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The Spectator (UK) has weighed into the anti-semitism debate, with a cover depicting a priest burning an Isreali flag and two articles. In an article entitled “Christians against Isreal,” Melanie Philips takes on the anti-Isreali feeling eminating from certain Christian churches.
It seems that some senior Christians insist that it has little to do with Isreal, but more to do with something called “replacement theology.” This is the belief that Christians are now the “chosen ones” and not the jews, and thus Isreal is illigimate. Christians may claim this title as a result of God giving “them” the messiah. There are some evangelicals who believe just opposite and believe it is Christian’s duty to protect God’s “chosen ones”, the jews. The former belief, perpetuated by the church(s) for centuries and suppressed after the Holocaust, is rearing it’s head again, egged on by Palestinian Christian revisionists.
I have heard this in the US, when asking a devout “Christian” (ie: one who wears his religion on his sleeve) why he was so anti-Jews. He said: “well they killed Jesus didn’t they?” And for this person it was end of story.
He ignored my query that I thought it was the Romans who killed Jesus not the Jews. Surely he should be anti-Roman/Italian not Jews? I asked. His response was more anti-Jewish conspiracy-laden bigotry. I might point out that I heard this at a National Federation of Young Republican gathering and it was in ear-shot of loads of other people. Not one rose to my aid or to lambast the cretin for his diatribe.It will be interesting to see what kind of heat this article produces in the light of the row of the New Statesman debacle. See Kesher Talk for my take on the row.
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Over at MacEvangelist they are selling some really amusing t-shirts that mock Microsoft. “Microsoft Vacuum: A Microsoft product that Doesn’t Suck!” Yeah its petty and trite, but so what, it’s still kind of fun!
by Marty
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Savatage played the Highbury (London) Garage last night, and put on a stunning, 120 minute show. The extended set was thanks to Vicious Rumours getting kick off the tour for being way too rock & roll and pissing off their hosts. It was a win/win really, although I would have liked to have seen VR.
Blaze put in a competent if, pedestrian set, as he is wont to do. Why does this man persist in putting out decent albums and then putting on lame live shows? The sound mix for Blaze wasn’t terrific either, making both the bass and Blaze’s voice seem even flatter than usual. He belted out, as best he could, tracks from both of his albums, Silicon Messiah and the newie, Tenth Dimension. It was bit sad to the former Maiden singer drinking his pint alone at the end of the bar during the Savatage set. The lad is much better on record than in concert, nuff said.
Savatage, on the other hand, put on an incredibly good show, as close to perfection as possible. The sound was tremendous, the band were on brilliant form and the crowd, clearly almost all there to see them, were entralled. Having such a long time to play, the band managed to play something for all periods of the career and threw in two short meddlies for good measure.
Both new boys, Jack Frost (guitars) who replaced Al Pitrelli who sodded off to Megadeth and Damond Jiniya, the new vocalist with a 4.5 octave range, performed brilliantly. In fact, the band was so tight it would be hard to fit a penny between them. Despite the tiny stage at the Garage the band performed a great set. Best quote of the night was down to Chris Caffery guitarist who said: ” I have been playing with this band for 14 years and still haven’t got out of the fucking garage!”
To cap the night off Savatage played two of their best tracks, the haunting “When the Crowds are Gone” and the ott spectacle of “Hall of the Mountain King” as encores. During both songs, there were times when both Jon Olivia (vocals/keys/piano) and Damond Jiniya, both powerful voices, were drowned out by the crowd.
All in all the crowd, which included several well known musos, left well satisfied as they wandered home on a crisp February night.
by Marty
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