Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 5, 1993 TAG: 9301050440
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WHO IS BEING ANTI-SEMITIC?
WE HAVE seen many letters and editorials concerning the charge of bigotry and anti-Semitism leveled at the approximately 15 Christian Coalition members and the 300 or so Montgomery County citizens attending the Board of Supervisors Dec. 7 meeting.There was not a single word by anyone who spoke at that meeting that had an element of bigotry or anti-Semitism. There was not any malice against Jewish religion or customs or against Dr. Daniel Schneck. Every comment made was directed to the perception that our Christian heritage was under attack.
We deplore the use of abusive language by anyone. The persons who made abusive phone calls to Dr. Schneck should remember that they will be held accountable for every idle word they speak. They should seek the forgiveness of Dr. Schneck before any more time goes by.
There was no one at that meeting who spoke in favor of retaining the "Winter Break" words. We trust that there will be some at the School Board meeting tonight who will be exercising their right to free speech as the speakers did on Dec. 7.
Perhaps we could have a joint Christmas-Hanukkah break. I am very serious about this suggestion. School schedules could be adjusted for this purpose. Why not?
It's curious how the editors and commentators of our local newspapers jump on Christians with the accusation of anti-Semitism. I have not seen a single word in the Roanoke Times & World-News that supports the state of Israel, a nation bounded on three sides by large countries that would like Israel to disappear.
The Roanoke paper and a host of other media continually join Congress in putting pressure on tiny Israel (look at a map) to give up a third or more of its land for peace. Israel is always taken to task for retaliating when Palestinian terrorists kill Israeli soldiers and civilians. The actions of these terrorists are reported but never deplored.
So who is anti-Semitic? Would you want terrorists in America? Other countries deport people, too.
We are not anti-Semitic. Christians admire, respect and love the rich traditions and principles of the Jewish faith. Our Jewish daughter-in-law can testify to that. Christianity is based on those traditions and principles. BETTY LEDOUX BLACKSBURG