Assaf Wohl
Will you please relax?
Row over talk show host’s anti-Jesus comments an attempt to score political points
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Many Christians in Israel and abroad expressed their outrage over Lior Shlein’s comments regarding Jesus and Mother Mary. The talk show host’s words were widely reported by global media outlets and drew a wave of condemnations. An article written by Arab-Israeli journalist Zohir Andreus, who rejected Shlein’s apology, was even published by Ynetnews.
Andreus’ article is a blatant example of an attempt to score political points through a religious incident. Andreus is a Catholic who, according to his own admission, belongs to the “Arab-nationalistic camp,” which in my view is similar to a bleeding sardine seeking to join a group of hungry sharks. In any case, the attempts to characterize a satire show as a religious war are well known. After all, conflicts pitting believers against each other are very easy to stir.
Ill-Humor?
Arab Israelis upset over satirical remarks about Jesus, protest against talk show host
It is interesting to note the developments that followed Shlein’s words. The Vatican issued an outraged condemnation. Hizbullah, what else is new, rushed to defend Christian honor. Its leaders announced that this was about the “murder of prophets, destruction of mosques and churches, and behavior that hurts the holy symbols of Islam and Christianity.” Meanwhile, Christians in the Galilee protested in demand that President Peres apologize for Shlein’s remarks.
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 9:15)
Andreus and the Christian demonstrators rejected Shlein’s apology. Yet did they truly expect the president to apologize? For a moment, I thought that the apology they sought had to do with the abuses suffered by Christians in Palestinian Authority areas and in Gaza in the wake of the Oslo Accords. Moreover, does the president need to be responsible for the ruminations of every stand-up comic? No, gentlemen. There is no need for all of that, and we are not dealing with a conflict between religions here. In this case, religion is only found on one side of the equation.
The inflated incident we are witnessing is a classic conflict pitting zealous believers against (relatively) sane people. This is not a conflict between religions. Let’s try to be practical for a moment. Do Jesus, Mary, and even God need to be defended by their believers? Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? And who would even notice this incident had you not made headlines from it?
My advice to you, Christians, is as follows – ignore. Turn the other cheek, and even the third one. Burning at the stake is a sport that is too extreme for my taste, and I am hopeful that you shall not embark on yet another crusade just because of a satirical show. Despite this, I realize that my advice is empty of all substance. After all, the outraged responses come from the believers, who as such are always allowed to be insulted, embark on wars, and mess up everyone else in the process.
Therefore, the only party to this affair I can address is Lior Shlein. Hence, I have a request for him. Lior, if you resort to Jewish jokes, please, do it in Yiddish. It sounds better, and the gentiles won’t understand it. Secondly, don’t try to create satire that pertains to religious affairs; not because of concern that someone may get insulted, but rather, because you will never be able to present religion in a more ridiculous, asinine, and hilarious manner than its own faithful are capable of.
