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December 24, 2011
Holiday Cheer from Presbyterian Peacemakers on Christmas Eve
The Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA is an organization created by the PC(USA)'s 2004 General Assembly to educate Presbyterians about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Under the cover of this mission, the IPMN traffics in anti-Zionist and in some instances, anti-Semitic, propaganda which it broadcasts not only to members of the PC(USA), but to the general public.
This propaganda can be regularly seen on IPMN's Facebook page. One example of this type of propaganda can be seen in the cartoon posted above. The cartoon, posted on IPMN's Facebook page on Christmas Eve, shows two Israeli soldiers harassing Santa Claus. One soldier rummages through Santa's bag of gifts, another searches Santa for weapons. Santa himself has his hands up against a concrete section of the security barrier. A church steeple can be seen off in the distance. [And as one commenter below observes, the soldier rummaging through Santa's toys has a hooked nose, giving the image an obviously anti-Semitic touch.]
The image itself was posted by an administrator from the Israel Palestine Mission Network, for which the Presbyterian Church (USA) provides fundraising assistance. Whoever posted the cartoon opined "At first, this cartoon seems a bit much, then it sinks in that unfortunately, it's spot on!"
The failure of the PC(USA) to hold the IPMN accountable for images like this has been an ongoing problem.
Posted by dvz at December 24, 2011 03:13 PM
Comments
Spot on Dexter. Their postings are an outrage that should make Presbyterians ashamed!
Posted by: Ethan Felson at December 24, 2011 03:58 PM
One could-- should, actually, take the few extra seconds to go to the facebook page, select the cartoon and click on "report photo."
Your choice: "hate speech", or "attacks individual or group"
Posted by: RevChurchmouse at December 24, 2011 05:49 PM
And the soldier facing us has a long nose, too. The antisemitic touch. Wouldnt be surprised to learn that the cartoon is taken from one of the Arab newspapers whose antisemitic stereotypes have been documented so well by ADL. Anyway, PCUSA should be ashamed, but some people have a proven record of shamelessness.
Posted by: Malki at December 24, 2011 07:06 PM
I reported this nasty bit of anti-semitism from the Presbyterian mission to FB, but making a report does not guarantee the photo will be removed.
Posted by: Jewess at December 25, 2011 07:24 AM
Looks as if they took it down.
Posted by: JAWolf at December 25, 2011 04:58 PM
This is the first of two cartoons, actually.
In the second one, they find a bunch of suicide belts in the Santa bag.
Turns out 'Santa' was gonna off some infidels - and the IDF are shown to be real heros!!
Well . ... that's how I see it!
Posted by: Don Sharpe at December 26, 2011 10:59 AM
It's not any better with the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Posted by: Richard at December 26, 2011 01:09 PM
Holiday jeer, you mean. The only good thing about this crass image is that it's a break from the seasonal cliche of making Jesus a Palestinian Arab.
Posted by: Shimon at December 28, 2011 02:33 AM
Cartoons like this regularly appeared in Nazi Germany. Recall the words of pastor Martin Niemöller, originally a supporter of the Third Reich. Maybe the Presbyterian Church could learn from him:
"First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me."
This cartoon is ugly
Posted by: jc at December 29, 2011 04:25 PM
Andrea Levins article exposing the attacks on Gingrich's historical references to debunking preconceived notions of the Palestianin's identity is an excellent read too. Following the lead from Noam Chomsky who invents history rather than discuss it; The American radical left endorsed a narrative linked to images of forlorn Arab refugees, a one sided approach to the debate has followed and it all sides with the "Palestinians". Having embraced this narrative they can no more revise it conforming to changing realties than the USG could ever close a Government office. The same culprits, intellectuals(sic), take the same approach to Iran, Several responses to commentary in other publications has revealed that either agents of Iran or naive useful idiots are attempting to propagandize the falacious belief,"religion" has nothing to do with the progression towards hostilities between Iran and the West. Whether a church like the Presbyterians or college age idaelists the rhetoric of wishful thinking is pretty much the same in all instances.
Posted by: jeb stuart at December 29, 2011 04:51 PM
Aren't Presbyterians Christian. Why aren't they on the side of the only people in the middle east that are not killing Christians, instead of supporting the Arabs/Muslims who are killing Christians in all of their countries. How about the poor Christians blown up Christmas eve by the Muslim group Boko Harum in Nigeria. This is a perfect example of how insidious the Islamic war against Israel is. They have their tentacles in every group and agency in the world and they manipulate them.
Posted by: Ron Kall at December 29, 2011 05:07 PM
Your guidelines aver that you will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. The cartoon violates all of these elements. My immediate superior years ago was a very active member of the Presbyterian Church - this cartoon would have horrified him.
Posted by: Arnold Pinsley at December 29, 2011 06:38 PM
Guidelines for posting
This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.