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A Muslim man jumped to the aid of three Jewish subway riders after they were attacked by a group of young people who objected to one of the Jews saying "Happy Hanukkah," a spokeswoman for the three said Wednesday.
Friday's altercation on the Q train began when somebody yelled out "Merry Christmas," to which rider Walter Adler responded, "Happy Hanukkah," said Toba Hellerstein.
"Almost immediately, you see the look in this guy's face like I've called his mother something," Adler told CNN affiliate WABC.
Two women who were with a group of 10 rowdy people then began to verbally assault Adler's companions with anti-Semitic language, Hellerstein said.
This is a frightening result of Bill O'Reilly's "War on Christmas" meme. Unfortunately, this is not the only incident of violence I read on this theme.
Is violence really called for when people of different religions and philosophies encounter one another? Why is there such a problem with acceptance of other's religious ideas/beliefs or lack of beliefs?
Is violence really called for when people of different religions and philosophies encounter one another? Why is there such a problem with acceptance of other's religious ideas/beliefs or lack of beliefs?
I don't think man has evolved much in the case of us vs them otherwise known as the typical herd-behaviour. Man still is as much a herd animal as he was in the pre-historic ages; he still fears anything not belonging to his herd.
I guess we now know the answer to "what if Jewish people responded with Happy Chanukah?" In the endless "War on Christmas" debates here, I've often heard that question - and usually people say it wouldn't be a problem, and they'd be happy to hear that. Yeah right. Well, at least someone kind came to their aid... I guess being a religious minority bonds us together, at least here in the U.S. Sad yet heartwarming story.
Blaming Bill O'Reilly for this incident is no different than blaming the Beatles White Album for the Manson murders.
I did not blame Bill O'Reilly for the actions that others took. He does repeat ad nauseam about the "war on Christmas" as an attempt to incite the religious right or those who are not intelligent enough to understand that christians do not own the holidays. Actions taken by any person are theirs to own.
I am very fearful when religions are absolutely exclusive and act on fear and hatred of that which then don't understand.
I think that the greater message is that two "enemies" helped each other out against the violence of these particular christians.
Last edited by chielgirl; 12-17-2007 at 12:58 AM..
well we know what those people did.. not necessarily what everyone else would do.
Obviously... but the fact that SOME people respond that way is enough, and explains why we're nervous about this stuff. Are you afraid of being beaten up for saying Merry Christmas? Or even Happy Holidays? Nah - people just come on here to complain about it, LOL.
I think that the greater message is that two "enemies" helped each other out against the violence of these particular christians.
Actually, what I got from this is that a PERSON helped out two PEOPLE in trouble.
As far as I'm concerned, their religions shouldn't be newsworthy. Anyone with any sense knows that, for the vast majority of people, the color of someone's skin or their religion will not affect whether or not they will help them out in a dire situation.
*sigh* Leave it to the news outlets to make it a "religious" thing.
So wait, some one yelled marry Christmas and a person intergected rudley in another persons conversation with "happy hanukka"? or did someone tell the jewish person marry christmas and he replied happy hanukka? because if it was the case that the person was just saying happy hanukka just to be a wise arse than what do you expect? Its NEW YORK FRICKEN CITY. You say somthing rude and yea you just might get punched in the face. People have been murderd out there for doing and saying alot less offensive things. This incident seems kind of played out. I also notice this alder fellow points out that his own people sat and did nothing while this happend. which leads me to believe maybe they instigated it.
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I don't think man has evolved much in the case of us vs them otherwise known as the typical herd-behaviour. Man still is as much a herd animal as he was in the pre-historic ages; he still fears anything not belonging to his herd.
Well, at least someone kind came to their aid... I guess being a religious minority bonds us together, at least here in the U.S. Sad yet heartwarming story. 
