Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!acf4!greenber From: greenber@acf4.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Bastille mentality (and moriarty's ? Message-ID: <8200038@acf4.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Nov-84 13:06:00 EST Article-I.D.: acf4.8200038 Posted: Mon Nov 12 13:06:00 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 13-Nov-84 01:32:59 EST References: <268@we53.UUCP> Organization: New York University Lines: 39 Nf-ID: #R:we53:-26800:acf4:8200038:000:1896 Nf-From: acf4!greenber Nov 12 13:06:00 1984 <> While at Tel-Aviv University a professor there told an interesting story which I've found has many a parallel in other matters. I think it could here, so (for your approval :-) ) : Back in the early 1800's there was a rather famous case involving a "blood-letting" by one of the town jews. Blood-letting was the supposed corruption practiced by Jews in the communities of Europe wherein a Jew would kidnap a child and sacrifice the child (and its blood!) to "their" god. After a major trial, the defendant was convicted and executed. Naturally, this caused an uproar in the Jewish community. All of the essayists of the time were worried and wrote articles depicting a seige mentality: "The pograms are about to start again. Lock your doors, hide your wives!" and the entire Jewish community of the area settled in for these things to start again, after a peaceful time. All except for one man. An essayist named "Ahad Ha'Amon" (The spelling is probably wrong). He wrote an essay that said: "This is the best thing to ever happen to the Jews! We could never have asked for anything better. After thousands of years of persecution and pograms and prejudice and people saying 'Jews are this and Jews are that', many Jews might have felt that, well, maybe, there might be a grain of truth in it all. But, now, after this tragedy all Jews can take comfort in knowing that no matter what the millions of people might say, their one lone voice that says 'Jews do not commit blood-letting' is right, and the millions be damned!" When presented by a professor with a serial number tatooed on his arm, and realizing where I was, this little story had a profound effect on my life. So I say, with my one lone voice, "Killing is wrong, and more so when done by the state in OUR names!!", and know that I am right! Ross M. Greenberg @ NYU ----> allegra!cmcl2!acf4!greenber <----