Quote:
Originally Posted by 88punx";p="
"They [Jews] should ask themselves the question, 'Why have they been so hated for 3000 years that there has been pogrom after pogrom in country after country?', said Irving, speaking at a press conference he convened in England on Frid
|
Regardless of who's asking it, it's a legitimate question.
Is it just a world-wide irrational hatred reserved exclusively for the Jews? Or has it stemmed from something cultural that they're doing? Could it be from a history of the following behavior? This is from the Magna Carta:
10. If one who has borrowed from the Jews any sum, great or small, die before that loan can be repaid, the debt shall not bear interest while the heir is under age, of whomsoever he may hold; and if the debt fall into our hands, we will not take anything except the principal sum contained in the bond.
11. And if any one die indebted to the Jews, his wife shall have her dower and pay nothing of that debt; and if any children of the deceased are left underage, necessaries shall be provided for them in keeping with the holding of the deceased; and out of the residue the debt shall be paid, reserving, however,service due to feudal lords; in like manner let it be done touching debts due to others than Jews.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/mcarta.html
Looks like the Jews were taking all the money from the estates of debtors who had died, and leaving their spouses or children "out in the cold". The Magna Carta established protections for debtors. Anyway, not a nice legacy for the Jewish money lenders... There was a strong dislike towards Jews in this regard, since they willingly and happily served as money lenders in Europe since it was considered evil by the Christian authorities and Christians were forbidden by law from lending money. If you come into a situation as a minority and take up an occupation seen as a "sin" by the majority - chances are that will create a lot of resentment towards you.