Jewish Groups Refudiate Sarah Palin "Blood Libel" Remark
by Free Britney at .Sarah Palin's video response to the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords prompted a strong backlash from some members of America's Jewish community. Why?
The former Alaska Governor accused the media of manufacturing a "blood libel" that only incites the hatred and violence they condemn. Fair enough, except ...
"Blood libel" is a term apparently dating back to the Middle Ages, referring to a prejudice that Jewish people used Christian blood during religious rituals.
David Harris of the National Democratic Jewish Council said that instead of dialing down the rhetoric, Palin "chose to accuse others trying to sort out the meaning of this tragedy of somehow engaging in a 'blood libel' against her and others."
Harris called the repeated fiction of blood libels "directly responsible for the murder of so many Jews across centuries - and given that blood libels are so intertwined with deeply ingrained anti-Semitism around the globe, even today."
He wasn't alone in echoing this sentiment.
"The term 'blood libel' is not a synonym for 'false accusation,'" added Simon Greer of Jewish Funds for Justice. "It refers to a specific falsehood perpetuated by Christians about Jews for centuries" that sparked violence and discrimination."Unless someone has been accusing Ms. Palin of killing Christian babies and making matzoh from their blood, her use of the term is totally out of line."
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was shot in the head (allegedly by Jared Lee Loughner) and remained in critical condition, is Jewish.
Criticism over her crosshairs map that infamously targeted Giffords during the 2010 elections prompted the comments by Sarah today (below).
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, was sure to note that "it was inappropriate at the outset to blame Sarah Palin and others for causing this tragedy or for being an accessory to murder."
"Palin has every right to defend herself and we agree with her that [our best tradition] is one of finding common ground despite our differences," he said.
"Still, we wish that Palin had not invoked the phrase 'blood libel' in reference to the actions of journalists in placing blame for the shooting on others."
"While the term 'blood libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history."
Here's Palin's video response to the Arizona's massacre:
Related Stories
-
Sarah Palin on Syria Conflict: Let Allah Sort it Out! -
Sarah Palin Rips "Nerd Prom," D.C. Assclowns
-
Sarah Palin Likens Obama to Bernie Madoff, Drinks From Big Gulp, Jokes About Gun Rack
Comments (12 Total)
@cheryl: I know it sucks when facts get in the way of a fun argument, but taxes have gone down for 95% of Americans during Obama's term and he just extended the Bush tax cuts to keep taxes at the same rates they've been for all brackets. But go ahead and keep believing your own rhetoric. i know it makes you feel superior.
Null, wake-up.........it is completely disengenuous to quote definitions without some context. "Blood libel" was an allegation historically used against Jews to vilify and persecute Jewish communities since the time of Jesus....... Sarah Palin is an ignorant and stupid woman, cunning as a fox but with a below room temperature IQ, a very dangerous combination. As my father used to say 'empty vessels make the most noise"!
you are ignorant to think these words this women is saying are anywhere near offensive. She gets attacked for being the powerful women she is and for her unlike for this president who has proved nothing what so ever except for the fact that he wants to single handed make every descion in government and tell you all lies so you will believe him. Raising taxes so all your money goes to people who aren't even legal in the US? One of the many things that he has done and has no excuse as to the reasoning!
She is such a f$ching moran, she doesn't even know that if she keeps he stupid ignorant mouth shut people would forget her.
Now, she opened her mouth again. Be quiet Palin or think before you speak. Bottomline.