(no subject)
This is apparently part of a transcription of a speech which was said and/or edited by the Rebbe on the topic of secular books for Jewish schools.
"...As for social studies as well as the English language readers, from the
primers up - it is likewise unnecessary to be reminded that we live in a
Christian society, which colors all these text-books and gives them a
christological character, despite the so-called separation of church and
state. To be sure ethical values are stressed, but these too are Christian
in nature....suffice it to mention the glorification of knighthood and of the
Crusades, passing over in complete silence what these meant in
Jewishhistory in terms of bloodshed and persecution.
The ideal of democracy is of course a commendable one. But this too
presents a serious problem . The emphasis on absolute equality of
race,creed and color - an equality which can only be considered
rational in terms of equality in the civil rights and general
humanitarian cosiderations, but not in absolute terms - is, of course,
in conflict also with the basic principle of Ato B'chartonu,, the
chosenness of our people as the torch-bearers of the Torah and Divine
Truth, and as a holy nation. It is undeniable that the said emphasis on
absolute equality is a contributing factor in the widespread
assimilation and intermarriage, a painful subject which need not be
elaborated here, we are all familiar with it.
The trend is even more pronounced among the Jews,
because Jews are by nature more idealistic, and more sensitive to
discrimination and are therefore apt to be more susceptible to these
influences, if not properly immunized against them.
the above are only some of the more serious aspects of our general
problem.
So I fail to understand what we can expect from Lubavitcher chassidim if the Rebbe came out and openly stated that racial equality is against the Torah. Of course they are all going to be racist and ethnocentric bigots and those who are not are simply either not aware of what the Rebbe said or work in kiruv or shlichus and are very adept at hiding the dark side of frumkeit and Lubavitch.
At the same time, is there really any way to explain ata bechartanu and also believe in the equality of all people, regardless of race or religion? The yeshivish and Modern Orthodox world tries to couch all of this in the language of "everyone is equal, but we just have more responsibility". Then the analogy of trash collectors is given. Everyone is important in a society, doctors and garbage collectors, but what can you do? Doctors just have more responsiblities. In my view, this is pretty much the same as what chabad states, just phrased more subtly and delicately. We are all equal before God, but somehow Jews have more important work to do. I think the problem is that if you really, really believe that Gentiles are just as close and equal to God as Jews are, the question of why keep the other 606 mitzvos becomes very difficult to answer.