Barbarian chic

I thought it was a joke that New Republic editor Marty Peretz had headlined his discussion of the Gaza attacks ‘Do Not F*ck with the Jews’. But it’s true, you can read the headline on their website. Not ‘the Israelis’ or ‘the Israeli military’, but ‘the Jews’.

You’d think someone concerned about anti-Semitism would exercise a little caution before saddling an entire religion with responsibility for any government’s war-making activities. After all, if it’s ‘the Jews’ who are carrying out the attack, doesn’t that make them a target?

So if Christian America invades Iraq, should Iraqi Christians take credit? Are they automatically co-authors of the act because they believe in the virgin birth? Should they be considered soldiers at war (to be shot at)? How about Christians in Nebraska?

If individuals from one group of Muslims (‘Do not F*ck with the Sunnis!’) destroys a mosque or a shrine, can death squads from another group properly slaughter their co-religionists if they shout, ‘Do not F*ck with the Shi’ites!’?

Perhaps we should reexamine the Rwandan genocide (‘Do not F*ck with the Hutus!’)

The Ninth Crusade ended in 1272—we’re about due for a new one!