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The "All Opinions are Welcome, but Sorry no Instigators" Board -> Rockaway Township Free Speech -> My Response to the Daily Record
Post Info TOPIC: My Response to the Daily Record
Craig Maier

Date:
My Response to the Daily Record
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Here is a copy of my response to the Daily Record.  I am hopeful that they will print it. 


 


To the Editor:


 


            The Daily Record, in articles by Rob Jennings and in your May 1st editorial, criticized myself (Craig Maier) for responding on an Internet site to statements of religious intolerance by a Christ Church advocate.  That writer, who uses the pseudonym Matthew, wrote “…they (Jews) weren't getting people into heaven as far as I could see.  You're free to provide evidence to the contrary."  He later wrote, “I can post some scripture to illuminate…”


            I may have been intemperate in my response to Matthew’s posting, but his viewpoint is troubling.  Calling Christian scriptures the “New Testament” implies that God’s covenant with the Jewish people is now null and void.  It explicitly suggests Jewish spiritual illegitimacy.  Replacement, supercessionist, theology has been expressly rejected by much of Christendom.  Indeed, Pope John Paul II has explicitly said so and has called the Jewish People “our older brothers.”  I have been in contact with a number of non-Fundamentalist Christian clerics in this area to confirm this.


            I explicitly reject and condemn supercessionism.  Matthew presents views that occasionally seem to represent Christ Church.  The notions of spiritual exclusion that he espouses are repulsive and unacceptable to me.


            One neighbor, unidentified on the Voices of Rockaway Township Internet bulletin board, intended a sympathetic conciliation by suggesting that “…If as a Christian one believes that if a person does not receive Jesus as Messiah that person will go to hell and that belief leads that Christian to be most compassionate and caring to each individual so that they may see the love of God …how is this such a horrible concept?”


            Such Christian love, while not unappreciated, still presupposes Jewish spiritual illegitimacy.  For that reason Jews historically have rejected such offers of Christian love.  Regrettably, such unrequited Christian love has often resulted in Christian persecution of Jews. 


            It is in the context of these provocations that I responded to Matthew’s bigotry.  I regret that my postings weren’t more carefully and precisely crafted; they were written casually and contemporaneously and represent my gut feelings on this subject.  It is more regrettable, however, that neither Rob Jennings nor the Daily Record’s editorial writer bothered to research the bbs to see these provocations.


                                                                                                Sincerely,


 


                                                                                                CRAIG MAIER


 



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Ted Doty

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Craig,


Even if your statements were correct, your comments are repulsive



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Jay R

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Craig,


One comment on your letter to the paper.  The 'they' Matthew was referring to at the time was not just Jews.  It included all others - Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, etc...


JR



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Matthew

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You almost got it right, Craig.


I didn't say "“…they (Jews) weren't getting people into heaven as far as I could see.  "


I said "they aren't getting people into Heaven as far as I can see"


You are using the past tense, I am using the present.


The past tense would imply that I believe that Jews who lived before Jesus was born were not Heaven bound.  I did not say this.  See my answers to Jay for my full explanation on this.


To avoid propagating an error, you might want to resend a corrected version of your letter to the Daily Record.


Matthew



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Craig Maier

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Jay,


I agree.  I missed that in my respose looking at it from how it effects me personally as a Jew rather than the other worldwide implications of the statements thereon.



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Karen

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Warning, morsel of bait included above...don't bite!

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Karen

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Craig, you also need to make SURE they don't call this the Voices of Rockaway Township bulletin board! Otherwise you're propagating the misleading title that was finally corrected last night. Please see and use the title above--

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Karen

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(the bait being in Matthews post above, bringing up "that" subject again sounds like an invitation to play again).

Oh, hey, what's with the fonts? lol!

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Craig Maier

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Karen,


I believe that I was quite vague in my reference to a specific internet site.  I made no relationship to VORT.  As for my FONTS, I created it in WORD and it looked ok there but when I copied it here, it turned out kinda funky in terms of organization and formatting.  Maybe there is some incompatibility between the two software programs ? 



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Karen

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It's ok, you're forgiven--lol

I was actually referring to this:

"One neighbor, unidentified on the Voices of Rockaway Township Internet bulletin board, intended..."

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Craig Maier

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Karen,


 


Yeah, that is a slip up on my part.  I wonder if it can be corrected? Rhetorical question.  I will try.  Thanks for pointing that out.


Craig



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Karen

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Thanks, Craig, Not to criticize, it's just that we don't want to inadvertantly propagate that fallacy...

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Maria

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quote:
Originally posted by: Karen
"Thanks, Craig, Not to criticize, it's just that we don't want to inadvertantly propagate that fallacy..."
karen...lots of $0.25 words there!!! LOL!!!

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Craig Maier

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Karen,


I was able to get though to somebody at the paper and make the correction verbally.  I hope that it will get picked up.  Sorry for the screw-up.



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Karen

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Thanks Craig! No harm done--

(Maria, shhhh! I'm trying to throw everyone off track so they don't remember I'm clueless!)

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CRAIG!!!!

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Craig! It's NOT THE VOICES OF ROCKAWAY MESSAGE BOARD DAMNIT!!!! WE"VE BEEN FIGHTING TOOTE AND NAIL TO PRESENT THAT AND DEFENDING YOU, AND YOU GO GIVING THAT TO THE RECORD?????


Ask your Rabbi what this ancient saying from the Kabala means "SCHMUCK!!!!"



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Toote

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quote:
Originally posted by: CRAIG!!!!
"Craig! It's NOT THE VOICES OF ROCKAWAY MESSAGE BOARD DAMNIT!!!! WE"VE BEEN FIGHTING TOOTE AND NAIL TO PRESENT THAT AND DEFENDING YOU, AND YOU GO GIVING THAT TO THE RECORD????? Ask your Rabbi what this ancient saying from the Kabala means "SCHMUCK!!!!""

Chalk up an anti-semetic remark to an anonymous 'supporter'.




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Craig Maier

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I may be a Schmuck, but not for that reason.  I screwed up and then I corrected the mistake if you simply look a few posts above here.  Chill out!



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Karen

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I hope you got the name of who you spoke to--there are some who would prefer that oversight not be corrected.


And I don't think you're a schmuck (for that reason lol), everyone makes mistakes.


Look at me, I thought this board was a great idea, and it brought nothing but a pain in the patootey!



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Craig Maier

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I spoke with a guy by the name of Snowflack, just for the record. (no pun intended)

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Craig Maier

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Does anyone who gets the DR know if my editorial response appeared today?  Just curious and would not be surprised if it did not.  It appears that it may have just triggered another article.

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Karen

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There's actually 3 pieces in the rag today, but, alas, no response from you, nor from my hub.

What a shock!

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Craig Maier

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Figures

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Chuck Mueller

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Yeah Craig. You made the front page headlines. Guess there was no real news happening in the world or Morris Cty today. Seems someones feelings have been hurt at the DR, considering all the attention being paid in todays issue. For the record (no pun intended), Fred Snowflack is the editor of the Editorial Page including the Letters to the Editor column of the paper. He also writes his own editorials and articles. You can reach him directly either thru the letters address, letters@dailyrecord.com or his direct email is  fsnowfla@gannett.com . I had his phone number somewhere, but cant find it right now. He usually answers the phone if you call the editorial main number. In the past he has written some relatively "fair" pieces. Rob Jennings email is RJENNING@morristo.gannett.com or rjenning@gannett.com . His phone is 973-989-0652. In the beginning Rob seemed a little one sided, then he seemed to level out, presenting a more balanced view. I hope he doesnt slip back again. Abbot Koloff, on the other hand, seems to love to present highly opionated, often inaccurate, one sided articles, intended to inflame. I have never seen him retract or even try to take the middle of the road on anything. His email is akoloff@gannett.com . I have had personal face to face conversations with all 3 and believe Fred and Rob to be making a sincere effort to be honest. Abbott on the other hand, seems to be the type that if you say Red, he will print it as, You failed to say Green, which can only mean you are anti-red. Unfortunately they all work for someone, who is running a money making business and has the final say. More controversy means more paper sales. Good luck and keep up the good fight. It seems you are today's "soup-du-jour", but it will blow over.


BTW, this posting is the opinion of only one individual and does not represent that of any organization. It is not meant to slander or misrepresent any individual or group and is intended to only voice an opinion in the spirit of free speech and liberty that our country stands for.  (guess we will all have to start using a disclaimer after all postings).



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Craig Maier

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Thanks,  I have called Snowflack and he says that it might be run this weekend.  We shall see.

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Craig Maier

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I called again to confirm same.  It will not run this weekend.  They sure like to get the side of the story out that they favor because of its provactive and inflamatory naure, yet drag their feet exposing my side.  I guess it is no big surprise.  It just sucks.

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Cry

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me a river.

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Cry

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me a river.  serves

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Cry

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me a river. 

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Karen

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Wow, that guy types with a stutter.

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