Blood libel – what does it mean?

[Joanne98]

Sarah Palin's use of the phrase "blood libel" could scarcely be more incendiary, especially in a religious country like the US.

The blood libel refers specifically to perhaps the most notorious verse in the Bible: Matthew 27:25, which has been used by some Christians to persecute Jews for nearly 2,000 years. That it should be used by an avowedly Christian politician about a Jewish one just takes crassness and insensitivity to a new level.

One can only hope that Palin, or her advisers, did not appreciate the context, or the history. The verse in Matthew refers to the scene during Christ's trial before Pontius Pilate, before his execution, where the Roman governor, not being able to find fault with the accused man, publicly washed his hands of his fate, saying the crowd bore responsibility for his death.

The Gospel says the crowd shouted back: "His blood be on us and on our children," a phrase taken by Christians for centuries to indicate that the Jewish people as a whole and for perpetuity bore direct responsibility for the crucifixion and were therefore fair game for persecution and extermination. It has been used to justify pogroms, expulsions and discrimination and has fed Christian myths, such as those circulating in the middle ages, that Jews kidnapped and sacrificed Christian children to use their blood during Passover commemorations.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/12/blood-libel-sarah-palin-arizona

[liberal N proud]

1. I am sure she took it straight from the bible.

[elleng]

2. Sure, and Thou shalt not kill.

Oops, wrong cite, Commandments not Biblical, I guess.

[liberal N proud]

3. You nailed one of my pet peeves about bible thumpers

They pick and choose what verses/commandments they apply. Or they will take what the bible wrote literally one day and twist around the next day to fit their point of view.

[molly77]

4. "blood libel" could scarcely be more incendiary, especially in a rel

Or insane.

[elleng]

5. Quite right, and I'm sorry I learned about the derivation.

:(

[mod mom]

6. Is it just a coincidence that Rep Gifford is Jewish?

I think she used code to stir up the crazy fundies.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

8. Could be. nt

[southernyankeebelle]

10. They said she is jewish. I dunno though.

[young_at_heart]

7. Ronald Reagan--- how he put "religion" into politics

Reagan allowed the religious right nuts into DC. Leaders of the New Christian Right coalesced around the candidacy of Ronald Reagan. Reagan embraced the political efforts of the NCR and pledged to work for enactment of its agenda. He won by impressive margins and Republicans, with a clearly conservation platform, took control of the Senate for the first time in over twenty years. Although some scholars cautioned against drawing such conclusions, the New Christian Right was credited with securing those victories as well as with successfully influencing the nation's political agenda.

Don't forget the sleazy Ralph Reed --- In the 1980’s he served as national executive director of the College Republicans and co-chairman of the youth effort for President Ronald Reagan. Reed is widely credited with giving voice to the “silent majority” which propelled Reagan to the White House.

[southernyankeebelle]

9. I read it means that the Jews took Christian children and killed them as

a sacrifice to give them power. I dunno. I feel bad for the jews they always get blamed for everything.