A need for concern?

[ZalmanEmmes]

We live in interesting times. I know that there are various contributors to the threads on officer.com from England, where I originate and for a person like me, an Orthodox Jew, England does not present itself as the safest or best place for me to live with my wife and daughter. Crime in the UK is rocketing (see the BBC News site and ask citizens of London) and I hear from friends that they are rather uncomfortable.

The history of the world is a catalog of unstable environments, very much affected by the political and economic situations of individual countries. Now, I really am not one to be swayed so easily by domestic politics or violence or even to become concerned by events abroad, however my parents in London want to move to the US, as they feel very threatened. As both my parents are children of Holocaust survivors, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree when it comes to taking these matters seriously.

As I hear what is happening in Israel, and yes its a two way street (but I cant stand those who have a vehemently strong view on a topic like Israel and the Palestinians when they've never lived there or know the real nature of the battle for land) I get rather concerned.

My point is, for an ethnic nice Jewish boy like me, whats stopping hatred coming with a full force to the United States to affect people like me, Christians and even Muslims for believing what they believe in?

Many may say that the chances of a holocaust type scenario coming to the US is very unlikely, however many said this in Weimar Germany (pre WWII) and even in the US before 9/11.

Have recent events made anyone out there think about our future and where crazy events, related or unrelated to the US and its policies can take us?

I would never write such a post, however hearing from my parents very recently that they really want to leave Europe because of serious concerns for the future there has kind of knocked me over.

[Watchman]

"My point is, for an ethnic nice Jewish boy like me, whats stopping hatred coming with a full force to the United States to affect people like me, Christians and even Muslims for believing what they believe in? "

Zalman;
I dont know where exactly you stand when it comes to the Bible but in the book of Revelations it says these things will happen.

Its just a matter of time. Christians will be killed for failing to "worship the beast",that being the Antichrist.Buts its not just Christians, it is ANYONE that refuses to worship him. So if you are a Jew or a Muslim or a Catholic that beleives strongly enough in your religion to refuse to worship the beast, then you will risk death for your beleifs.

Even now people around the world are being killed for their beliefs. Not for refusing to worship the Antichrist, but for simply practicing their religion. Its not so much in the industrialized nations, but more so in the third world countries and so far, the world is mostly apathetic about it.

[dubya]

I read where there is a law in France now that is labeled as an "anti-cult" law, which prohibits people from using either physical or mental means to change anothers religious beliefs. So if you are going door to door handing out religious tracts, or even trying to convince a stranger of your religious beliefs, you can be arrested for it. Scary times ahead if this is true.

[Sparky]

First, to Watchman: I am more likely to pay close attention to your interpretations of the Bible if you get the name of the book right. It's Revelation, not Revelation[s]. No "S". Sorry. Just a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Second, and to address the topic at hand, "What's to stop it from happening here in the US?"

Well, there's nothing that can really be done to keep individuals from feeling one way or another about other people.

However, as far as protecting those people goes, the US is established with several basic and fundamental principles:

1. People have certain rights endowed to the by their Creator.

This is as opposed to being "granted" by a king or government. Our country was founded under the premise that these were inalianable rights of individuals and could not be "granted" or taken away by any person or government.

2. These rights are protected by law.

That is to say, we not only have these rights, but it's against the law to deny them. This places "man's law" as subjective to "God's law".

3. Our governement is ruled by the law, not the other way around.

Unlike other countries, the President can't just go in and change laws to nullify our Constituional protections. Any such order would be an illegal order.

4. Our government was established in such a way as to spread outthe power, and (IMNSHO) was intentionally designed to be slow and ineffectual.

This helps to prevent a gradual shift of power similar to what we saw in 1930's Germany where a guy named Adolf creeped into a comfy position as Dictator.

Also, limited terms and frequent elections insure that violent change is not the only way to change government. Peacful transfer of power. A relatively new thing in historical terms. Still an unheard of thing in many countries.

5. Many of our protected rights and liberties are things such as free speech, right to be armed, to vote, and... right to practice the religion of your choosing.

Our forefathers knew all to well that governments can tend to fell threatend by people who do not recognize them as the ultimate power, but instead look to heaven. they did what they could to protect our right to practice religion.

They also knew all too well that some religions tend to use religion as a justificatino to make people from other relgions dead. They established this lawful prtoection as an individual right. The majority of people may be Christian, but it would be illegal to enact legislation against anyone in a minority religion.

For Jews, I think some of these protections would be very important.

Freedom of religion is protected specifically.

Even if this came into question, freedom of the press and right to assemble help protect us all by ensuring communiation.

Most importantly, our right to keep and bear arms helps us to protect our other rights.

For example, if the tide of public opinion were to ever turn against any group, such as the Jews, it would be difficult for any laws to be passed that segregated them.

If an indivudual or group of them were to attain political power, they would still have to work with the framework of our Senate and Congress as well as the Supreme Court.

Even IF these institutions were weakend, they would find it difficult to close down TV stations and newspapers to prevent the people from finding out about their actions or from organizing.... because the people have a right to arm themselves and the ability to fight back against an oppressive government as well as to protect themselves from individuals who wish to do them harm.


My two cents!