Churches reject Black Lives Matter's platform on Israel

[shira]

...The Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri, representing hundreds of predominantly African-American churches throughout the state, rejects without hesitation any notion or assertion that Israel operates as an apartheid country. We embrace our Jewish brethren in America and respect Israel as a Jewish state. Jewish-Americans have worked with African-Americans during the civil rights era when others refused us service at the counter — and worse.

Anyone who studies American history will no doubt find the names Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, two Jews and an African-American, who lost their lives trying to provide civil rights for blacks in the south. We cannot forget their noble sacrifices. Neither should Black Lives Matter.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/churches-reject-black-lives-matter-s-platform-on-israel/article_42a99819-8231-572f-83d1-82d7a753a8f8.html

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. So Israel is a Jewish state?

I thought it was secular?

[aranthus]

3. Secular government, Jewish majority.

It's about national identity more than religion.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

6. By your logic American is a Christian nation.

Interesting. Conservatism for Israel, liberalism for America. I love the American Israel supporter hypocrisy.

[shira]

7. Jews are a people/nation/ethnicity, not necessarily a religious group.

Last edited Mon Aug 15, 2016, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Theoretically, all Jews in Israel could be atheist and it would still be the Jewish state.

Get it?

Well, unless you don't believe Jews are a people/nation.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

10. I believe that they are a LOOSELY related group of people.

But their traditions including names are solidly rooted in Europeanism.

[King_David]

12. I'm pretty sure your definition of the Makeup of the Jewish people

Is considered fact...

By yourself.

[shira]

14. Our traditions, culture, history, language, & religion originate from Israel....

Going way back over 3000 years. This is what "European" and Mizrahi "Arab" Jews share in common.

[aranthus]

8. No. America is a Judeo-Christian Nation

It's not about religion per se. It's about the culture and value system that animates the nation. While it is based on religion, Judeo-Christianism is an ideology and value system. No hypocrisy at all.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

9. No it's not.

And the notion that it is is offensive. We are a liberal, secular, democracy.

[aranthus]

13. You're conflating state with nation.

America is a secular state, but the American nation is founded on values and ideology that derive from the Jewish and Christian religions.

[Israeli]

17. " Secular government " !!!!!! ????????.....

....

" It's about national identity more than religion. " !!!!!! ????????

.....

[Igel]

18. People conflate religion, ethnicity, race, and nationality all the time.

Some terrorists have been described as "French" when they were French nationals but ethnically Muslim. These are different things.

In the case of Jews, pretty much if you're Jewish you're Jewish. By which I mean, "if you're of Jewish faith you're of Jewish heritage." But I've known Jews who were atheists.

They are distinct.

Now, Ottoman practice was fairly clear: your religion is what you get on your passport. Some Lebanese are Circassians, some are Armenians. But their passports would say "Muslim" ("Shi'ite" or "Sunni", actually) or "Christian". Because that's their collective identity.

In the US we focus on ethnicity and race, and act as though our first allegiance is to race/ethnicity--or perhaps our second. For much of the world, their first allegiance might be religion or ideology. Who are we to squish them into our particular ethnocentric boxes?

[King_David]

11. Seriously?

[shira]

15. Such strong opinions from folks who lack basic knowledge. n/t

[Shaktimaan]

19. Correct.

It is both.

[procon]

4. A somewhat misleading title...

This was an op-ed penned by the president of a small black religious group, the Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri. Good on them, but the more significant impact of national and international criticism and condemnation against Israel's decades long policies of brutal military occupation, discrimination, and the theft of Palestinian land and natural resources, continues to grow. As it should.

[Little Tich]

16. The Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri seems to be very PEP on this matter. n/t