'The Passion' Incites New Divisions Among Neo-Cons

'The Passion' Incites New Divisions Among Neo-Cons

Jim Lobe

Increasingly split and defensive over whether the United States has to cooperate more with the United Nations and the Europeans and whether Syria or Iran should be ''next'' in the war on terrorism, the neo-conservative movement is now beset by a new source of tension within its ranks -- Mel Gibson's film, 'The Passion of the Christ'.

WASHINGTON, Mar 13 (IPS) - As ticket sales for the Australian-born superstar's gory, blood-drenched cinematic interpretation of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life surpassed the 200-million-dollar less than two weeks after its Ash Wednesday release, the debate over whether the movie is anti-Semitic in its intent or effect has unexpectedly split the neo-cons who, in pursuit of their strong support for Israel's security, have made common cause with the Christian Right for some 25 years.

'The Passion', which could become the biggest grossing movie of 2004 and the surely the biggest ever with subtitles -- the actors speak in Aramaic and Latin -- appears to have pushed some very influential neo-conservatives over the edge.

Thus, 'Washington Post' columnist Charles Krauthammer this weekend denounced the movie as a ''blood libel'' against the Jews that challenges the Catholic Church's official doctrine that the Jews should not be held responsible for the crucifixion and constitutes a ''singular act of interreligious aggression''.......

http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=22753

out of each other.
lower than bacteria -- all of them.

“Neocon” Critics of The Passion of the Christ
by Matt C. Abbott

25 March 2004

Lev Navrozov, Scott Shore, Charles Krauthammer and William Safire have all criticized The Passion.


I tend to shake my head when I hear someone described as a “neoconservative.” A neoconservative, to me, is the same as a “fiscal conservative.” In other words, neoconservatives/fiscal conservatives are, in reality, not conservatives at all; they are liberals, albeit a bit more sophisticated in their arguments than the ordinary, run-of-the-mill liberal. They support Republicans insofar as Republicans promote a particular type of foreign policy, or a particular view of economics. But neoconservatives seemingly have little or no concern about the moral law and the evils that are destroying our culture – abortion, contraception, assisted suicide, pornography, and the homosexual agenda. And, for all practical purposes, they are anti-Christian.

These neoconservatives, like their liberal counterparts, have a problem with Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. The film is anti-Semitic, they assert. Oh, yes -- they also say it is pornographic and sadomasochistic (!).

Columnists Charles Krauthammer and William Safire are considered neoconservatives. Both have blasted Gibson and the film. As have Scott Shore and Lev Navrozov.......

http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article3264.html

"abortion, contraception, assisted suicide, pornography, and the homosexual agenda. And, for all practical purposes, they are anti-Christian."

LOL, I thought that was the liberals. :)

Gibson's 'The Passion' a Hit Among Arabs
Mon Apr 5, 1:35 AM ET

By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - Hanan Nsour, a veiled, 21-year-old Muslim in Jordan, came out of "The Passion of the Christ" in tears and pronounced her verdict: Mel Gibson (news)'s crucifixion epic "unmasked the Jews' lies and I hope that everybody, everywhere, turns against the Jews."

The Quran, though, says Jesus's crucifixion never happened.

Such are the contradictions that are welling up as the Arab world deals with "The Passion," even as the film draws large audiences in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and other Arab countries that have approved it for screening.

In the Arab world, openly voiced anti-Semitism — and by extension the warm reception for "The Passion" — is bound up in the Arab conflict with Israel. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), after watching the film at his compound in the West Bank, was quoted by an aide as likening Jesus' suffering to the Palestinians'.

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"As ticket sales for the Australian-born superstar's gory..."

Gibson was born in New York and moved to Australia.

The Passion is showing now in Jordan, Syria and Iran. Still banned in the neo-con's beloved Israel.