Mennonites and Antisemitism

Here are some revealing articles on the sad subject of Mennonites and their past involvement in antisemitism:

The first is an article written by John Kampen:

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Mennonites, Judaism and Israel-Palestine
(www.themennonite.org)

The second is a response to the above article:

A window into Antisemitism and Nazism among Mennonite in North America, Part 1
(www.themennonite.org)

In Defense of their Dinner Date

The following is the Mennonite Central Committee’s defense of their shocking dinner date…

MCC dialogue toward peace with Iran

Arli Klassen and Daryl Byler
September 30, 2008

Strong opinions have been expressed over Mennonite Central Committee’s participation in the September 25 dinner and dialogue that included Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Some news media spread incorrect information about the event’s purpose. Our goal was respectful, peace-building dialogue, not to honor the president or any other individual. In sharing a meal with such a controversial figure, we were drawing on both the deep spiritual roots that sustained our persecuted ancestors and on Jesus’ example.

Last week in New York City, a simple oil lamp glowed on the podium before the gathering of people of diverse faiths. MCC gave such a lamp to President Ahmadinejad last year. Similar lamps yield gentle yet insistent light in many Mennonite and Brethren in Christ worship services. In every situation, we look to the light of Christ to lead us.

(…)

Read the rest of this article here:

http://mcc.org/news/news/article.html?id=396

Shocking Dinner Date

Once again, the Mennonite Central Committee dines with the devil.

Mennonite Central Committee Defends Dinner With Ahmadinejad
October 1, 2008

The Mennonite Central Committee, one of the co-sponsors of an interfaith dinner with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that took place in New York City on Sept. 25, 2008, has issued a deceptive and naive statement in defense of its dealings with the Iranian President.

The statement, written by Arli Klassen, the MCC’s executive director, and Daryl Byler, the organization’s representative for Jordan, Iran, Iraq and Palestine, exaggerates the impact of MCC-organized events on Ahmadinejad’s public speech about Israel. The statement also ignores Ahmadinejad’s hostility toward Jews and portrays the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state in the Middle East as a legitimate component of peacemaking efforts in the region.

(…)

Read the rest of this article here:

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1545

Related reading:

Mennonites and the NCC Calling Evil Good
(rollovermenno.wordpress.com)