The Ann Coulter/Donnie Deutsch kerfuffle has elicited a lot of comment in the JBlogosphere, with the battle lines seeming to mostly depend on the political leanings of the specific blogger. Right-leaning Jews tended to defend her, saying that her comments were simply a statement of her beliefs which coincides with that of many Christians. Left-leaning Jews tended to label her anti-semitic. At least one crossed party lines but then came back (although his viewpoint seems to be far more nuanced than most.)
While it appears that her “replacement theology” is not necessarily universal Christian thinking, I think we can safely make the assumption that she was espousing a set of personal beliefs that many other Christians share. For a Jew who is secure in his/her beliefs, this should not pose a problem – everyone who has a belief system, by definition, thinks that others are wrong.
Her comments were not anti-semitic by any means, but they were offensive.
Jews who grow up as a minority in a largely Christian nation often must fend off unwelcome but well-meaning attempts by Christians to embrace their beliefs, and, yes, to become “perfected.” This can be considered a minor annoyance or a major offense, depending on the temperament of the receiving party, but in no case are these considered welcome. Religion is a personal thing and when others feel it is their right to try to enlighten you, they are by definition causing offense on some level. The fact that most religions condone proselytizing is no excuse for actually proselytizing in a multi-religious society – as with one’s fist, the right to swing it ends at my face. Most Christians know this. Coulter cannot be unaware that while her beliefs are not offensive, describing them to a mass audience is offensive to Jewish listeners.
Coulter is a very intelligent woman. Unfortunately, as with most loudmouthed pundits, intelligence does not equal wisdom, and Coulter is far from wise.
(This is all separate from the disgusting way some people have seized on this as a sort of proof of conservative bigotry. And such opportunism is not only relegated to the Left.)
cross-posted at Elder of ZiyonÂ
Of course, this is the same woman who, per Newsweek, also has suggested that women shouldn’t have the vote, since this would cripple the Democrats.
It’s not private beliefs I object to, it’s the fact that in Coulter’s case, I think she says this stuff just to get attention, and while I don’t like being proselytized, I really don’t like having my religion critiqued by someone for whom it’s just a way to get more air time being ‘outrageous’. I don’t see any evidence that Coulter is particularly smart, or has anything to say about conservative thought.
I find Coulter an engaging writer but beyond that I’m not a great fan…she’ll be saying something intelligent and before you know it you’re reading something downright lunatic. And by the way, I thought it was obvious that her assertion about women not voting was intended as anything other than provactively humorous.
But as the Elder says, she’s only stating what is among many Christians commonplace theology. I think she’s quite, quite wrong, but what the hell, it’s not anti-semitic to say it. Her writings indicate strong support for Israel and not on political rather than eschatological grounds.
She’s hardly anti-semitic. She may think I’d be a more perfect Jew if I came to Jesus. I may not be a perfect Jew but I don’t think that’s why. She has her opinion, I have mine, and if she were the greatest danger Jews faced we’d be the happiest people on the face of the Earth.
Balabusta,
I believe(as does everyone-5 people to whom I’ve spoken-Ms Coulter was not seriously proposing women not be allowed to vote.First,how would one go about this?Secondly,why?It’s what Aristotle called a thought experiment.Possibly you’d accept it better as thought provoking.
And as an aetheist(sorry),I’m trying to find what’s offensive about one believing their religion is the best .
Still,my feelings about religion are best characterized by a defrocked priest in “The Green Pearl” a Jack Vance classic.
“It gives emplyment to many who at best would be on the dole and at worst criminals.”Hope you won’t be offnded by my views.
Actually, i barely posted (yet) any of my thoughts and though i also posted comments on others, I personally never called her ant-semitic.
I don’t think she is anti semitic. I think she is evil and stupid stemming from a childish intolerance of anyone and anything which isn’t exactly like her – or rather as she wants people to perceive her to be.
I am NOT a left leaning Jew nor did I say Coulter was an antisemite. I vehemently disagree with her religious point of view, I abhor her abrasiveness and think she is a liability to the political causes she espouses – many of which I also support.
I think Ann Coulter has a point. When people get close to The Truth, there’s much to be said in favor of “perfecting” them. That means, of course, we Jews should start up a missionary effort aimed at Christians. I’m sure Ms. Coulter would approve.
As I’ve said on a few other blogs (boy is this topic popular out of proportion to its significance) I’m not thrilled with Coulter’s remarks but no way are they anywhere near as antisemitic as what we’ve heard from the likes of Buchanan, Farrakhan, Duke or Jimmy Carter. She has a long-standing record of saying outrageous things in public to get attention for herself and not incidentally sell her books.
I don’t think she hurts her “cause”. Remember when she called Edwards a “faggot” a few months back? That got a lot more attention in the MSM but I doubt it will affect a single person’s vote in 2008. There’s probably 10% of people on the right saying “Yeah, Anne, right on”, 10% on the left saying “Oh what a horrible bigot” but they were never susceptible to the right to begin with. The other 80% know she’s trying to sell her books and ignore her.