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March 19, 2004/Adar 26 5764, Vol. 56, No. 26
Letters to the EditorMarch 19, 2004
Did 'The Passion' lead to prejudice?Editor:My 6-year-old daughter returned home from Cheyenne Traditional Elementary School in Scottsdale on March 8 very distraught and reported that a classmate refused to play with her during recess because "she is Jewish." This is our family's first experience of targeted bigotry during school. Interestingly, this occurred within days of the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." There has been considerable public discussion as to whether this movie conveys an anti-Semitic message. Gibson, the actors and respected clergy deny it. Nevertheless, a 6-year-old girl suddenly refused to play with my daughter because of her religion. I cherish our country's freedom of speech and acknowledge that this includes the right to produce controversial movies. Nevertheless, it is naive to think that such movies are without potential adverse consequences. I applaud my daughter's teacher, who on learning of this situation, emphasized to the classmate that such behavior is inappropriate and that all people should be respected irrespective of personal differences. The teacher also attempted to contact the parents to reinforce her expectations of tolerance within her classroom. Craig Sherman Scottsdale
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