The New Inquisition: "Interview" with Gilad Atzmon - Video
Israeli-born Gilad Atzmon, one of Europe’s finest jazz musicians, was in Washington, DC for the first time at the end of a multi-city North American grassroots tour to discuss his recently published and highly controversial book, The Wandering Who? - A Study of Jewish Identity Politics. On March 14, Atzmon was interviewed by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky, Connecticut State University Professor of History Emeritus, at Washington’s Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. The previous day a letter signed by 23 Palestinian activists called for “the disavowal of the racism and anti-Semitism of Gilad Atzmon.” Watch the VIDEO of the Atzmon addressing the charges frequently levied against him. Decide for yourself—should Atzmon continue his frank discussion of Jewish identity or should his voice be silenced? The Washington Report believes that no writer or thinker should be shunned in the United States—or anywhere—and we stand by our decision to host his DC events.
[Editor's Comment:] Gilad has good arguments and acquits himself very well, but it seems to us that this so-called interview still essentially is a modern-day inquisition. We find it nauseating and very embarrassing. Quoting Wikipedia, let us remind ourselves why these medieval tribunals were set up, viz. to instill fear by combating so-called heresies: "...quoniam punitio non refertur primo & per se in correctionem & bonum eius qui punitur, sed in bonum publicum ut alij terreantur, & a malis committendis avocentur. [Translation from the Latin:]...for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evils they would commit." - Both the medieval and the modern-day tribunals should be considered to be a kind of religious/political terrorism. They also are demonstrations of power. Their message now is: You question the Muslims and you're ok. You question the Jews and you're in trouble. Gilad has committed the heresy of questioning what "Jewishness" is all about. He's been in trouble ever since. (Gilad's articles @ AWIP)
[Part I + Part II + Part III + Part IV]