tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33424426.post8158672183197792399..comments2023-09-01T07:04:13.381-07:00Comments on Reflections on Faith and Culture: Another Anniversary . . . KristallnachtGil Bailiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481878663941134090noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33424426.post-88739347995059385372009-11-09T10:08:00.590-08:002009-11-09T10:08:00.590-08:00Thank you, Gil. This is an important reminder that...Thank you, Gil. This is an important reminder that anti-Semitism is still a force in our world and that it must never be allowed to flourish. So much is now understood about the psychology of scapegoating, partly, as you know, through the work of René Girard. We now recognize that every society has its scapegoats and that the perpetrators are usually convinced of their justice of their cause. Scapegoating cannot occur in full consciousness of itself. <br /><br />How are we to achieve consciousness of our own scapegoating tendencies? This is difficult, and perhaps we can only hope for limited success. One measure that we can adopt, however, is to monitor our own language when speaking about groups with whom we disagree. We must be hyper-vigilant about any sort of language that misrepresents the facts (or channels such misrepresentations), creates unwarranted negative linkages, stereotypes or dehumanizes our opponents, or seeks to inflame public passions against them. And above all, any grievances that we voice must have a rational basis. Age-old fears and antagonisms must not be allowed to thrive under the banner of tradition. This last requirement is a particularly difficult one for those whose faith seems to require scapegoating.<br /><br />What I am describing is a kind of discipline that every single individual needs to practice. I believe that it is only through such monitoring of ourselves and others that we can avoid recurrence of events like the Holocaust. Islamist anti-Semitism is a stark reminder that the lessons of that tragedy have not yet been learned. But we have other reminders in our own society—the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) counted 926 active hate groups in the U.S. in 2008. According to the SPLC, “all hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics.” <br /><br />As you know, I am very sensitive to any language that maligns homosexuals. And as you have seen, I can also be critical of gays and lesbians when they malign other groups or engage in irresponsible behaviors. But there can be little doubt that homosexuals are one of the major targets of religion-backed scapegoating in this country. I believe we could make huge progress toward addressing this problem if each of us can commit to practicing the disciplines that I listed above. We will all fail at times, because we are only human. But the lesson of the Holocaust is that we must try, because there is too much at stake to fail.Doughlas Remyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421275276424774845noreply@blogger.com