U.S.: Weasel words

Front-runner John Kerry arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday ready to debate his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination but unsure about the city's latest controversial production, "The Passion of the Christ."

"I don't know," he said when asked if he would see the Mel Gibson (news) film about the last days of Jesus' life and its particularly harrowing focus on his crucifixion.

Kerry, a Catholic, said he was worried about the movie's potential anti-Semitism. Some critics have complained that Gibson portrays Jews as responsible for Jesus' death.

"I am concerned," he told reporters. "I don't know if it's there or not but there's a lot of it around now. I think we have to be careful."

The movie's "potential anti-Semitism"? The New Testament is polemical; when its writers really get going against the religious establishment of the day, they let words fly with passion and abandon. Did they mean for nuts to come along and use their words to kill Jews? No. Is the NT to be blamed because nuts have used its words to kill? No. Such acts are contrary to the teachings of the New Testament. I suppose it would be too much for a politician to set aside politically correct pieties and go see a movie that illustrates John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." If in conveying this message, The Passion is deemed to be anti-Semitic, then all of Christianity and Christians who believe are likewise tainted with the same brush. The only way Senator Kerry can alleviate his concerns is to see the movie. It might seem to be sensitive to not see the movie for fears of its "potential anti-Semitism," but if he doese not see The Passion, then one hopes Senator Kerry will have the restraint not to accuse President Bush of being an anti-Semitic bigot when he goes to see it.