these things are happening NOW, not in some long far-away time in the 20's or 30's.

Have a look at the ADL website for more information on how real this is.

Here's a whole page devoted to the "Jews caused the financial crisis" - http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/financialcrisis.asp

Have a look here for a "who's who" glossary of the radical extremist hate groups in America http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/

Certainly agree with you of the phenomenon of wave behavior. Stupidity tends to breed scapegoated intolerance, and the flavor of the month changes with time to reflect more *current* stupidities in vogue with certain sectors of the population. I just think that that percentage for each intolerant group is on the decrease, albeit extremely and almost unacceptably SLOW for any rational open-minded person to want to stomach.

[Peikko 1,575]

I doubt it. I see an awful lot of 'fervent young men' lapping up the rhetoric. There is this idea that somehow jews are to blame for economic woes without the slightest shred of evidence and even if those who peddle these things don't even believe it themselves (and my guess is many do not) they harness the hatred for their own nefarious ends (generally an attempt to gain power for themselves).

[NickD 203]

I believe that its because Jesus' "people" didn't accept him - and their elders colluded with the Romans to destroy him.

One week before the Crucifixion Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as a hero. The people did accept him. The elders kind of "rigged" the "trial" before Pilate. If there was someone to blame in the Jewish community it would be the elders trying to hold on to their power.

For Christ's sake, Jesus had to die, according to the bible was sent here to teach and to make the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, if Jesus did not die, would be no salvation, no resurrection, and no life ever lasting. What teed off the elders is that he claimed to be the son of God, blasphemy, and in those days, death was the penalty for blasphemy, was their law. Thousands were crucified back then, as cruel as it may sound, you can bet those people thought nothing about it.

Can only wonder and this question was asked a zillion times, what would happen to day if some guy claimed to the your salvation and the son of God? Really have the answer to that, they are locked up in nut houses.

But if you are a true Christian like Billy claims to be, it's your own sins that is the reason why Jesus had to die.

When you think about, our short life on earth compared to all eternity, the quitting of chasing wild woman, 10% of your gross income, and accepting Jesus as your savior with an eternity of peace and unimaginable happiness, is a very small price to pay.

If it's really true, that is. But that is up to the individual to decide. But persecuting people on the basis of their religion, that is wrong no matter how you look at it. Providing of course, their religion is not causing harm to you or to your family.

[BishopMnA 0]

But persecuting people on the basis of their religion, that is wrong no matter how you look at it.

Ditto!

Peace.....

[HAL 9000 96]

I doubt it. I see an awful lot of 'fervent young men' lapping up the rhetoric. There is this idea that somehow jews are to blame for economic woes without the slightest shred of evidence and even if those who peddle these things don't even believe it themselves (and my guess is many do not) they harness the hatred for their own nefarious ends (generally an attempt to gain power for themselves).

I guess so- many seem to do it now under the guise of free speech; back in the day it would have been more of a social thing to partake in Klan-sponsored events. Etc. My way of seeing these things is that there is a gradual decrease in the percentage of intolerant idiots compared to the population as a whole, but they are concentrating more such that their effect seems greater. Also instead of going out on lynchings and the like, it seems the hate has turned into the talk radio circuit so as to attempt to influence the fragile psychological state of those that may not act like complete buffoons... but are suggestible into thinking so.

[HAL 9000 96]

But persecuting people on the basis of their religion, that is wrong no matter how you look at it.

Ditto!

Peace.....

On any basis beyond having an actual criminal basis IMO. Making excuses to discriminate and persecute is frankly insane. This obviously starts before actions, but in thoughts, and that IMO is something EXTREMELY entrenched in our society as in others.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think it's very hard to gauge exactly how damaging it is. The only remedy that I can think of is to counter any such claims, at least to the extent to prevent these ideas taking a hold of dissatisfied minorities who will take the step from angry rhetoric to targeted vandalism and worse.

[HAL 9000 96]

I think it's very hard to gauge exactly how damaging it is. The only remedy that I can think of is to counter any such claims, at least to the extent to prevent these ideas taking a hold of dissatisfied minorities who will take the step from angry rhetoric to targeted vandalism and worse.

Of course- last thing you want to be accused of by society in general is espousing a system of reeducation by looking at the rhetoric that influences how the suggestible think. A democratic society leaves the power of thought to its constituents, however insane they may actually be. A just society, OTOH, would do something to minimize the factors that lead to scapegoating behaviors with very clear emphasis on keeping education within these actions.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's a hard balance to achieve really - and largely it is done although I do wish that something could be done to tone down the vitriol of shock jocks sometimes but hey ho.

[HAL 9000 96]

It's a hard balance to achieve really - and largely it is done although I do wish that something could be done to tone down the vitriol of shock jocks sometimes but hey ho.

Insert Obama Marcism here.

[Peikko 1,575]

Well, I get over it quite quickly - I guess I just can't understand how so many people find it entertaining on a day by day basis. That kind of thing just gets really old, really quickly to me. I know I have my media biases, like everyone, but having people shout at me all day, trying to get me pumped up with outrage over every little thing, just too exhausting altogether for my taste.

[NickD 203]

It's a hard balance to achieve really - and largely it is done although I do wish that something could be done to tone down the vitriol of shock jocks sometimes but hey ho.

Insert Obama Marcism here.

I set my Apple computer along side my IBM PC, whether they liked it or not, but not sure if I should also set my HAL-9000 ( a clone) along side of those two.

[alienlovechild 75]

Also instead of going out on lynchings and the like, it seems the hate has turned into the talk radio circuit so as to attempt to influence the fragile psychological state of those that may not act like complete buffoons... but are suggestible into thinking so.

So with millions of talk radio listeners+ plenty of guns= increasingly high numbers of racially or religiously motivated killings?

How do you even get a radio signal in your cave? Talk about of touch with reality.