Day: February 25, 2004

I have been telling myself over and over–in hopes that I’ll believe it, perhaps–that “The Passion” will not set off a wave of anti-Semitism. That although it will undoubtedly reinforce those who already hate Jews, it won’t take anyone who doesn’t hate Jews and turn them into anti-Semites. And that people will have the intelligence to realize that it’s just a movie with a singular point of view that is not automatically the truth just because Mel says so.

Then Marc Foxx sent me the following e-mail, forwarded from Robert Seltzer of the American Jewish Committee. It reads:

Subject: This is what we are concerned about….

My AJC Denver colleague reports that outside a church there stands a new, large sign which reads:

The Jews Killed Jesus. Settled.

Having seen the Gibson film, I am not surprised, tho it is shocking.

I have always believed, and still do, that the best response to free speech is more free speech. It is difficult to respond with more free speech, however, if people are coming at you with fists, knives and torches.

This has always been a country brimming with divisiveness, hatred and bigotry. But I don’t think it’s been this prevalent–or this sanctioned at the highest levels–in half a century.

God help you if you’re a marriage-minded Gay Jew.

PAD

For a while there she seemed to be keeping food down to the degree that the hospital was getting ready to discharge her…right up until she discharged all the food in her stomach at 9 AM today.

Understand that for the last two days Beth has been saying, “Why not do a GI workup?” while the doctors have been insisting that her condition is viral. So this morning they said to Beth, “You know, we think it would be wise if we did a GI workup on her.” She practically had to bite her tongue not to say, “About freakin’ time!”

I mentioned to Beth that between the website and private e-mails, I’ve gotten at least six diagnoses of what’s wrong. She suggested I start a pool. I told her she had to be kidding. She said no, she was serious. Again I said she was kidding. She said no, she really wasn’t kidding.

So okay.

Little girl, one year old, not keeping anything down. Disposition is okay, eats eagerly, but then barfs stuff up until the stomach is empty. No fever, and still has bowel movements. Not the first time she’s had unexplained bouts of vomiting, but certainly the most prolonged.

Diagnosis?

Beth says once she knows, she’ll tell me and I should tell you. In the meantime, all you GI Joes and Janes out there…go to it.

PAD