We’ve all taken tests and quizzes in school. The true /false
test was my favorite because it meant that even if I hadn’t studied, (which was
often) I still had a fifty/fifty chance. Yes, indeed, those little true /false
things saved my lazy, rebellious neck. To a lesser degree, I also enjoyed multiple choice because even though the
odds were not quite as good as true/false,
I at least had a one in five chance. As for fill
in the blank? Um… Let’s not go there.
I also made an interesting observation about true/false
tests. I discovered that most answers (for some reason) were true, even when they were written in a
tricky way that suggested, false.
Well, today, I offer you a true/false test about the Middle
East. It’s purpose: To challenge the conventional wisdom and naïve
beliefs of the day and to correct the horrible historical revision going on,
from the media, to the college campus, to the clever comments that come out of
your friend’s mouths around the water cooler or at cocktail parties. But since I am correcting “established
facts,” allow me to offer you a little clue. This time, most of the statements will be false.
Before the test begins, I need to make an important
introduction.
First of all, today’s article is the beginning of a series.
You can find each subsequent chapter the very next day on Town Hall.
At the end of each essay, I will place a bibliography so
that you can be aware of the extremely well- written and carefully documented
books I am using as sources.
Interesting, how Jewish documentation is considered a tainted source while the
words of Anti-Semites or sincere Gentiles who grew up hearing myths about the
Jews are not viewed with
suspicion. How often do we hear that The
Holocaust never happened? To back up
this “fact” it is pointed out that most books written about The Holocaust are
written by Jews. This should not surprise us. Who will be more concerned about
Hitler’s holocaust then the Jews? Who
will want to warn us about the possibility of another holocaust more than the
Jews? At the same time, I like to point
out that one of the definitive non-fiction pieces about the Nazis, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,
was written by a Gentile (Shriver), not to mention the films of concentration
camps and German, government level documents. (The Nazis had an odd
eccentricity. They carefully documented just exactly what they planned to
do.) Finally, the Nuremberg Trials,
conducted by the United States
and Great Britain,
gave the world a generous and detailed record of actual Nazi confessions.
But try explaining any of this to the Historical Revisionist
Society. And try explaining this to Iranian leader, Ahamadinnejad, who, with
one side of his mouth, says The Holocaust never happened and with the other
side says that actually, a holocaust might not be such a bad idea.
History tends to repeat itself. Just imagine if you could
take a trip back through time to Germany
in the 1930’s. What would you say to
people? How would you attempt to warn
them of what was about to happen? And
would they believe you? Probably not,
because what the Nazi’s were about to do was unthinkable. It also smacked in
the face of modern ideas (even more pronounced today, but already around back
then) that human beings were morally evolving or that there was really no such
thing as evil. Well, right now, I feel
that I have gone back through time to warn you. No, I didn’t hitch hike a ride
with Doc Brown and Marty McFly on their Delorean time machine. But I do see the
beginnings of a new holocaust on the horizon, because again, history repeats
itself.
While you listen to accusations of Jewish propaganda, as the
“only source for the so-called holocaust,” please keep in mind that the phrase,
“Jewish propaganda” was already used by the Nazi’s once upon a time, to turn
the Germans against the Jews in the first place. On one hand, the Jews were a
conspiracy of greedy capitalists who wanted to take over the world. On the
other hand (for those with opposite concerns) the Jews were a conspiracy of
Communists who wanted to take over the world. You see, those who believe in
conspiracies never need to worry about contradicting themselves and never need
to make a whole lot of sense and never need to back up their claims with
documentation. After all, if the facts were that obvious, it wouldn’t be much
of a conspiracy, right? Anti-Semitism is often viewed as a mystery. One of the
few emotions shared by Extreme Right and Extreme Leftist fanatics, is a
hatred of Jews.
On the other hand, I am
Jewish. I too, may be accused of bias. I suppose there is some bias. We all have a little. I was raised Jewish and I would be
lying if I didn’t confess the obvious, that there is much emotion associated
with what I am writing. On the other hand, even though I was born into a Jewish
home, I converted to Christianity during my second year of college. I will not
go into the details right now. There is another series on Town Hall where I
share my testimony and it has little to do with this present article. I mention
it here briefly for only one reason: As a Jewish-Christian, I have often found
myself (needless to say) at odds with fellow Jews. Theologically, I have been
very critical of Judaism, especially regarding the obvious subject of Jesus. To
claim Jesus as the Messiah is to disagree with Judaism on fundamental core
beliefs. My point right now? I have been willing to criticize Jews.
Whether my criticism is valid or invalid, it does demonstrate a significant degree of objectivity. Please know
that this author certainly is not one
who defends all Jews right or wrong.
The situation is different with the nation of Israel.
Here, I am on the side of Zionists (those who believe the Jews are entitled to
a national homeland and who also believe Israel
is, and always has been, their national homeland). My brother (an orthodox Jew)
and I, get into frequent, spirited debates about Jesus, but we are on exactly the same page when the subject changes to Israel.
And yet, even here, I am in disagreement with many other
Jews, specifically liberals. Liberal Jews in America
and Liberal Jews in Israel
(interestingly enough), tend to take the side of the Palestinians. Jews have
often been their own worst enemy.
One more introductory disclaimer, and this one has to do with
the relationship between Jews and Evangelical Christians. A number of years ago, I spoke at Bethel
Seminary in San Diego. The subject was not Judaism, but rather, a
defense for the entire Bible, Old and New Testament. Generally, such talks are
followed by long Q and A times. One of
the seminarians raised his hand with an interesting question. He had taken many classes about the End
Times, the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and the second coming of Christ.
Although there is a wide range of viewpoint amongst Christians, several of the
popular teachings associate Jesus’ return with the nation of Israel.
They insist that the Jewish return to the Promised Land in the Twentieth
Century is a fulfillment of ancient scriptural predictions and they believe a
future battle (the Battle of Armageddon) will climax in Christ’s rescuing of
Israel from her enemies and ruling as king of the world, with Israel as his
headquarters.
Anyway, let me share the seminarian’s question: “As a
Christian, I feel obligated to take Israel’s
side because of Bible prophecy, but when I follow the news I become concerned
about Israeli abuses toward the persecuted Palestinians. What should I do about this?”
I appreciated the question and I offered a careful
response: “I believe in Bible prophecy
but I do not believe prophecy should be
the reason for Christians to side with Israel.
Let me offer you a better reason, a human rights reason. If we could correct the historical revision
going on today, you would find yourself siding with Israel,
regardless of Bible prophecy.”
And now, I can imagine, you the reader, thinking the
following:
“OK, Bob. You have made your disclaimers. We have read your
introduction. Just give us this true-false test about the Jews and Palestinians
already.”
The test will begin in tomorrow’s blog. (Always leave them
wanting more.)