Serioulsy, folks.
Bash Or Build
By Andrew A. Buerger
Publisher, Balitmore Jewish Times
The following editorial is from the October 13, 2006 issue of the Baltimore Jewish Times. While I was not the author, I share the author's opinions and would like to offer them up for commentary.
Ever notice how e-mail themes come in waves? Perhaps it's the viral nature of the World Wide Web. For a while it was spam from Canadian drugs. Now it's some weight loss pill Anatrim that doctors are recommending. I always get a lot of spam questioning my manhood. How do they even know I'm a guy?
A few weeks ago, just before the start of the High Holidays, I started collecting e-mails about Islam from people who know me, so they're really not spam. My acquaintances must think I have nothing better to do.
One compared the number of Nobel Prizes won by Jews vs. the take for Muslim winners in the prize's history. Even though there are 10 times as many Muslims, they won seven Nobel prizes versus 127 for Jews.
A different e-mail from the same sender compared the number of Muslims in Maryland prison system to that of the Jews -- 25 percent vs. 0.9 percent.
I don't know how I lived without knowing that statistic. The e-mailer went on to do the math for me, saying that Muslims are 25 times more likely to commit crimes in this state, despite having a lower population in Maryland .
I replied to my friend in a cordial way, reminding him of a story a builder friend recently told me. The builder said there were two ways to make the tallest building in town. One is to create the highest structure. The other is to tear down the other buildings.
As for me, I don't love Judaism because we have fewer Jewish criminals. Judaism is special because of the values we learn through the Torah. We are commanded to make the world a better place which we've done for centuries. Even secular Jews who don't read Torah get indoctrinated into Jewish values by attending a Passover seder or watching their parents, who may not have taught them any direct Jewish lessons.
Rabbi Mark Loeb reminded me during Yom Kippur that our special bond with God makes us different. Never mind the horrible acts committed in the name of Islam. Let's focus on ourselves and improving our lives and communities.
I guess that's why I was upset when I received yet another mass forwarded anti-Islam e-mail. This came from an evangelical Christian friend whom I love. It tells a story of Rick Mathes, founder of Mission Gate Prison Ministries, who met with Christians and Muslims in a prison.
"‘So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Pat Robertson or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same to go to Heaven!'"
This summer I went to the Hezbollah-Israel warfront and saw first hand what horrible things Muslims have done. And I'm not blind to the jihad Islam's radical fringe is waging on innocents. Still, I lost it when I got that e-mail. I had enough Muslim bashing for one month.
I hit "reply" and reminded her that the Pope had done just that. Remember the Crusades in the Middle Ages? How many Muslims were killed in the name of Christianity?
While it didn't come from the Pope, the pontiff turned a blind eye when Hitler waged a jihad on six million Jews and another six million non-Aryans. How many Muslims were killed by Christians in Bosnia in the 1990s?
I don't want to make excuses for radical Muslims out to mass murder Christians and Jews. Yet any student of history can point to atrocities committed not only by Muslims, but by Christians.
I'm proud to be a Jew, part of a religion that has given so much to the world. I don't need to be in the wrecking crew knocking down Islam to build up Judaism.
By Andrew A. Buerger
Publisher, Balitmore Jewish Times
The following editorial is from the October 13, 2006 issue of the Baltimore Jewish Times. While I was not the author, I share the author's opinions and would like to offer them up for commentary.
Ever notice how e-mail themes come in waves? Perhaps it's the viral nature of the World Wide Web. For a while it was spam from Canadian drugs. Now it's some weight loss pill Anatrim that doctors are recommending. I always get a lot of spam questioning my manhood. How do they even know I'm a guy?
A few weeks ago, just before the start of the High Holidays, I started collecting e-mails about Islam from people who know me, so they're really not spam. My acquaintances must think I have nothing better to do.
One compared the number of Nobel Prizes won by Jews vs. the take for Muslim winners in the prize's history. Even though there are 10 times as many Muslims, they won seven Nobel prizes versus 127 for Jews.
A different e-mail from the same sender compared the number of Muslims in Maryland prison system to that of the Jews -- 25 percent vs. 0.9 percent.
I don't know how I lived without knowing that statistic. The e-mailer went on to do the math for me, saying that Muslims are 25 times more likely to commit crimes in this state, despite having a lower population in Maryland .
I replied to my friend in a cordial way, reminding him of a story a builder friend recently told me. The builder said there were two ways to make the tallest building in town. One is to create the highest structure. The other is to tear down the other buildings.
As for me, I don't love Judaism because we have fewer Jewish criminals. Judaism is special because of the values we learn through the Torah. We are commanded to make the world a better place which we've done for centuries. Even secular Jews who don't read Torah get indoctrinated into Jewish values by attending a Passover seder or watching their parents, who may not have taught them any direct Jewish lessons.
Rabbi Mark Loeb reminded me during Yom Kippur that our special bond with God makes us different. Never mind the horrible acts committed in the name of Islam. Let's focus on ourselves and improving our lives and communities.
I guess that's why I was upset when I received yet another mass forwarded anti-Islam e-mail. This came from an evangelical Christian friend whom I love. It tells a story of Rick Mathes, founder of Mission Gate Prison Ministries, who met with Christians and Muslims in a prison.
"‘So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Pat Robertson or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same to go to Heaven!'"
This summer I went to the Hezbollah-Israel warfront and saw first hand what horrible things Muslims have done. And I'm not blind to the jihad Islam's radical fringe is waging on innocents. Still, I lost it when I got that e-mail. I had enough Muslim bashing for one month.
I hit "reply" and reminded her that the Pope had done just that. Remember the Crusades in the Middle Ages? How many Muslims were killed in the name of Christianity?
While it didn't come from the Pope, the pontiff turned a blind eye when Hitler waged a jihad on six million Jews and another six million non-Aryans. How many Muslims were killed by Christians in Bosnia in the 1990s?
I don't want to make excuses for radical Muslims out to mass murder Christians and Jews. Yet any student of history can point to atrocities committed not only by Muslims, but by Christians.
I'm proud to be a Jew, part of a religion that has given so much to the world. I don't need to be in the wrecking crew knocking down Islam to build up Judaism.