Be-Think [Please visit BeThink.org]

Jews, Mel Gibson, War. Rehabilitating Hatred ©

“Peace is harder to make than war.” - Stanley Weintraub Those that know me well might ask why would I write an exposé discussing Mel Gibson. I am not a fan of Hollywood or its gossip. I do not go to the movie theatres. I rarely recall the names of actors. Show business personalities are of little interest to me. Their art does not mesmerize my mind. Most of it, I feel, is meaningless. As for Mel, I was unwilling to attend a showing of the “Passion of Christ,” even though a friend offered to pay for my ticket. As much as I believe it is important to know what those that differ from me, think, say, do and feel, the prospect of an anti-Semitic message turned my stomach.

Though this treatise will invoke the name of Mel Gibson, it is not about Mr. Gibson; it is about hatred and whether or not we can rehabilitate the hearts and minds of those that hate.

People hate for all sorts of reasons, or they say they do. The poor loathe the rich, though they wish to be them. The affluent can't bear the sight of the destitute. They fear becoming impoverished themselves and loosing the luxuries that are their life. Blacks detest whites; Hispanics are becoming a close second. No one loves the oppressor or the aspiring that seem to be rising above the fray. Whites find Blacks objectionable. I suspect color is their concern. The natural born despise the immigrants; they are frightened that these “low-lives” will take their jobs. The émigré abhor hypocritical employers that hire them. Many migrants are offered jobs they take. Upon completing their work, they are paid with threats. Supervisors often say they will turn these laborers into the Immigration and Naturalization Services if need be.

In truth, none of these individuals or groups hates the other. They merely do not know or understand what is unfamiliar or different. They are apprehensive when confronted with what they think might hurt them. Their anxiety causes them to interpret the stranger through a clouded filter. Rather than communicate what they are truly feeling they lash out. Instead of asking to understand the unknown, they assume. People easily become consumed with what they do not comprehend. They forget what they could know.

“Hate” is an expression of fear and pain. We loathe what is foreign or unfamiliar to us. We are angst-driven when we do not appreciate. Humans disdain the possibility of harm; any that might impose pain are reviled. However, those we love are special. We know all their faults and find these endearing or at least tolerable. Those we know are not our enemies; nor are they evil. All the wrongs in the world are not imposed upon our friends or our family. Familiars are our treasures. They tame us and we tame them.

I believe hate is a habit. We learn it when we are very, very, very young, before we understand that there are other possibilities. In the last few days, prompted by the arrest and anti-Semantic antics of Mel Gibson I have heard many discussions of habits and whether a person can fully recover from an addiction. None was more interesting to me than an interview by Journalist Soledad O’Brien of Cable News Network.

Ms. O‘Brien asked marketing specialist, Laura Ries of Mel Gibson’s future. Is this admitted alcoholic hurt by his actions? Can he return and be salable? As the verbal exchange ensued, there was discussion of the Gibson apology. Was it adequate or sincere? Talk of his ensuing therapy filled the thread. All that was well and good; however, for me, Ms. O’Brien offered what was most powerful. She asked, “Can we rehabilitate hate?” She then stated, “Rehab can't cure the anti-Semitism, and can't cure the nasty thing he said to the female deputy, right?” Ms. Ries answered “No.” She thought nothing could be done to eliminate what I believe is the core issue.

Some say, “Once an addict, always an addict,” my experience differs. I do think change is a challenge and does not come easily. Nevertheless, I think it does come if given a chance. I have witnessed it in my own life and I trust that others have as well. We all can recount stories of a time when we thought another was very unpleasant. Then, when we got to know the person; they became our friend. Intimate knowledge informed our perception. An enemy was now an intimate. all else changed.

I wish to provide a parable that relates, one told by Stanley Weintraub and shared in a book, “Silent Night: The Story of The World War I Christmas Truce. The story is true. It is one of peace; however, it begins as many sagas do during times of strife. It is the tale of two enemies. This incident took place during the Christmas season, in the middle of a war, World War I. Weintraub writes

At Christmas 1914 there took place in some parts of the British line what is still regarded by many as the most remarkable incident of the War — an unofficial truce.

Mr. Weintraub explains in an interview,

In part, the truce came about as brief truces in earlier wars occurred — as a respite to bury the dead. This was arranged for first light on Christmas Day. The joint ceremonies were especially moving. However, they jointly realized that by clearing No Man's Land of its grisly dead, they had created a space to fraternize, and even to play football. The Germans held more formal religious marking of Christmas than did the other side. But it was football that was the working-class religion. in sharing food, smokes, and play, each side de-demonized the other (if I can coin such a word).

The inscription continues,

During the winter, it was not unusual for little groups of men to gather in a front trench, and there hold impromptu concerts, singing patriotic songs. The Germans, too, did much the same, and on calm evenings the songs from one line floated to the trenches of the other side, and were received with applause, and sometimes with calls for an encore.”

Once the battle resumed the troops realized, they could not kill their rivals. The troops were no longer foes. They had become known entities, real people. With hearts and souls. They were no long bodies without blood and feelings; these were men no different than those trying to kill them. After, the truce and all that it involved, soldiers on each side saw their enemy and understood, he is as I am. Fear fled; hearts filled. These British and Germans troops were no longer adversaries; they had become allies.

In order for us human beings to commit ourselves personally to the inhumanity of war, we find it necessary first to dehumanize our opponents, which is in itself a violation of the beliefs of all religions. Once we characterize our adversaries as beyond the scope of God's mercy and grace, their lives lose all value.
~ Jimmy Carter, Former President of the United States

I think this tale is telling; it illustrates what few imagine as they profess policy. Silent Night addresses hatred on a human level and confounds the practical. This narrative honors the philosophy I think is vital; when we diminish and dismiss the dignity of a man, woman, or child, when we relegate the life of a living being to that of an object then we separate ourselves from reality. We create our own fiction. We allow ourselves to hate when we react and posture. When we choose to believe that our neighbor is our enemy or evil, we enable murder. If we were to recognize our fellow man is our mirror, even our Muse everything would change. Admittedly, change is a challenge.

Therefore, I propose that we learn from the history that is too well hidden. Might we see the story of Silent Night as our guide? Perchance, if we adopted a policy of acquaintanceship we would progress. Genuine peace would be our reward.

I anticipate the claims. “My actions will not affect others.” Alternatively, “The task is too broad.” I have already begun, “Some of my best friends are.” However, these assertions take me back to the talk of Mel Gibson.

I feel certain, as a newborn baby, Mel knew nothing of revulsion. He was unaware of religion or stereotypes. This blank slate learned. After instruction, he intentionally never befriended a Jewish person. if he did accidentally, his preconceived notion ruled. Disdain for Jews dominated his thoughts. He intentionally never allowed himself to feel close to one of this religion, race, ethnicity, or creed. He maintained a personal and professional distance. However, likely, even for Mel, one or two Jews may have slipped through the cracks of his loathing. Such an odd occurrence would be perfect, for it would allow this anti-Semite to say, and to believe that, some of his best friends were, and they may have actually been. However, as a whole the man differentiated between those he knew personally and those he accepted to be, as he always believed them to be.

What I put forth is that we consistently open our minds and our hearts, not only to those that enter our sphere, but to all. I ask to put down our arms and put them out instead. When there is conflict, when world leaders, family patriarchs, friends, or fellow workers are feeling ready for a feud they require themselves to sit and have a meal with those that think differently than they do. People ready to pounce must instead purposely choose to live in close proximity with their “enemy” and their enemies’ entire clan for a week or more.

What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.
~ Robert E. Lee, Civil War General, in a letter to his wife, 1864

Each individual must speak frequently with their supposed adversaries, and learn from and of the other. If we do this what might happen? Perhaps if we knew one another intimately we would be able to see, to feel, to empathize, and relate. Perchance, we would discover a friend amongst our foes. I wonder; if we were truly open to discovery, to dialogue, to dining and living with our antagonist might we find a friend or at least not someone we are ready to kill?

I trust that you, or I can blame the other and state that I am willing; yet, they are not. I believe someone must begin and believe, if not us who. The other may not be receptive, initially. I have experienced that. However, I find in my own life if I do not accept and allow my fears and feelings of woe to guide me, much is not as I expected to be. I imagine that each of us has experienced what a smile can create. As you approach a grumpy or a distracted soul, smile and watch what happens. Even a gentle and unobtrusive grin opens doors and windows. Imagine what genuine dialogue might do.

I ask you dear reader to consider, would there be war if we truly knew our neighbors? If we were to experience our enemies as allies, if we saw and treated our adversaries as human rather than foreigners would we be able to kill them. If they were given the opportunity to know us as we are, would they wish to harm us? I think not.

Communication and communing might seem a chore too complex too complete. However, I think we must begin; we must try and see what we can do. The competitive spirit of centuries past has not helped; it has hindered attempts towards concord. We witnessed the tale of a World War I truce; we can know peace is a possibility. Is it not preferable to bombs? I think we would all agree destruction benefits no one, other than those that produce the bombs.

Lets us imagine and originate a world where we work together as one, where fear and loathing are not the overriding principles. Lets us conceive of and achieve a global village where greed is not greater than the sense of equality. I request rather than fighting against nameless faces, we meet our rivals in their homes and in ours. I think society be better served if we would invest in knowing, if we become acquainted with the anonymous persons we now call aliens. Perhaps, war will become whimsy, never be true again if we sincerely endeavor to eliminate the concepts of enemy and evil. I invite us all to join in peace to work as one, united. Some may smile, hold hands, and and sing Kum-by-yah; others will softly hum the words of Silent Night.

There are those playing Guns and Roses, Civil War. I was among these and perchance I still am.

"What we've got here is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can't reach...
So, you get what we had here last week,
which is the way he wants it!
Well, he gets it!
N' I don't like it any more than you men." *

Look at your young men fighting
Look at your women crying
Look at your young men dying
The way they've always done before

Look at the hate we're breeding
Look at the fear we're feeding
Look at the lives we're leading
The way we've always done before

My hands are tied
The billions shift from side to side
And the wars go on with brainwashed pride
For the love of God and our human rights
And all these things are swept aside
By bloody hands time can't deny
And are washed away by your genocide
And history hides the lies of our civil wars

D'you wear a black armband
When they shot the man
Who said, "Peace could last forever"

I did; I do. I trust it begins with me.

References for Review and Reflection . . .
• “Passion of Christ”
• The Protocols of Mel Gibson, By Katha Pollitt. The Nation. March 11, 2004 (March 29, 2004 issue)
• Hate is learned and can be "unlearned," By Caryl M. Stern-LaRosa. Anti-Defamation League.
• Soledad O’Brien of Cable News Network
• Mel Gibson's Statement, By The Associated Press. Tuesday, August 1, 2006
• Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce, By Stanley Weintraub.
• German and British front-line soldiers sang carols, exchanged gifts, and . . . Status: True. Urban Legends Reference Pages. Snopes.com. 24 December 2003
• Proposals Abound for Mel Gibson Healing, By Jocelyn Noveck. Associated Press National Writer. SFGate. Friday, August 4, 2006
• American Morning Transcripts. Cable News Network. August 1, 2006
• Stanley Weintraub
• Christmas on the Battlefield, The 1914 Christmas Truce. Q&A by Kathryn Jean Lopez. National Review Online. December 21, 2002
• Divine Words, A missive from the main character of The Passion to director Mel Gibson. By Tony Hendra. The American Prospect. March 2, 2004
• Mel Gibson link to Aussie anti-Semitic group, Lincoln Wright. Herald Sun. August 06, 2006

Passion of Christ, Allah, Mohammed, the Almighty; All War ©

I am against the Israeli-Lebanese war on every count. I have no interest in the idea of who started it. Bush and his boisterous Bunch can claim Hezbollah the enemy, the bearers of barbaric gifts. I see no difference between the bombs this grass-roots organized front drops and those heat-seeking missiles that Israel launches. Many throughout the globe are blaming Israel for over-reacting, myself among these. Others question this “truth;” they say Hezbollah, Hamas, the Syrians, and or the Lebanese are at fault. As far as I am concerned, they too are responsible.

Nevertheless, this treatise is not meant to promote a discussion about the battles brewing in the Middle East. My choice is to look within, at wars in America.

For me, any brutal battle on any field is troublesome. I find what is going on in this nation disquieting. What might we be building up to, what do we believe, and why do our actions belie our said truth?

I believe, every human being that accepts war as an option must look at this decision. Yes, they can rationalize, intellectualize, justify, and blame. Still I ask, “What good does that do?” Will our verbal prophecies bring about peace? Will discussions of what is happening abroad end these futile feuds? Half-hearted attempts at diplomacy are that. The leaders of this nation have no interest in changing what is; if they had, they might start at home! I see no evidence of tranquility in America; yet we ask those in other nations to do as we do not.

I surmise if we support one war or another, then we back them all. America is at war and I am not speaking of the war on terrorism. Religiously we are ridiculously hypocritical. Racially, we uphold policies that discriminate. United States citizens profess a belief in equality; yet, they advance a society of the classes and the masses. We are duplicitous or self-deceiving. In this exposé, I intend to discuss sanctimonious attitudes towards religion and race.

I am too overwhelmed to write great prose. In this post, I am only going to offer headlines and short snippets from various articles. I am asking for a dialogue, not a debate. I disdain the idea of “I win, you lose.” I loathe the concept of "correct," political, or otherwise. The intent to prove another wrong for me is wasteful. What do we learn when our eyes and ears are closed. I abhor when words are wielded as weapons. I want no wars here or anywhere!

I ask only that you read, reflect, and state/share your beliefs. I crave a caring community and hope that in seeing the errors of our own ways we might choose to empathize with all others. I yearn for communities where people accept one another, honor the differences, learn from other cultures, and co-habit in harmony. However, this is not what I see. I observe people posturing, stating that they are working towards peace. Please, pray tell, where, how, and when?

Intentionally, I offer no articles on the combat across the sea. I want Americans to look into the mirror and see what exists daily in this nation. Peruse as you might. Ponder if you wish. Conclude as you choose. I will share my deduction. This is America, a land supposedly founded on the principle that all men are created equal. I do not see this conviction applied. I see only rampant racism and religious bigotry. I observe intolerance everywhere, here, in the “United” States of America!

• Gibson apologizes for driving drunk, ranting at police, By Sandy Cohen. The Associated Press. Sunday, July 30, 2006

The Sheriff's Department has refused to release either Gibson's mug shot or the report of the arresting officer, Deputy James Mee. According to Mee's report, Gibson berated and threatened the deputy in an expletive-filled tirade.

"The Passion of the Christ" director also made anti-Semitic remarks, according to the Web site. Mee's report, according to the Web site, quotes Gibson as saying, among other things, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."

The report of Gibson's outburst struck some people who were already wary of what they saw as anti-Semitic overtones of "The Passion of the Christ" and who believe he has failed to disassociate himself clearly enough from remarks by his father denying the Holocaust.

In this country, we are shocked that a man made more famous by exploiting Christianity and promoting an anti-Semitic sentiments might be drunk with anger. We cannot imagine that such a soul would blurt out his hatred of Jews. Yet, has he not chosen to do so successfully for years? Did he not make millions for denigrating a race, a religion, or an ethnicity? He did, and with the blessing of the American people. God was truly on Mel’s side, or so he and his adoring public thought.

Gibson found his calling; in his mind he was preaching from the bible. Yet, he created contrary to peace. I think this hypocritical stance is evident throughout the United States. Our President states God is speaking through him. Would God, or Christ choice to condemn others to death? Would the divine censure or convict a group of people or even an individual? Would Jesus cast the first stone and incite mass murder? Might the Lord, our God see evil on every corner and terrorize the masses? I think not, though I wonder.

I suppose if Jesus was an American, he may not be as he was. Just as other US, citizens, Christ may have become acculturated. Living among the apathetic sheep, he may have forgotten what it means to walk in peace and to show love to all men equally.

I invite you to read on, to ponder the truth and ways of your fellow citizens. Are these people truly hoping for harmony worldwide or in their local communities? Do they treat their neighbors as they would wish to be treated? Oh, if only . . .

• Is Racism Behind Treatment of Haitians? By Pauline Arrillaga. Associated Press National Writer. Los Angeles Times. July 29, 2006

The question they kept coming back to: Why? Why, they asked, are Haitian immigrants singled out by the U.S. government for unequal treatment? On this day, earlier in the year, the topic was temporary protected status, a designation the federal government can grant to foreigners allowing them to remain part time in the United States because of political unrest or environmental disasters at home.

Central Americans have repeatedly been granted protected status following hurricanes and earthquakes in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Immigrants from Burundi, Liberia, Somalia and Sudan also enjoy such protections.

But Haitians have never obtained relief, despite decades of political turmoil, kidnappings and killings, and tribulations from tropical storms.

"Why aren't Haitians good enough for the same basic protections?" demanded Steve Forester, of the group Haitian Women of Miami.

I ask as well, why are Haitians considered “not good enough?” Why do we speak of equality and then not grant it? American policies baffle me.

Only recently, Congress chose to reinstate the Voters Rights Act. King George Bush II signed it into law. Each thought them selves benevolent. I see no goodwill in bestowing rights towards native-born Black citizens. I observe only this comparison; Black is Black. It seems to me that Americans can and will find a way to belittle those of dark color. According to many United States citizens, once of African American heritage, always considered an African. Is that term synonymous with subhuman? I think not, though policy seems to belie my beliefs.

• Families Challenging Religious Influence in Delaware Schools, By Neela Banerjee. New York Times. July 29, 2006

For years, she and her daughter, Samantha, listened to Christian prayers at public school potlucks, award dinners and parent-teacher group meetings, she said. But at Samantha’s high school graduation in June 2004, a minister’s prayer proclaiming Jesus as the only way to the truth nudged Mrs. Dobrich to act.

“It was as if no matter how much hard work, no matter how good a person you are, the only way you’ll ever be anything is through Jesus Christ,” Mrs. Dobrich said. “He said those words, and I saw Sam’s head snap and her start looking around, like, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ And all I wanted to do was run up and take her in my arms.”

After the graduation, Mrs. Dobrich asked the Indian River district school board to consider prayers that were more generic and, she said, less exclusionary. As news of her request spread, many local Christians saw it as an effort to limit their free exercise of religion, residents said. Anger spilled on to talk radio, in letters to the editor and at school board meetings attended by hundreds of people carrying signs praising Jesus.

“What people here are saying is, ‘Stop interfering with our traditions, stop interfering with our faith and leave our country the way we knew it to be,’ ” said Dan Gaffney, a host at WGMD, a talk radio station in Rehoboth, and a supporter of prayer in the school district.

After receiving several threats, Mrs. Dobrich took her son, Alex, to Wilmington in the fall of 2004, planning to stay until the controversy blew over. It never has.

The clamor does not calm for it is not as a noise that begins and then ends. The argument lingers in the air as it has for centuries. In America, nine of the thirteen original colonies discriminated against those that did not subscribe to the official religion. Judaism was not considered “correct” centuries ago. It is no more correct in Delaware and other places today. Mrs. Dobrich may wish to wait for the storm to pass; however, the wait is likely to be a very long one.

• Shattering Glass Ceilings, By McCoy, Frank. Black Enterprise. September 1995. Volume 26, Issue 2

The bipartisan Glass Ceiling Commission report on corporate American's dismal record of advancing minorities to management and decision-making positions includes multiple example of the biased policies many - but not all - white corporate officers employ to support their exclusionary and racist decisions.

Black people get promotions white men deserve. Affirmative action hurts white men more than it helps black men or women.

The above falsehoods and other not-so-little white (male) lies were gutted recently by two studies that focused on minorities in the workplace.

The first light was shed by the bipartisan Glass Ceiling Commission report on corporate America's dismal record of advancing minorities to management and decision-making positions. The paper includes multiple examples of the biased policies many--but not all--white corporate officers employ to support their exclusionary and racist decisions. The commission was headed by U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

The results are stark. In 1992, white males, while making up only 43% of the total labor force at Fortune 1,000 Industrial and Fortune 500 Service companies, were 97% of the senior-level decision-making managers. By contrast, only 0.6% were black, 0.4% Latino and 0.3% Asian.

The lack of corporate status translates into lower salaries as well. Black males with professional degrees earn only 79 cents for every dollar received by white males with the same credentials. And black women take home only 60 cents per dollar.

A Commission report calls to US, though we hear nothing. The glass is not broken. Stereotypes are not shattered. Status and substantial salaries are not awarded to persons of color. Again, America is discriminating. Our wars may be subtle. Our means for suppression are silent; still, we kill. We do it with “kindness.” Constitutionally we declare, “All are created equal.” How thoughtful we are, with our words. Actions speak!

• OPINION: Immigration issue sparks American racism, Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. July 19, 2006.

Perhaps the recent flare-up of the immigration issue started out more legitimately. Certainly there are serious problems with waves of hundreds of thousands of people entering any country illegally. But like the head of a monstrous snake coming out of a thorny bush, the issue has grown its own nasty viper. Immigration has become the new magnet of American racism.

It's time to recognize this evil trend, and confront it.

From the oh-so-patriotic "Minutemen," with their always potential overlap to vigilante violence, to the actual rise in incidents of race crime against dark-skinned Mexican and other Hispanics in recent months, the evidence is that a climate of disdain and potential race and/or ethnic hatred is being generated in North America. This is very evident in the type of language and self- definition put up by not so unconsciously race-based pundits and politicians.

Racism within the immigration issue is primarily directed at Latin American migrants coming north in search of economic opportunity. The shorthand language used has to do most of all with the sense by Anglo-Americans that the country is changing as so- called Hispanics or Latinos make up an ever-larger proportion of the minority population which, combined with blacks and Asian- Americans, now threatens to become established as the "new majority" and make the Euro-American population essentially the minority. Thus one can hear the likes of pundit and erstwhile presidential contender Pat Buchanan bemoan the fact that "we are losing our country," shorthand in this case being that crucial "we" and all that such possessiveness implies.

Xenophobia directed at Mexicans has a long history in America. Anglo-America, after all, warred first with Spain and, later, Mexico for a century over more than a third of present-day U.S. territory. Stereotype and racial hatred, ethnic insults (Mexicans as a "mongrel race," etc.) -- apparent requirements of war -- layered into the social consciousness of Anglo-Americans.

Salient points of this history not told by the conqueror were articulated in a recent New York Times essay by Tony Horwitz ("Immigration and the Curse of the Black Legend," July 9, 2006). To be faulted for too brazenly bypassing the indigenous perspective, Horwitz recounts accurately that North America's first European explorers and settlers were not English-speaking, but were from Spain. Horwitz: "Four of the sample questions on our naturalization test ask about Pilgrims. Nothing in the sample exam suggests that prospective citizens need know anything that occurred on this continent before the Mayflower landed in 1620."

Xenophobia, in America? Not possible, though extremely probable. We see it daily. Newspapers, periodicals, and books are filled with messages of fear. Our leaders reinforce the idea of terror. Yet, they are the ones repeatedly creating it. The killing our country allows here or abroad does not horrify many American citizens. This surprises me. We are murdering with guns, bayonets, or bombs foreign land and we slaughter with stereotypes here. We suppress freedom and liberty throughout the globe. We secure laws and policies that destroy lives and spirits. We are outraged by injustices in the Middle East. We declare that we know how to do good governance better. I ask, “Do we?”

Americans claim to live in peace; they believe in equinity. If only I could find the evidence.

• Mark Thoma, of Economist View, offers a discussion of a Robert Reich commentary, Oh What a Tangled Web. Former Secretary of Labor Reich evaluates the economy and how it is affected by the war[s]. Reich assesses our interconnectivity. He states it is obvious; the Middle East and the United States are joined. What happens in one part of the world will influence occurrences in the other. For Mr. Reich and me, issues do not exist in isolation. Currently, “global economics, home economics, and domestic politics” are a mess!

You might also wish to participate in a discussion of this text at the Robert Reich Blog. Speak with the Former Secretary and share your views on The Mess

May we walk and talk in peace. Please ponder . . .
• Live From...Firefight Between Israel, Hezbollah Continues. CNN News. July 14, 2006
• Bush blames Hezbollah for Mideast violence. USA Today. July 15, 2006
• Rice to seek 'lasting settlement' at U.N., By Katherine Shrader. Associated Press. Chicago Sun-Times. July 31, 2006
• Israel responsible for Qana attack; war crimes on both sides, Turkish Press. World News. July 31, 2006
• Israel Overreacts to Hostage Situation,Inept Bush Fails to Intervene, By Lloyd Williams. EURWeb. July 18,2006
• The Real Target of Arab Elites. The New Republic. July 21,2006
• PDF The Real Target of Arab Elites. The New Republic. July 21,2006
• American Idle, By Dan Froomkin. Special to Washington Post. Friday, July 28, 2006
• Monitoring Hate and Extremist Activity, The Intelligence Project. Southern Poverty Law Center.
• Gibson apologizes for driving drunk, ranting at police, By Sandy Cohen. Seattle Times Company. July 30, 2006
• As God Told Me ..., On President Bush, Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson, By Andy Rooney. 60 Minutes. CBS News. February 22, 2004
• Anti-Semitism - U.S. Anti-Defamation League.
• Gibson personalizes 'Passion of the Christ', By Marco R. della Cava. USA Today. February 20, 2004
• Is Racism Behind Treatment of Haitians? By Pauline Arrillaga. Associated Press National Writer. Los Angeles Times. July 29, 2006
• PDF Is Racism Behind Treatment of Haitians? By Pauline Arrillaga. Associated Press National Writer. Los Angeles Times. July 29, 2006
• National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR)
• Black Racism: The Hate Crime That Dare Not Speak It's Name, By David Horowitz. FrontPageMagazine.com. July 16, 2002
• Voting act overshadows race debate, Democrats weigh diluting districts of black majorities, By Joseph Williams. Boston Globe. July 31, 2006
• Families Challenging Religious Influence in Delaware Schools, By Neela Banerjee. New York Times.July 29, 2006
• Shattering Glass Ceilings, By McCoy, Frank. Black Enterprise. September 1995. Volume 26, Issue 2
• Glass Ceiling Commission [1991-1996] DigitalCommons. Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
• Living as Jews in Christian America, By Rabbi Daniel Lapin, President. Toward Tradition. June 10, 2005
• Bill of Rights in Action. Constitutional Rights Foundation.
• From Test Oath to the Jew Bill, By Jerry Klinger. The Struggle for Religious and Political Freedom. Jewish Magazine.
• Immigration & racism in the U.S., by Ruth Vela. Workers World Forum. December 21, 2005
• A Nation of WASPs?, By Earl Shorris. The Nation. May 13, 2004
• Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People, September 20, 2001