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December 16, 2008
I have a simpler theory
Christian Media Analyst, Dexter Van Zile offers a fascinating hypothesis to explain Mennonite hostility to the state of Israel, viz as the Jewish people turned from non-violence after 1948 the Mennonites - and, by extension, other Christian pacifists - were forced to confront the failure of non-violence as a response to the existence of evil. To wax psychoanalytic, in this sense, the Jews could be understood by Mennonites as a symptom representing a return of their own repressed impulses and a constant reminder of their own cowardice and failure to take responsibility for themselves.
As I say, fascinating, and kudos to Solomonia for the interview. But I have a simpler theory.
The Mennonites are Germans. QED.
Ok, Germanists. In fact, let's call them a tiny minority of German extremists. But I am no more surprised at the thought of Mennonite anti-Semitism than I am at the thought of Mennonite wife beating. I worked for several years at a university next to Berlin, Ontario - these days known as Kitchener. The town and its surround have a large Mennonite community and I expect I have as good a sense of them as any outsider can. This sounds glib, granted, but the most anti-Semitic character I have yet to meet in Canada was a Mennonite and, unfortunately, a senior producer at a large Canadian news organization. I never could work out how to let his/her bosses know what they were dealing with without getting sued. But then I expect they already know.
Of course if there are any Mennonites who disapprove of this analysis they are welcome to point to Mennonite resources supportive of the rights of women, gay men and - not incidentally - Christians in Israel by contrast with the murder and repression of the same groups in any predominantly Islamic country. Or, for that matter, in contrast with the treatment of women, gay men or dissenting Christians - including dissenting Mennonites - in Mennonite communities anywhere.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at December 16, 2008 07:27 AM
Comments
That, and their furniture is highly overrated.
Posted by: Lickmuffin ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 16, 2008 08:08 AM
Maj Dick Winters was apparently from a mennonite family. He certainly doesn't seem to fit the mould of not stepping up to get done what needs doing.
Posted by: Montieth at December 16, 2008 10:34 AM
These are generalizations, obviously. I believe you will find not all Quakers are pacifists... though I would have to do a search for one of Maj Winters' accomplishment.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 16, 2008 10:57 AM
They do make excellent summer sausage, though. And they're quaint. isn't it all about the quaintness?
Posted by: Occam's Carbuncle at December 16, 2008 03:48 PM
Having attended the mennonite-sponsored Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford for two years, I can honestly say that I do not recall any anti-semitism, rabid or otherwise. This was during 2002-2004, and I did see a lot of resistance to the Iraq War. I was one of a really small minority in favor of the liberation.
CBC is sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren and the General Conference of Mennonites, the latter of the two seems more of the "old school" variety when it comes to womens rights (and shaving, and dress code...). Both of them are firmly in the camp of "evangelical" Christianity, so it's no surprise to me that they take a position against gay marriage. As far as the "mennonites - germanic" thing goes, that's largely true I'd say, though Menno Simons was Fresian, and a lot (if not all) of his immediate followers were Dutch. I remember hearing that in Russia shortly after the Revolution, there was persecution directed at two groups: Jews and Mennonites. Most Mennonites in Soviet Russia saw the Germans as liberators in 1941 (which makes sense, as the Soviets treated Mennonites as bourgeois pigs).
Gay-Lynn Voth always seemed to me to be a more intelligent voice for Anabaptism (in general) and Mennonites (in particular). Her famous quote is "You don't need a penis to preach", and I remember her saying it several times. If you want to find a mennonite in favor of women's rights, you've found one. I also recall her railing at the Church for wasting time trying to deny two grown adults from loving each other. Though I suspect she feels homosexuality is wrong (you'd have to ask her though).
I had a generally favourable experience at CBC, and I think quite highly of several professors there. Including Gary Yamasaki, whose wife is the senior pastor of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church.
Perhaps being on the west coast makes CBC inclined to a more liberal view than their co-religionists in Ontario :-)
Posted by: Temujin at December 16, 2008 09:25 PM
Have you seen or read any of the material related to Band of Brothers? Winters was the officer in charge and key officer for that company and later a significant officer in that battalion in their operations in the ETO.
Posted by: Montieth at December 17, 2008 10:10 AM
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