A Texas Rabbi Says It All

[SteveH]

In Katrina I Didnt See Racism, I Saw Brotherhood

by Rabbi Aryeh Spero
Posted Sep 7, 2005

In New Orleans, beginning Tuesday morning, August 30, I saw men in
helicopters risking their lives to save stranded flood victims from
rooftops. The rescuers were White, the stranded Black. I saw
Caucasians navigating their small, private boats in violent, swirling, toxic
floodwaters to find fellow citizens trapped in their houses.Those they saved
were Black.

I saw Brotherhood. New York Congressman Charlie Rangel saw Racism.

Yes, there are Two Americas. One is the real America, where virtually every
person I know sends money, food or clothes to those in need-- now and in
other crises-- regardless of color. This America is colorblind.

The other is the America fantasized and manufactured by Charlie Rangel,
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who constantly cry racism even in situations
where it does not exist, even when undeniable images illustrate love,
compassion and concern. These three men, together with
todays NAACP, want to continue the notion of Racist America. It is their
Mantra, their calling card. Their power, money, and continued media
appearances depend on it.

Often, people caught up in accusing others of sin..neglect to undergo their
own personal introspection. They begin to think they alone inhabit the moral
high ground. It is high time these men peered into their own hearts at the
dark chamber that causes this unceasing labeling of their
fellow Americans as racist. They may find in that chamber their own racism
-- against Whites.

There is only one real America. Beginning Friday morning in Houston,
thousands of regular citizens poured into the Astrodome offering water,
food, clean clothes, personal items, baby diapers and toys, love and even
their homes to the evacuees who had been bused in from New Orleans. Most
of the givers were White, most of those being helped were Black. But there
was Jesse Jackson, busy on TV, accusing the country of not putting
Blacks--i.e., him-- on some type of Commission he is demanding. Where was he
early in the week? Not sweating with others from around the country
who had scraped their last dollar to come help. With Jesse, its always about
Jesse.

After decades of hearing accusations from Jesse, Al, Charlie, the NAACP and
certain elitists about how racist America is, it would have been refreshing
to hear them for once give thanks to those they for years have been
maligning. These self-anointed spokesmen for the Black community lead
only when it comes to foisting guilt and condemnation, and not when it comes
to acknowledging the good in those they have made a career in castigating.

As a Rabbi I have a message I wish to offer to my fellow members of the
cloth, Reverends Jackson and Sharpton: It is time to do some soul searching.
Your continued efforts to tear this country apart,
even in light of the monumental goodness shown by your White brothers, is a
sin.

There are no churches in the world like the American churches. And there are
no better parishioners and members of churches anywhere in the world. These
churches are saving the day. Their members-- infused by the special and
singular teachings of our unique American Judeo-Christian understanding of
the Bible -- are, at this moment, writing an historic chapter in giving,
initiative, and selflessness. They are opening their homes to strangers.
They are doing what government is incapable of doing.

America works because of its faith-based institutions. It always has. That
is what makes it America.

So next time the ACLU tries to diminish and marginalize the churches, saying
there is no role for religion in American public life, that an impenetrable
wall must be erected separating the citizens from
their faith, cry out Katrina.

Next time the ACLU goes to court asking that U.S. soldiers not be allowed to
say Grace in the Mess Hall and that communities be forbidden from setting up
a nativity scene, ask yourself: without the
motivation of Goodness sourced in Faith, would people offer such sacrifice?
Where else does this Brotherhood come from but the Bible which teaches Thou
Shall Love Thy Neighbor as Yourself.

I saw brotherhood on Fox News, where 24/7 reporters used their perch as a
clearing-house for search-and-rescue missions and communication between the
stranded and those in position to save. In contrast, the Old-line networks
continued with their usual foolish, brain-numbing programming. Those who
always preach compassion chose profit over people.

The New York Times has utterly failed America. Its columnists could have
used their talents and word skills to inspire and unite a nation. Columnists
such as Frank Rich and Paul Krugman, however,
revealed their true colors by evading their once-in-a-lifetime chance to
help and instead chose to divide, condemn, and fuel the fires and poison the
waters of Louisiana. In them, I saw no brotherhood. The newspaper always
preaching compassion verifies Shakespeare's They protest too much.

Similar elitists here in the northeast and on the west coast have over the
years expressed their view of the South as unsophisticated and Texans as
cowboys. Well, the South has come through,
especially Houston and other parts of Texas, whereas, as I write this on
Labor Day, the limousine moralizers are lying on east and west coast beaches
thinking they âre doing their part by reading Times editorials and calling
George Bush a racist. How sanctimonious life becomes when proving you
are not a racist depends not on living in a truly integrated neighborhood,
but by simply calling others racist.

Like so often in history, facts trump platitudes. Reality reigns.Those who
always preach brotherhood, thus far have acted devoid of it. Those who for

decades have been accused by elitists of not having compassion are the ones
living it. They are: the churches, the military, and the sons and daughters
of the South.

[Chris C]

WOW! I'd like to see Jesse Jackson's face when he hears this one!

[Mainstreat]

thats like way, way off topic.

[Guest]

Steve,
Those are very refreshing words from the rabbi...
I especially like his challenging certain others to look into the dark chambers of their own hearts...
Again... Refreshing words, because in my opinion, this whole situation has taken the US backwards in time into the early 60's...
And Yes, I too would like to see what Jesse and Al have to say in response to the rabbi's words.

[Guy]

It sounds like the previous posters are surprised to hear a Very Conservative
right wing radio talk show host speak say these things. I suggest one simply google Aryeh Spero to learn more of his views.

The one thing I noticed is that nowhere did Rabbi Spero say that the evacuees were arrogant and ungrateful Americans who took the money given to them and spent that money on luxury goods. He saw brotherhood, which is clearly the truthful way to view the events, other posters have only spoken of divisions.

[vinoscooter]

These are wise words...Even if the writer was unidentified...They'd still be Wise words..Speaking, Seeing, Giving, Living from the Heart's perspective..Things I try to do on a daily bases..& so often I fall short...Seeing the good in most folks..instead of the bad...in a few...It's so easy to get caught up in the Moment...Letting emotions control..our thoughts & words.. I personally feel much better haveing read this article..Like the monkey of (temporary ignorance) is off my back...Iv'e never been a person that, does not, except responsibility for my actions, or words...Thanks for posting this inspiring letter...vinoscooter.

[kajamelu4]

Until EVERYONE drops the racism issue, it will always be an issue. It should not matter what color or heritage someone is, what should matter is what kind of a person are they. Not black, white, or any other shade, but are they kind, loving, helpful, etc. After all, if you peel the skin off any of us, we are all going to look pretty much the small. A big, yucky mess, but pretty much the same.

[SteveH]

kajamelu4,

I think what the Rabbi is saying is that everyone has actually dropped the racism issue except for people like Jackson and Sharpton who like to keep stiring the pot, so to speak, for their own personal notariety.

[IraRat]

I don't trust Rabbis anyway--I had one who stole my Tallis money when I was 8.

Pointing to a Rabbi for morality issues is like pointing to Jimmy Swaggart for advice on fidelity and honest bookkeeping.

It's an oxymoron.